Weiss Ratings Reaffirms Hold (C+) Rating for American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG)

Key Points

• Weiss Ratings has reaffirmed a "Hold (C+)" rating for American Financial Group's stock, which currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $136.75.
• American Financial Group reported earnings of $2.14 per share in its last quarterly report, surpassing the consensus estimate of $2.08.
• Hedge funds and institutional investors hold 64.37% of American Financial Group's stock, with significant adjustments in their holdings in recent quarters.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG - Get Free Report)'s stock had its "hold (c+)" rating reissued by stock analysts at Weiss Ratings in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday,Weiss Ratings reports.

Several other research firms have also weighed in on AFG. Wall Street Zen raised American Financial Group from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, September 13th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their target price on 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. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on American Financial Group from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, August 11th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $136.75.

American Financial Group Trading Up 0.1%

Shares of AFG stock traded up $0.20 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $147.04. The company's stock had a trading volume of 75,340 shares, compared to its average volume of 497,007. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $136.63 and its 200-day simple moving average is $129.42. American Financial Group has a 52 week low of $114.73 and a 52 week high of $150.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a current ratio of 0.47. The company has a market cap of $12.26 billion, a PE ratio of 16.16 and a beta of 0.74.

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

Insider Buying and Selling at American Financial Group

In other news, Director Stephen Craig Lindner, Jr. sold 10,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $134.31, for a total value of $1,343,100.00. Following the transaction, 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 filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 17.40% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On American Financial Group

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Hantz Financial Services Inc. lifted its stake in American Financial Group by 421.1% in the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 198 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares during the last quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp purchased a new position in American Financial Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Private Trust Co. NA lifted its stake in American Financial Group by 144.3% in the first quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 215 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 127 shares during the last quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd purchased a new position in American Financial Group in the first quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in American Financial Group in the first quarter valued at approximately $55,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 64.37% of the company's stock.

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.

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