Prudential Financial Investment Insights and Performance Review

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Prudential Financial has a long history of providing investment products and services to its clients. Established in 1875, the company has been helping individuals and institutions achieve their financial goals for over 140 years.

With a diverse range of investment products, Prudential Financial offers its clients a variety of options to suit their needs. This includes mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and individual stocks.

Prudential Financial's investment performance has been strong in recent years, with many of its funds outperforming their benchmarks. This is a testament to the company's expertise and commitment to delivering high-quality investment products.

The company's investment strategies are designed to help clients achieve their long-term financial goals, whether it's saving for retirement or growing their wealth.

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Investment and Performance

Prudential Financial has a rock solid balance sheet, making it a solid investment option.

The company's insurance business has been performing well, with one-time charges about to roll off, making it a good time to invest.

Prudential Financial shareholders gained a total return of 20% during the year, which is lower than the market average.

Competitor Comparison

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When comparing the major players in the industry, it's interesting to note the varying locations of their headquarters. Prudential Financial Inc is based in Newark, New Jersey, while American International Group Inc (AIG) is located in New York.

The size of these companies also differs significantly. Prudential Financial Inc has a substantial workforce of 40,916 employees, making it one of the largest in the industry.

Here's a comparison of the key parameters of these companies:

Looking at the entity type, we can see that Prudential Financial Inc and American International Group Inc (AIG) are both public companies, whereas Athene Holding Ltd is a private entity.

Expand your knowledge: Prudential Stock Symbol

My Top Value Stock to Buy Now

This insurance titan has a rock solid balance sheet, making it a top value stock to buy right now.

One-time charges are about to roll off, further reducing its already low price.

Prudential's financial wellness initiatives are worth noting, as they show the company's commitment to helping people prepare for retirement.

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The president of Prudential Retirement has spoken about the state of retirement in the U.S., highlighting the need for financial planning and education.

With a strong balance sheet and a focus on financial wellness, this insurance company is too cheap to ignore.

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ICT Spend & Priorities

Understanding how a company allocates its ICT spend can give you valuable insights into its digital strategy. IT Client Prospector provides intelligence on Prudential Financial Inc’s likely spend across technology areas.

Prudential Financial Inc’s likely spend across technology areas can be understood through IT Client Prospector’s intelligence. This enables you to understand the digital strategy of the company.

The ICT spend of Prudential Financial Inc can be broken down into various technology areas. This breakdown can help you identify areas where the company is focusing its investments.

Understanding the digital strategy of Prudential Financial Inc can be achieved by analyzing its ICT spend. This can help you identify areas where the company is prioritizing its investments.

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A Different Perspective

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Prudential Financial shareholders saw a total return of 20% in the year, but that was still short of the market average.

The good news is that this gain was actually better than the company's average annual return of 10% over the past five years, suggesting it might be improving over time.

Market conditions can have a big impact on share prices, so it's worth considering how that might affect Prudential Financial's stock.

However, there are other factors that are even more important to look at, such as the company's overall performance and growth prospects.

Prudential Financial does have one warning sign in our investment analysis that you should know about.

If you're interested in looking at other companies with strong past earnings growth and forecasted future growth, be sure to check out our list of interesting companies.

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Products and Services

Prudential Financial offers a variety of products and services to help individuals and families achieve their financial goals. Their product lineup includes variable life insurance, term life insurance, and universal life insurance.

Expand your knowledge: Sunlife Financial Insurance

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Variable life insurance provides a death benefit and a cash value component that can grow over time. Term life insurance, on the other hand, offers a death benefit for a specified period of time.

Prudential Financial also provides third-party financial advisor services, benefits consultant services, and structured settlement services. These services can help individuals and families make informed decisions about their financial futures.

Here is a list of Prudential Financial's products and corresponding services:

Products and Services

Products and Services are a crucial part of any business or individual's financial plan. They provide a sense of security and stability, helping to mitigate risks and achieve long-term goals.

One key product is Variable Life Insurance, which offers flexible premiums and death benefits. This type of insurance is particularly useful for individuals with varying income levels or financial obligations.

Term Life Insurance is another essential product, providing coverage for a specified period (usually 10, 20, or 30 years). This type of insurance is great for individuals with temporary financial responsibilities, such as paying off a mortgage or raising a family.

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Universal Life Insurance combines a death benefit with a savings component, allowing policyholders to accumulate cash value over time. This type of insurance is ideal for individuals who want to build a nest egg while also providing for their loved ones.

Here's a quick overview of the products and services:

In addition to these products, the company also offers various services, including Third-Party Financial Advisor Services and Benefits Consultant Services. These services provide expert guidance and support to help individuals make informed financial decisions.

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IT Services Contracts

Improving competitive bidding is crucial for businesses looking to secure IT services contracts. Publicly disclosed IT services contracts for Prudential Financial Inc provide valuable insights for businesses.

These contracts include IT outsourcing, business process outsourcing, systems integration, and consulting services. This information can help businesses make informed decisions about their IT needs.

Analyzing these contracts can reveal trends and patterns in the types of services being outsourced and the companies involved. This analysis can be used to refine bidding strategies and increase the chances of winning contracts.

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Businesses can use this information to identify opportunities and make strategic decisions about their IT investments. By understanding the types of services being outsourced, businesses can determine whether they should be providing these services in-house or outsourcing them to a third-party provider.

Publicly disclosed contracts can also provide insights into the types of services being outsourced and the companies involved. This information can be used to identify potential partners or vendors for future IT projects.

Ratings and Reputation

Prudential has received a 100% rating on the Corporate Equality Index every year since 2003.

The company is in the "Hall of Fame" of Working Mothers magazine, a distinction given to companies that have made their "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" list for 15 or more years.

Prudential Insurance was ranked #59 out of 119 companies on Business Week's The Best Places to Launch a Career 2008 list.

The Prudential Foundation provided over $450,000 in Prudential CARES Volunteer Grants to 444 nonprofit organizations worldwide in 2007.

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Grants from the Prudential CARES Volunteer Grants Program can range from $250 to $5,000 for each award winner's charitable organization.

Prudential ranked #69 on the 2017 Forbes World’s Biggest Public Companies list with a market value of $45.6 billion.

The company ranked No. 52 in the 2018 Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by total revenue.

As of 2019, Prudential is the largest insurance provider in the United States with $815.1 billion in total assets.

Controversies and Issues

Prudential has faced controversies related to disability claims, with one notable case involving a dedicated teacher who had three healthcare providers certify her disability.

Prudential resisted paying her claim, citing Catch-22 reasons, despite her acceptance of her condition and her desire to work through it.

This case highlights the challenges that individuals may face when dealing with Prudential's disability claims process.

Class Action Lawsuit Over Sales Practices

Prudential has a history of questionable sales practices. In 1997, the company settled a class action lawsuit with millions of its customers who had been sold unnecessary life insurance by Prudential agents over a 13-year period ending in 1995.

Prudential agents improperly persuaded customers to cash in old policies and purchase new ones to generate additional sales commissions. This practice was acknowledged by Prudential in early 1997.

The settlement called for Prudential to repay an estimated $2 billion to customers through direct refunds and enhancements to existing policies.

Not Paying Valid Claim

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Prudential is known to resist paying valid disability claims, even when multiple healthcare providers have certified the claimant's disability.

A dedicated former teacher of the year, who was trying to work through her condition, had her claim denied by Prudential despite having three healthcare providers attest to her disability.

Prudential often uses Catch-22 reasons to avoid paying claims, making it difficult for claimants to navigate the process.

This can be frustrating for claimants who desperately need their disability payment to survive, as seen in the example of the former teacher who finally accepted her reality months before retiring.

Prudential's lack of responsiveness to medical assessment reports is also a concern, as they may ignore reports that support the claim and appeals.

Their communication methods can be limited, only allowing correspondence through fax or US mail, making it hard for claimants to get in touch with the eligibility team or reviewers directly.

Financials and Dividends

Prudential Financial has a strong track record of paying dividends to its shareholders, with a TSR (Total Shareholder Return) of 64% over the last 5 years, outperforming its share price return.

The company's dividend payments have been a significant contributor to its TSR, with the assumption that the dividends are reinvested.

Prudential's acquisition strategy has also played a key role in its financial growth, with a focus on acquiring complementary businesses that help meet retirement goals.

What About Dividends?

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When looking at investment returns, it's essential to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested.

The TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend, as it takes into account the value of those dividends. For Prudential Financial, the TSR over the last 5 years was 64%, which is better than the share price return mentioned earlier.

This is largely a result of its dividend payments, and it's a great example of how dividends can impact a stock's overall return. In fact, the TSR for Prudential Financial over the last 5 years was 64%, compared to the share price return of 64.47%.

Here's a comparison of the TSR and share price return for Prudential Financial over the last 5 years:

Acquisitions and Divestitures

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Prudential has been actively involved in acquisitions and divestitures over the years, shaping its business and expanding its presence in various markets.

In 1981, the company acquired Bache & Co., a stock brokerage service that operated as a wholly owned subsidiary until 2003.

Prudential also acquired the retirement business of CIGNA Corporation in April 2004, further solidifying its position in the industry.

The company sold its minority stake in Wachovia Securities Financial Holdings LLC to Wells Fargo & Co. in late 2009, marking a significant divestiture.

In 2011, Prudential sold Prudential Bache Commodities, LLC to Jefferies, and also acquired AIG Edison and AIG Star from American International Group, Inc. (AIG) for a total of $4.8 billion.

This acquisition bolstered Prudential's operations in Asia while giving cash to AIG to pay back the federal government from its bailout in 2008.

The company also acquired the individual life insurance business from The Hartford for $615 million in cash in January 2013, adding to its life insurance revenue.

In September 2019, Prudential agreed to acquire online startup Assurance IQ Inc. for $2.35 billion, expanding its presence in the digital space.

Industry commentators believe Prudential paid too much for the acquisition, but the company is likely hoping to reap benefits from the deal in the long run.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Prudential and Prudential Financial the same?

Prudential and Prudential Financial are related but not identical entities, with Prudential Financial being the parent company and Prudential Insurance Company of America being a subsidiary. Prudential Financial oversees its subsidiary, Prudential Insurance Company of America.

What is the number for 1 800 778 4357?

The phone number for Prudential's Online Service Center is 1-800-PRU-HELP (1-800-778-4357). This number is available for technical support and online account access.

Is Prudential Financial a good stock to buy?

Yes, Prudential Financial is considered a strong investment opportunity due to its solid financial performance and expanding global presence. Consider learning more about its innovative strategies and potential for growth.

Krystal Bogisich

Lead Writer

Krystal Bogisich is a seasoned writer with a passion for crafting informative and engaging content. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, she has established herself as a versatile writer capable of tackling a wide range of topics. Her expertise spans multiple industries, including finance, where she has developed a particular interest in actuarial careers.

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