American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) Shares Bought by Highland Capital Management LLC

Highland Capital Management LLC grew its stake in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) by 6.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,746 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the quarter. Highland Capital Management LLC’s holdings in American Financial Group were worth $239,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in American Financial Group in the 2nd quarter worth about $1,501,000. Sei Investments Co. boosted its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 0.3% in the second quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 26,059 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $3,206,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP purchased a new stake in shares of American Financial Group during the second quarter worth approximately $1,513,000. Squarepoint Ops LLC raised its stake in American Financial Group by 560.1% in the 2nd quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 17,731 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $2,181,000 after purchasing an additional 15,045 shares during the last quarter. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company lifted its holdings in American Financial Group by 27.6% in the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 75,218 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $9,253,000 after purchasing an additional 16,267 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 64.37% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Piper Sandler upped their target price on shares of American Financial Group from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price objective on shares of American Financial Group from $165.00 to $164.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of American Financial Group from $135.00 to $143.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th.

American Financial Group Stock Down 1.1 %

Shares of AFG opened at $136.66 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $138.13 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $134.69. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The company has a market capitalization of $11.47 billion, a PE ratio of 12.81 and a beta of 0.83. American Financial Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $115.64 and a 52-week high of $150.19.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, November 5th. The insurance provider reported $2.31 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.51 by ($0.20). The firm had revenue of $2.06 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.80 billion. American Financial Group had a return on equity of 19.97% and a net margin of 10.84%. American Financial Group’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.45 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.83 EPS for the current year.

American Financial Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 24th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, January 14th were paid a dividend of $0.80 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, January 14th. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.34%. American Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.99%.

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.