Progressive (NYSE:PGR) Hits New 1-Year Low – Time to Sell?
by Mitch Edgeman · The Markets DailyThe Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR – Get Free Report)’s share price hit a new 52-week low on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $198.50 and last traded at $201.8630, with a volume of 307853 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $202.37.
Key Stories Impacting Progressive
Here are the key news stories impacting Progressive this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Market coverage highlights that Progressive is seeing buying interest and gained versus the broader market, which supports near-term share strength and higher-than-average volume. Progressive (PGR) Beats Stock Market Upswing: What Investors Need to Know
- Neutral Sentiment: Progressive is drawing investor attention and search interest, keeping the ticker in focus ahead of corporate events — this can increase intraday volatility but is not inherently directional. The Progressive Corporation (PGR) is Attracting Investor Attention: Here is What You Should Know
- Neutral Sentiment: Progressive is scheduled to report earnings next week; the event is a near-term catalyst that can drive larger moves depending on results and guidance. Progressive (PGR) Expected to Announce Earnings on Wednesday
- Negative Sentiment: Competitive threat: Lemonade’s new Tesla partnership (50% discount for FSD miles) represents a potential pricing innovation that could force legacy insurers — including Progressive — to adjust pricing or risk losing low‑loss, tech‑savvy customers; this raises long‑term competitive pressure on auto insurance margins. Lemonade’s Tesla Deal Could Rewrite How Auto Insurance Is Priced
- Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: Progressive CIO Jonathan S. Bauer and insider Andrew J. Quigg disclosed recent open‑market sales (several thousand shares each). While not unusually large for a company of this size, multiple insider sales can be perceived negatively by some investors ahead of earnings. Jonathan S. Bauer insider sale (SEC filing) Andrew J. Quigg insider sale (SEC filing)
- Negative Sentiment: Analyst/expectations risk: Zacks notes that while Wall Street expects earnings growth, Progressive may lack the specific factors that point to a likely earnings beat, which raises the risk of a disappointing print or conservative guidance. Progressive (PGR) Reports Next Week: Wall Street Expects Earnings Growth
Analyst Ratings Changes
Several research firms have issued reports on PGR. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Progressive in a report on Monday, December 29th. Zacks Research cut Progressive from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Progressive from $242.00 to $240.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Progressive in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group set a $227.00 price objective on shares of Progressive in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $259.39.
Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on PGR
Progressive Stock Up 1.9%
The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 0.29 and a current ratio of 0.29. The firm has a market capitalization of $121.35 billion, a PE ratio of 11.35, a PEG ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 0.34. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $221.92 and a 200-day moving average price of $232.79.
Progressive Dividend Announcement
The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 2nd were paid a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 2nd. Progressive’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 2.19%.
Insider Buying and Selling at Progressive
In other news, insider Steven Broz sold 1,344 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $224.80, for a total transaction of $302,131.20. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 26,354 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,924,379.20. This represents a 4.85% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO John P. Sauerland sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $228.48, for a total transaction of $1,142,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 223,024 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $50,956,523.52. The trade was a 2.19% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 13,788 shares of company stock valued at $3,018,961. Corporate insiders own 0.34% of the company’s stock.
Institutional Trading of Progressive
Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Progressive by 15.6% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 3,392 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $813,000 after acquiring an additional 457 shares during the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Progressive during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $269,000. Bison Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Progressive by 3.2% in the fourth quarter. Bison Wealth LLC now owns 2,568 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $615,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. raised its holdings in Progressive by 4.0% in the second quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 27,343 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $7,297,000 after purchasing an additional 1,058 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AdvisorNet Financial Inc increased its holdings in shares of Progressive by 80.6% during the second quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 809 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $216,000 after acquiring an additional 361 shares in the last quarter. 85.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Progressive Company Profile
Progressive Corporation is a large U.S.-based property and casualty insurer that primarily underwrites personal auto insurance along with a broad suite of related products. Its offerings include coverage for private passenger automobiles, commercial auto fleets, motorcycles, boats and recreational vehicles, as well as homeowners, renters, umbrella and other specialty P&C products. Progressive also provides claims handling, risk management and related services to individual and commercial policyholders.
The company distributes its products through a mix of direct channels—online and by phone—and an extensive independent agent network.