Values First Advisors Inc. Trims Holdings in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG)

Values First Advisors Inc. trimmed its stake in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) by 1.6% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 14,562 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after selling 242 shares during the period. American Financial Group comprises 1.1% of Values First Advisors Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest holding. Values First Advisors Inc.’s holdings in American Financial Group were worth $1,994,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Empowered Funds LLC raised its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 17.1% in the 4th quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 34,051 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $4,663,000 after acquiring an additional 4,966 shares during the period. Advisors Preferred LLC purchased a new stake in shares of American Financial Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $425,000. Vest Financial LLC raised its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 62.5% in the 4th quarter. Vest Financial LLC now owns 17,795 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $2,437,000 after acquiring an additional 6,842 shares during the period. Golden State Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of American Financial Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,027,000. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd raised its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 55.2% in the 4th quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 7,837 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $1,073,000 after acquiring an additional 2,789 shares during the period. 64.37% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

American Financial Group Trading Up 0.5 %

NYSE AFG opened at $127.22 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. American Financial Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $118.97 and a 52 week high of $150.19. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.68 billion, a PE ratio of 12.04 and a beta of 0.83. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $136.09 and a two-hundred day moving average of $134.93.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The insurance provider reported $3.12 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.15 by ($0.03). American Financial Group had a return on equity of 20.30% and a net margin of 10.66%. As a group, research analysts expect that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

American Financial Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 24th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, January 14th were issued a dividend of $0.80 per share. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.52%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, January 14th. American Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 30.27%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

AFG has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. 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 note on Tuesday, November 12th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of American Financial Group from $135.00 to $143.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut shares of American Financial Group from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $164.00 to $144.00 in a report on Friday, February 7th.

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.