Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH Purchases 6,802 Shares of American Financial Group, Inc. $AFG

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH boosted its position in shares of American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) by 4.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 147,835 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 6,802 shares during the quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH owned 0.18% of American Financial Group worth $18,658,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 10.8% during the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 59,633 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $7,832,000 after purchasing an additional 5,799 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC grew its holdings in American Financial Group by 297.3% during the first quarter. CWM LLC now owns 5,407 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $710,000 after purchasing an additional 4,046 shares during the period. Allianz Asset Management GmbH grew its holdings in American Financial Group by 5.9% during the first quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 277,454 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $36,441,000 after purchasing an additional 15,440 shares during the period. Burney Co. increased its position in American Financial Group by 1.3% during the first quarter. Burney Co. now owns 30,475 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $4,003,000 after buying an additional 385 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers raised its stake in American Financial Group by 153.1% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 11,925 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $1,566,000 after buying an additional 7,214 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.37% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently commented on AFG. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of American Financial Group in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “hold” rating and set a $142.00 price objective on shares of American Financial Group in a research report on Tuesday, November 11th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of American Financial Group from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, September 13th. Piper Sandler raised their target price on shares of American Financial Group from $130.00 to $139.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their target price on shares of 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. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $135.00.

American Financial Group Stock Performance

AFG opened at $138.53 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.47 and a quick ratio of 0.47. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $139.12 and a 200 day simple moving average of $131.48. American Financial Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $114.73 and a 1 year high of $150.19. The company has a market capitalization of $11.55 billion, a PE ratio of 15.22 and a beta of 0.78.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The insurance provider reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.35 by $0.34. The company had revenue of $2.33 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.02 billion. American Financial Group had a return on equity of 17.41% and a net margin of 9.21%.The company’s revenue was up 13.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.31 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.5 EPS for the current year.

American Financial Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a special dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 26th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 17th will be issued a $2.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 17th. American Financial Group’s payout ratio is currently 36.97%.

Insider Transactions at American Financial Group

In other American Financial Group news, Director Stephen Craig Lindner, Jr. sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 21st. The shares were 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 in the company, valued at $43,883,106.30. This represents a 2.97% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Brian S. Hertzman sold 1,777 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $142.51, for a total transaction of $253,240.27. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 11,300 shares in the company, valued at $1,610,363. This represents a 13.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders own 17.40% of the company’s stock.

American Financial Group Company 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.