American Financial Group, Inc. $AFG Shares Acquired by Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC

Key Points

• Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in American Financial Group by 62.2% during the 1st quarter, now owning 70,950 shares valued at approximately $9.3 million.
• American Financial Group's recent earnings report showed $2.14 earnings per share (EPS), beating estimates, with quarterly revenue of $1.65 billion.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.80 per share, equating to a 2.4% yield and a payout ratio of 35.16%.

Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC increased its position in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG - Free Report) by 62.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 70,950 shares of the insurance provider's stock after purchasing an additional 27,197 shares during the period. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC owned 0.08% of American Financial Group worth $9,319,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Private Trust Co. NA raised its holdings in American Financial Group by 144.3% in 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 last quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new position in American Financial Group during the 1st quarter valued at about $34,000. Natixis purchased a new stake in shares of American Financial Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $47,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of American Financial Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $53,000. Finally, Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new position in American Financial Group during the first quarter valued at approximately $55,000. Institutional investors own 64.37% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

American Financial Group Stock Up 1.7%

AFG stock traded up $2.3090 during trading on Friday, hitting $135.3690. 71,792 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 500,715. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $11.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.88 and a beta of 0.74. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $126.82 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $125.93. American Financial Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $114.73 and a 1 year high of $150.19.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 5th. The insurance provider reported $2.14 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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 firm had revenue of $1.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.77 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.56 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.5 EPS for the current year.

American Financial Group Dividend Announcement

The firm 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 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. 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.