Focus Partners Wealth Has $5.43 Million Position in American Financial Group, Inc. $AFG

Key Points

• Focus Partners Wealth increased its stake in American Financial Group, Inc. by 50.5%, owning 41,374 shares valued at approximately $5.43 million following the acquisition of additional shares in the first quarter.
• American Financial Group reported earnings of $2.14 EPS for the last quarter, outpacing the consensus estimate of $2.08 and showing a 1.3% year-over-year revenue growth.
• The company recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.80, reflecting an annualized yield of 2.3% and a payout ratio of 35.16%.

Focus Partners Wealth raised its position in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG - Free Report) by 50.5% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 41,374 shares of the insurance provider's stock after buying an additional 13,886 shares during the quarter. Focus Partners Wealth's holdings in American Financial Group were worth $5,434,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in American Financial Group by 10.8% in the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 59,633 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $7,832,000 after buying an additional 5,799 shares in the last quarter. Sowell Financial Services LLC bought a new position in American Financial Group during the 1st quarter worth $282,000. Teacher Retirement System of Texas bought a new position in American Financial Group during the 1st quarter worth $1,370,000. Private Trust Co. NA increased its stake in American Financial Group by 144.3% during the 1st 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. Finally, QRG Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in American Financial Group by 10.5% during the 1st quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 5,427 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $713,000 after acquiring an additional 514 shares during the period. 64.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

American Financial Group Price Performance

Shares of AFG traded up $0.55 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $141.34. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,253,293 shares, compared to its average volume of 434,065. The company has a quick ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 0.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. American Financial Group, Inc. has a one year low of $114.73 and a one year high of $150.19. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.53 and a beta of 0.73. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $132.10 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $127.77.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 5th. The insurance provider reported $2.14 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.08 by $0.06. American Financial Group had a return on equity of 17.41% and a net margin of 9.21%.The company had revenue of $1.65 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.77 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.56 EPS. American Financial Group's revenue for the quarter was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

American Financial Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 25th. Investors of record on Tuesday, July 15th were issued a dividend of $0.80 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, July 15th. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. American Financial Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 35.16%.

Insider Buying and Selling at American Financial Group

In related news, Director Stephen Craig Lindner, Jr. sold 10,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $134.31, for a total transaction 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 legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 17.40% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have commented on AFG shares. Wall Street Zen upgraded American Financial Group from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, September 13th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on American Financial Group from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, August 11th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price target 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. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $136.75.

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.