Who Owns The Hartford?
The Hartford is the flagship insurance brand of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., a publicly traded company on the NYSE under ticker HIG. Founded in 1810 in Hartford, Connecticut, the brand covers business insurance, personal auto and home insurance for AARP members, employee benefits, and Hartford Funds mutual products, and is known for its stag emblem.
Parent Company
Founded
1810
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Who Owns The Hartford?
- Parent Company: The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
- Ownership Type: Brand division
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NYSE: HIG
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| The Hartford | The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. | Brand division |
History of The Hartford
- Founded: 1810
- Founders: Hartford Fire Insurance Company incorporators
The Hartford traces to the Hartford Fire Insurance Company, organized in 1810 by a group of local merchants in Hartford, Connecticut, which was then a center of river commerce and, soon, of the American insurance industry. The company insured early American institutions including Yale University, and it famously covered Abraham Lincoln's Illinois home under a policy issued in 1861.
The brand's reputation was built on surviving catastrophe claims. The Hartford paid losses from the New York fire of 1835, the Chicago fire of 1871, the Boston fire of 1872, and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The stag emblem first appeared in advertising in the 1870s, derived from a deer on early policy certificates, and the image of the stag turning to check for danger came to symbolize the company's promise to watch for risk.
Through the 20th century the company diversified from fire insurance into casualty, life insurance, and employee benefits. ITT Corporation acquired The Hartford in 1970, and it operated as part of the conglomerate for 25 years before returning to independence in the 1995 breakup of ITT, listing publicly that December.
The 2008 financial crisis nearly broke the brand. Losses on variable annuity guarantees forced a $2.5 billion capital investment from Allianz, and the company spent a decade exiting life insurance and annuities to refocus on property and casualty insurance and group benefits. In 2019 it acquired specialty insurer Navigators Group for about $2.1 billion, and in 2021 it sold its non-AARP personal lines book to Kemper, concentrating consumer business on its exclusive relationship with AARP, a partnership running since 1984.
Today The Hartford brand is one of the most recognized in U.S. insurance, anchored by the stag logo and the AARP endorsement. FY2025 revenue was $28.4 billion with net income of $3.8 billion, both records for the modern company.
About The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
Is The Hartford a publicly traded company?
Yes. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol HIG. It has been publicly traded since its 1995 IPO following the breakup of ITT Corporation. No single shareholder controls the company; ownership is distributed among institutional and retail investors.
When was The Hartford founded?
The Hartford was founded in 1810 in Hartford, Connecticut, originally as the Hartford Fire Insurance Company. It is one of the oldest continuously operating insurance companies in the United States, and it celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2010.
What insurance does The Hartford sell?
The Hartford sells business insurance including workers' compensation, general liability, commercial auto, and property coverage. It also sells personal auto and home insurance primarily to AARP members, group life and disability employee benefits, and mutual funds through Hartford Funds. Business insurance is its largest segment, producing 56% of FY2025 revenue.
Who is the CEO of The Hartford?
Christopher J. Swift is chairman and chief executive officer of The Hartford. He became CEO in 2014 and added the chairman title in 2020. Under his leadership the company exited annuities, sold its personal lines book outside the AARP channel, and acquired Navigators Group in 2019.
Does The Hartford own Navigators Insurance?
Yes. The Hartford acquired The Navigators Group in May 2019 for approximately $2.1 billion. Navigators now operates as "Navigators, a brand of The Hartford," covering the company's reinsurance and U.S. wholesale specialty insurance businesses.
What is The Hartford's connection to AARP?
The Hartford has been the exclusive provider of auto and home insurance endorsed by AARP since 1984. AARP members purchase policies underwritten by The Hartford, and the partnership accounts for the bulk of the company's Personal Insurance segment revenue.
- Founded: 1810
- Headquarters: Hartford, Connecticut, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NYSE: HIG
- Revenue: $28.4 billion (FY2025)
- Employees: approximately 19,200
Where Is The Hartford Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Hartford, Connecticut, USA
The Hartford Categories & Tags
The Hartford Sustainability & Ethics
The Hartford brand's parent company has committed to net zero greenhouse gas emissions in its operations and underwriting by 2050 and was among the first large U.S. insurers to announce coal underwriting and investment restrictions in 2019. The company publishes annual sustainability reporting covering climate risk, community investment, and workforce metrics. The brand itself has no independent environmental certification and is not a B Corp.
Awards & Recognition
The Hartford has been named to Ethisphere's World's Most Ethical Companies list multiple times and appears on Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies list in the property and casualty category. Its claims and small commercial operations have received J.D. Power recognition, and the brand's stag emblem is routinely cited among the longest-lived trademarks in American financial services.
The Hartford Recalls & Controversies
The brand's most serious crisis was the 2008 financial meltdown, when variable annuity guarantees written under The Hartford name produced heavy losses and forced a $2.5 billion capital raise from Allianz. The company subsequently exited annuities and individual life insurance entirely.
Like other large insurers, The Hartford has faced periodic bad faith litigation and state regulatory reviews over claims handling, and critics have challenged its fossil fuel underwriting policies as less aggressive than European peers. No singular scandal has attached to the brand in recent years; its controversies are the ordinary litigation and catastrophe exposure of a 215-year-old insurer.
Brands Owned by The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
The Hartford Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +215-year-old brand with one of the most recognized trademarks in insurance
- +Exclusive AARP partnership delivers a protected personal lines channel
- +Top five small commercial position with diversified product breadth
- +Record FY2025 earnings support brand investment and claims capacity
Considerations
- -Personal insurance growth is tied to a single partner, AARP
- -Catastrophe exposure in property lines creates earnings volatility
- -2008 crisis demonstrated how non-core products can threaten the franchise
- -Commercial market competition from Chubb and Travelers pressures pricing
Frequently Asked Questions About The Hartford
Sources & Further Reading
Competitors to The Hartford
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cvs Health | United States | 1853 | Mass market | North america | All Genders | |
| American International Group | USA | 1919 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
| Nationwide | USA | 1929 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Apollo Global Management | USA | 2009 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Chubb | USA (executive offices) | 1882 | Market leader | Global | All-ages | |
| Berkshire Hathaway | USA | 1936 | Mass market | United states | All-ages |
Learn More About Competitors
Healthcare PharmaceuticalsAetna
Owned by CVS Health Corporation
American managed care and health insurance company offering medical, dental, pharmacy, and behavioral health plans, operating as a subsidiary of CVS Health Corporation.
health-insurancemanaged-carehealthcare
InsuranceAIG
Owned by American International Group, Inc.
Master insurance brand of American International Group, covering commercial, personal, and travel insurance products in more than 200 countries.
insurancecommercial-insuranceproperty-casualty
InsuranceAllied Insurance
Owned by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
Des Moines-founded insurance brand of Nationwide Mutual, serving independent agents and brokers for personal and small commercial lines since 1929.
insuranceindependent-agentsproperty-casualty
InsuranceAthene
Owned by Apollo Global Management, Inc.
American retirement services and annuity provider founded in 2009, merged with Apollo Global Management in 2022 and operating as its Retirement Services segment.
insuranceannuitiesretirement
InsuranceChubb
Owned by Chubb Limited
Flagship insurance brand of Chubb Limited, the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurer, covering commercial, personal, and specialty insurance in 54 countries.
insuranceproperty-casualtycommercial-insurance
Finance FintechGEICO
Owned by Berkshire Hathaway
American auto insurance company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, known for its direct-to-consumer model and the second-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States.
insuranceauto-insurancefinancial-services
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: The Hartford competes with 6 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Independent Alternatives to The Hartford
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
InsuranceAllied Insurance
Owned by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
Des Moines-founded insurance brand of Nationwide Mutual, serving independent agents and brokers for personal and small commercial lines since 1929.
insuranceindependent-agentsproperty-casualty
Privately Owned
Allied Insurance is privately owned, unlike The Hartford which is under a publicly traded parent company.
InsuranceNationwide
Owned by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
Consumer-facing insurance and financial services brand of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, the Columbus, Ohio mutual founded in 1926.
insurancemutual-insuranceauto-insurance
Privately Owned
Nationwide is privately owned, unlike The Hartford which is under a publicly traded parent company.
InsuranceNationwide Pet Insurance
Owned by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
America's first and largest pet insurance brand, founded as Veterinary Pet Insurance in 1982 and owned by Nationwide Mutual since 2009.
pet-insuranceinsurancepets
Privately Owned
Nationwide Pet Insurance is privately owned, unlike The Hartford which is under a publicly traded parent company.
InsuranceMetLife
Owned by MetLife, Inc.
MetLife is the flagship insurance and employee benefits brand of MetLife, Inc., the largest U.S. life insurer, serving roughly 100 million customers in more than 40 markets.
life-insuranceemployee-benefitsdental
Publicly Traded
MetLife operates independently without a large parent corporation.
InsuranceNorthwestern Mutual
Owned by The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
American life insurance and financial planning brand owned by policyowners through The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, the largest direct provider of individual life insurance in the United States.
life-insurancefinancial-planningmutual-insurance
Privately Owned
Northwestern Mutual is privately owned, unlike The Hartford which is under a publicly traded parent company.
InsuranceState Farm Auto Insurance
Owned by State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
State Farm's flagship auto insurance product line, the largest auto insurer in the United States, which returned a $4.6 billion underwriting profit in 2025 and announced a record $5 billion customer dividend.
auto-insurancecar-insuranceproperty-casualty
Privately Owned
State Farm Auto Insurance is privately owned, unlike The Hartford which is under a publicly traded parent company.
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. Stock Information
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