Hartford Financial price target raised to $155 from $143 at Argus

Argus analyst Kevin Heal raised the firm’s price target on Hartford Financial (HIG) to $155 from $143 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. Although the company faces risks from catastrophe losses and market volatility, the firm expects it to benefit from lower morbidity rates, higher written premiums, and disciplined expense management, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Hartford retains competitive advantages due to its speed in small and middle-market underwriting, the exclusive AARP partnership that gives it direct and exclusive access to the 38 million members in the personal lines market, and its conservative underwriting and strong combined ratio, Argus added.