Aegon (NYSE:AEG) Sets New 1-Year High - Still a Buy?

Aegon NV (NYSE:AEG - Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $7.32 and last traded at $7.30, with a volume of 2978941 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $7.20.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. BNP Paribas Exane raised Aegon from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 7th. BNP Paribas raised shares of Aegon from a "hold" rating to an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 7th. Berenberg Bank raised shares of Aegon to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Thursday, May 29th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Aegon from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Buy".

Aegon Stock Up 1.1%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 0.06 and a quick ratio of 0.06. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $6.91 and a 200 day simple moving average of $6.47. The firm has a market cap of $16.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.58, a PEG ratio of 0.27 and a beta of 0.91.

Aegon Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 7th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 17th will be issued a dividend of $0.1992 per share. This is a positive change from Aegon's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.17. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 17th. This represents a dividend yield of 5.3%. Aegon's dividend payout ratio is presently 38.54%.

Aegon declared that its board has authorized a share repurchase program on Friday, May 16th that allows the company to buyback 0 outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the financial services provider to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically a sign that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued.

Institutional Trading of Aegon

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Bessemer Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Aegon by 526.8% during the 1st quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 4,325 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 3,635 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its position in Aegon by 1,136.2% during the fourth quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 4,846 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 4,454 shares in the last quarter. SVB Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Aegon during the first quarter worth $42,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Aegon by 70.6% in the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 9,184 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $54,000 after buying an additional 3,802 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG purchased a new stake in Aegon in the 1st quarter valued at $61,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 4.32% of the company's stock.

Aegon Company Profile

Aegon Ltd. provides insurance, pensions, retirement, and asset management services in the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company offers life, accident, property and casualty, and health insurance; annuities, retirement plans, mutual funds, and stable value solutions; residential mortgage and digital baking services; and retail and institutional investment management solutions and retirement savings vehicles and strategies.