ProShare Advisors LLC Has $32.53 Million Stock Position in American Financial Group, Inc. $AFG

ProShare Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) by 13.2% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 257,725 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 30,050 shares during the period. ProShare Advisors LLC owned 0.31% of American Financial Group worth $32,527,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Hantz Financial Services Inc. lifted its position in shares of American Financial Group by 421.1% in the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 198 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 160 shares during the last quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp acquired a new position in shares of American Financial Group during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new stake in American Financial Group in the 1st quarter valued at $34,000. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in American Financial Group during the 1st quarter valued at $55,000. Finally, IFP Advisors Inc lifted its holdings in American Financial Group by 86.7% during the 2nd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 422 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $57,000 after purchasing an additional 196 shares during the last quarter. 64.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

American Financial Group Stock Performance

NYSE:AFG opened at $142.32 on Wednesday. American Financial Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $114.73 and a twelve month high of $150.19. The company has a quick ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 0.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $138.85 and its 200 day simple moving average is $131.01. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.87 billion, a PE ratio of 15.64 and a beta of 0.78.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The insurance provider reported $2.69 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.35 by $0.34. American Financial Group had a net margin of 9.21% and a return on equity of 17.41%. The firm had revenue of $2.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.02 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.31 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 13.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

American Financial Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a special dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 26th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 17th will be given a $2.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 17th. American Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 36.97%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of American Financial Group from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, September 13th. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on shares of American Financial Group from $130.00 to $139.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price objective on American Financial Group from $127.00 to $124.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, August 12th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “hold” rating and set a $142.00 target price on shares of American Financial Group in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised American Financial Group from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Friday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, American Financial Group presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $137.00.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other American Financial Group news, CFO Brian S. Hertzman sold 1,777 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $142.51, for a total transaction of $253,240.27. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 11,300 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,610,363. The trade was a 13.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Stephen Craig Lindner, Jr. sold 10,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $134.31, for a total transaction of $1,343,100.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 326,730 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $43,883,106.30. This trade represents a 2.97% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Company insiders own 17.40% of the company’s stock.

American Financial Group Profile

American Financial Group, Inc, an insurance holding company, provides specialty property and casualty insurance products in the United States. The company offers property and transportation insurance products, such as physical damage and liability coverage for buses and trucks, inland and ocean marine, agricultural-related products, and other commercial property and specialty transportation coverages; specialty casualty insurance, including primarily excess and surplus, executive and professional liability, general liability, umbrella and excess liability, and specialty coverage in targeted markets, as well as customized programs for small to mid-sized businesses and workers’ compensation insurance; and specialty financial insurance products comprising risk management insurance programs for lending and leasing institutions, fidelity and surety products, and trade credit insurance.