Vest Financial LLC Buys 6,842 Shares of American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG)

Vest Financial LLC lifted its stake in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) by 62.5% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 17,795 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 6,842 shares during the period. Vest Financial LLC’s holdings in American Financial Group were worth $2,437,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. raised its position in shares of American Financial Group by 1.4% during the fourth quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 5,798 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $794,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. boosted its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 4.0% in the 3rd quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 2,165 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $291,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its position in shares of American Financial Group by 4.6% during the 4th quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 2,226 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $305,000 after buying an additional 97 shares during the period. Highland Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 6.5% during the fourth quarter. Highland Capital Management LLC now owns 1,746 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $239,000 after buying an additional 107 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MML Investors Services LLC lifted its holdings in American Financial Group by 3.5% in the third quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 3,400 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $458,000 after buying an additional 116 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 64.37% of the company’s stock.

American Financial Group Price Performance

Shares of AFG opened at $126.42 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $136.44 and a 200 day simple moving average of $134.78. American Financial Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $117.56 and a 52-week high of $150.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.53. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.61 billion, a PE ratio of 11.96 and a beta of 0.83.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The insurance provider reported $3.12 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.15 by ($0.03). American Financial Group had a net margin of 10.66% and a return on equity of 20.30%. Sell-side analysts predict that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

American Financial Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 24th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 14th were issued a $0.80 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, January 14th. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.53%. American Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 30.27%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently issued reports on AFG. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered American Financial Group from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $164.00 to $144.00 in a research report on Friday. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on shares of American Financial Group from $135.00 to $143.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Finally, Piper Sandler upped their target price on shares of American Financial Group from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th.

About American Financial Group

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.