SG Americas Securities LLC Boosts Stock Position in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG)

SG Americas Securities LLC increased its holdings in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG - Free Report) by 6,414.6% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 129,967 shares of the insurance provider's stock after buying an additional 127,972 shares during the quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC owned about 0.16% of American Financial Group worth $17,070,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Natixis bought a new stake in American Financial Group in the 4th quarter worth about $47,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in American Financial Group in the 4th quarter worth about $53,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its holdings in American Financial Group by 91.2% in the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 520 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $71,000 after buying an additional 248 shares in the last quarter. Measured Risk Portfolios Inc. bought a new stake in American Financial Group in the 4th quarter worth about $73,000. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. increased its holdings in American Financial Group by 97.4% in the 1st quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 671 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $88,000 after buying an additional 331 shares in the last quarter. 64.37% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

American Financial Group Stock Performance

NYSE:AFG traded down $1.66 on Friday, hitting $123.70. The stock had a trading volume of 612,655 shares, compared to its average volume of 403,722. The stock has a market cap of $10.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.70 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $125.12 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $129.45. American Financial Group, Inc. 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 earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The insurance provider reported $1.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.17 by ($0.36). American Financial Group had a return on equity of 20.30% and a net margin of 10.66%. The firm had revenue of $1.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.74 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.76 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.5 earnings per share for the current year.

American Financial Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 25th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 15th were given a dividend of $0.80 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, April 15th. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.59%. American Financial Group's payout ratio is currently 33.61%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

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

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.