American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) Given Consensus Rating of "Hold" by Analysts

Key Points

• American Financial Group, Inc. has received a consensus rating of "Hold" from five analysts, with an average 12-month price target of $136.75.
• The company recently increased its quarterly dividend to $0.88 per share, up from $0.80, representing a yield of 2.4%.
• Insider activity included Director Stephen Craig Lindner, Jr. selling 10,000 shares for a total of $1,343,100, reflecting a 2.97% decrease in their ownership position.

American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG - Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of "Hold" from the five brokerages that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $136.75.

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on American Financial Group from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, August 11th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "hold (c+)" rating on shares of American Financial Group in a research note on Saturday, September 27th. Wall Street Zen raised American Financial Group from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, September 13th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price objective on American Financial Group from $127.00 to $124.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, August 12th.

Insider Activity

In other American Financial Group news, Director Stephen Craig Lindner, Jr. sold 10,000 shares of American Financial Group stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $134.31, for a total value of $1,343,100.00. Following the sale, the director owned 326,730 shares of the company's stock, valued at $43,883,106.30. This trade represents a 2.97% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 17.40% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On American Financial Group

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of AFG. Hantz Financial Services Inc. grew its holdings in American Financial Group by 421.1% during the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 198 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares during the period. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp bought a new stake in shares of American Financial Group during the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. Private Trust Co. NA boosted its holdings in shares of American Financial Group by 144.3% during the first quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 215 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 127 shares during the period. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new stake in shares of American Financial Group during the first quarter worth approximately $34,000. Finally, Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in shares of American Financial Group during the first quarter worth approximately $55,000. Institutional investors own 64.37% of the company's stock.

American Financial Group Trading Up 1.1%

AFG traded up $1.65 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $148.75. The stock had a trading volume of 420,326 shares, compared to its average volume of 516,925. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.35 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a current ratio of 0.47. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $135.76 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $129.08. American Financial Group has a 52 week low of $114.73 and a 52 week high of $150.19.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 5th. The insurance provider reported $2.14 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.08 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $1.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.77 billion. American Financial Group had a return on equity of 17.41% and a net margin of 9.21%.The business's quarterly revenue was up 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.56 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that American Financial Group will post 10.5 EPS for the current year.

American Financial Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 24th. Investors of record on Wednesday, October 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.88 per share. This represents a $3.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 15th. This is a boost from American Financial Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.80. American Financial Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 35.16%.

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.

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