The Hartford (HIG)
The Hartford is a long-standing American insurance giant that helps businesses and individuals protect their assets and plan for their financial future.
Is The Hartford a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: There's no rating here and nothing for sale. In its favour: A very long and stable history in the insurance sector. Worth weighing: Insurance is a highly competitive and commoditised market. Below, we lay out what it does, what its numbers mean, and the honest risks, so you can decide for yourself.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
How much has The Hartford actually fallen?
Over the last 2 years of daily prices, The Hartford fell as much as −14% from a high to a later low. Drops of this size are a normal part of owning a share - worth knowing in advance, so a dip doesn't come as a shock.
Worst peak-to-trough fall in the daily closing price over the period we hold. Past falls are not a forecast - it can fall further, or recover.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Consistent profit growth and effective capital management over several years.
Long-term failure to adapt to changing insurance risks or regulatory shifts.
What does The Hartford do?
The Hartford makes its money by collecting premiums from customers for property, casualty, and group benefits insurance, then investing those funds until they are needed for claims. It is a classic 'steady-as-she-goes' business that has been around for over two centuries. Keep an eye on how well they balance their claims costs against the income earned from their investments.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on value and income, and weakest on growth.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 1.7% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 8% over the year
- ·Low P/E of 10 vs last year's earnings
- ✓Low debt - a sturdier balance sheet
- ✓Strong return on shareholder money (ROE 22%)
- Value screens high (86/100)
- Income screens high (75/100)
- A very long and stable history in the insurance sector.
- Strong return on equity suggests efficient management.
- Lower volatility compared to the broader market.
- Large, unexpected natural disasters can lead to massive claim payouts.
- Changes in interest rates can significantly impact investment income.
- Regulatory changes in the US insurance market could squeeze margins.
What do The Hartford's numbers mean?
How much money does The Hartford make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does The Hartford pay a dividend?
Yes - The Hartford currently pays a dividend of about 1.7% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
What do the numbers say about The Hartford's dividend?
There's no rating here, and we don't judge whether the dividend will continue - that would be advice. Here are the figures income investors usually look at, and what each one means, so you can weigh it up yourself.
Figures are from the latest available data and can be distorted by one-off results. Past payments don't predict future ones, and a dividend can be cut at any time. This lays out the numbers to help you understand them - it is not a view on what will happen.
When does The Hartford report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
The Hartford is next scheduled to report on about 2026-10-29 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-23 | $3.14 | $3.42 | Beat +9% |
| 2026-04-23 | $3.39 | $3.09 | Missed -9% |
| 2026-01-29 | $3.22 | $4.06 | Beat +26% |
| 2025-10-27 | $3.31 | $3.77 | Beat +14% |
| 2025-07-28 | $2.83 | $3.41 | Beat +20% |
| 2025-04-24 | $2.15 | $2.20 | Beat +2% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, The Hartford came in ahead of what analysts expected 5 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
More in Financial Services
What are the scenarios for The Hartford?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of The Hartford?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- A very long and stable history in the insurance sector.
- Strong return on equity: How much profit the company makes for each £1 shareholders have put in. Higher usually means a more efficient business. suggests efficient management.
- Lower volatility compared to the broader market.
- Solid earnings growth recently.
- Insurance is a highly competitive and commoditised market.
- Profitability is tied to unpredictable investment markets.
- Growth can be slow compared to tech or high-growth sectors.
- Large, unexpected natural disasters can lead to massive claim payouts.
- Changes in interest rates can significantly impact investment income.
- Regulatory changes in the US insurance market could squeeze margins.
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A sustained period of declining insurance premiums across the industry.
- A major shift in the company's ability to generate returns on its investment portfolio.
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-02 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.