R Squared Ltd Takes $502,000 Position in American Financial Group, Inc. $AFG

R Squared Ltd bought a new stake in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 3,932 shares of the insurance provider’s stock, valued at approximately $502,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of AFG. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,567,721 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $350,956,000 after buying an additional 57,246 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in American Financial Group by 1.7% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,732,557 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $236,645,000 after acquiring an additional 29,731 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in American Financial Group by 12.3% in the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,266,001 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $173,045,000 after acquiring an additional 138,483 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp lifted its stake in American Financial Group by 33.2% in the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,026,783 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $149,623,000 after acquiring an additional 255,693 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in American Financial Group by 4.3% in the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 894,998 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $122,329,000 after acquiring an additional 36,971 shares during the last quarter. 64.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of American Financial Group in a research report on Thursday, June 11th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their target price on American Financial Group from $134.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 25th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on American Financial Group from $155.00 to $158.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 6th. Finally, Piper Sandler upped their price objective on American Financial Group from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 26th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, American Financial Group currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $145.00.

American Financial Group Stock Up 1.3%

Shares of American Financial Group stock traded up $1.90 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $143.93. The company had a trading volume of 70,548 shares, compared to its average volume of 578,740. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.48 and a quick ratio of 0.48. The company’s 50-day moving average is $134.14 and its two-hundred day moving average is $132.12. The company has a market cap of $11.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.68 and a beta of 0.62. American Financial Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $122.11 and a twelve month high of $150.02.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 30th. The insurance provider reported $2.47 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.54 by ($0.07). American Financial Group had a return on equity of 19.50% and a net margin of 10.76%.The company had revenue of $1.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.70 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.81 earnings per share. American Financial Group’s revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 11.37 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

American Financial Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 24th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 15th will be issued a $0.88 dividend. This represents a $3.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 15th. American Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 33.46%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other American Financial Group news, SVP Michelle A. Gillis sold 2,247 shares of American Financial Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $139.00, for a total value of $312,333.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 13,135 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,825,765. This trade represents a 14.61% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider David Lawrence Thompson, Jr. sold 11,370 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $135.05, for a total transaction of $1,535,518.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 584,098 shares in the company, valued at $78,882,434.90. This represents a 1.91% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 16.90% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

American Financial Group Company Profile

American Financial Group, Inc (NYSE: AFG) is a diversified holding company primarily engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance. Through its flagship subsidiary, Great American Insurance Company, the firm underwrites a broad range of specialty insurance products for commercial and industrial clients, including inland marine, excess and surplus lines, executive liability, and environmental liability coverage. In addition, American Financial Group offers supplemental accident and health insurance and assumes reinsurance risks from other insurers, helping to diversify its underwriting portfolio.

The company traces its roots to 1946, when it was founded by Carl Lindner, Sr.