KBC Group NV Boosts Holdings in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG)

KBC Group NV raised its stake in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) by 234.2% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 72,877 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 51,070 shares during the quarter. KBC Group NV owned approximately 0.09% of American Financial Group worth $9,979,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of AFG. Renaissance Technologies LLC purchased a new position in American Financial Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $1,501,000. Sei Investments Co. grew its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 26,059 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $3,206,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP purchased a new stake in American Financial Group in the 2nd quarter worth about $1,513,000. Squarepoint Ops LLC raised its stake in American Financial Group by 560.1% in the 2nd quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 17,731 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $2,181,000 after acquiring an additional 15,045 shares during the period. Finally, MBB Public Markets I LLC purchased a new stake in American Financial Group during the second quarter valued at about $611,000. 64.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

American Financial Group Stock Up 0.4 %

AFG opened at $137.63 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.90 and a beta of 0.83. American Financial Group, Inc. has a one year low of $115.64 and a one year high of $150.19. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $138.44 and a 200-day moving average price of $134.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 0.53 and a quick ratio of 0.53.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, November 5th. The insurance provider reported $2.31 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.51 by ($0.20). American Financial Group had a return on equity of 19.97% and a net margin of 10.84%. The business had revenue of $2.06 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.80 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.45 earnings per share. American Financial Group’s revenue was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.74 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

American Financial Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 24th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 14th were issued a $0.80 dividend. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.33%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, January 14th. American Financial Group’s payout ratio is 29.99%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Piper Sandler boosted their price target on shares of American Financial Group from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on American Financial Group from $135.00 to $143.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price objective on American Financial Group from $165.00 to $164.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 10th.

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.