American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) Shares Purchased by Millennium Management LLC

Millennium Management LLC raised its stake in shares of American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG - Free Report) by 73.4% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 104,997 shares of the insurance provider's stock after buying an additional 44,458 shares during the quarter. Millennium Management LLC owned about 0.13% of American Financial Group worth $14,377,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of AFG. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 86.8% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 340 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 158 shares during the period. Natixis purchased a new position in shares of American Financial Group during the 4th quarter worth $47,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of American Financial Group during the 4th quarter worth $53,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 91.2% during the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 520 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $71,000 after purchasing an additional 248 shares during the period. Finally, Allworth Financial LP lifted its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 301.1% during the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 702 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $94,000 after purchasing an additional 527 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.37% of the company's stock.

American Financial Group Trading Down 1.2%

Shares of AFG opened at $121.35 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.48 and a beta of 0.72. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $126.06 and its 200 day simple moving average is $131.46. American Financial Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $114.73 and a twelve month high of $150.19.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The insurance provider reported $1.81 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.17 by ($0.36). The firm had revenue of $1.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.74 billion. American Financial Group had a return on equity of 20.30% and a net margin of 10.66%. The company's quarterly revenue was down 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.76 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.5 earnings per share for the current year.

American Financial Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 25th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 15th were given a $0.80 dividend. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.64%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, April 15th. American Financial Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 33.61%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price target on American Financial Group from $126.00 to $125.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 9th.

American Financial Group 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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