AlphaQuest LLC Acquires 4,631 Shares of American Financial Group, Inc. $AFG

Key Points

• AlphaQuest LLC significantly increased its holdings in American Financial Group, by acquiring an additional 4,631 shares, bringing its total to 6,656 shares valued at $874,000.
• Insider activity included Director Stephen Craig Lindner, Jr. selling 10,000 shares at an average price of $134.31, reducing his holdings to 326,730 shares.
• American Financial Group's stock recently opened at $134.63 and has a market capitalization of $11.23 billion, with analysts setting an average target price of $136.75.

AlphaQuest LLC grew its holdings in shares of American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG - Free Report) by 228.7% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 6,656 shares of the insurance provider's stock after acquiring an additional 4,631 shares during the period. AlphaQuest LLC's holdings in American Financial Group were worth $874,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of AFG. Private Trust Co. NA grew its position in shares of American Financial Group by 144.3% during the 1st quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 215 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $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 1st quarter valued at $34,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of American Financial Group during the 4th quarter valued at $53,000. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in shares of American Financial Group during the 1st quarter valued at $55,000. Finally, Costello Asset Management INC bought a new stake in shares of American Financial Group during the 1st quarter valued at $68,000. Institutional investors own 64.37% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other American Financial Group news, Director Stephen Craig Lindner, Jr. sold 10,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 21st. The shares were 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 in the company, valued at $43,883,106.30. The trade was a 2.97% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 17.40% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

American Financial Group Stock Up 1.2%

Shares of AFG stock opened at $134.6320 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $11.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.79 and a beta of 0.74. American Financial Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $114.73 and a 52 week high of $150.19. The company has a quick ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 0.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $127.04 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $125.89.

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

American Financial Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 25th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, July 15th were paid a $0.80 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, July 15th. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.4%. American Financial Group's payout ratio is presently 35.16%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on AFG shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price objective on shares of American Financial Group from $127.00 to $124.00 and set a "market perform" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, August 12th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of American Financial Group from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, August 9th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of American Financial Group from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, August 11th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, American Financial Group presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $136.75.

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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