Horan Securities Inc. Boosts Stake in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG)

Horan Securities Inc. grew its position in shares of American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) by 3.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 2,595 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 81 shares during the quarter. Horan Securities Inc.’s holdings in American Financial Group were worth $355,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its holdings in American Financial Group by 4.2% in the fourth quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 3,660 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $501,000 after buying an additional 147 shares during the period. Callan Family Office LLC acquired a new stake in American Financial Group in the 4th quarter valued at $264,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in American Financial Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $2,875,000. Arizona State Retirement System raised its position in American Financial Group by 1.4% in the fourth quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 20,714 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $2,836,000 after purchasing an additional 290 shares during the period. Finally, Verdence Capital Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 20.6% during the fourth quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 2,533 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $347,000 after purchasing an additional 433 shares in the last quarter. 64.37% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Gregory G. Joseph acquired 3,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 20th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $121.00 per share, for a total transaction of $363,000.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 57,477 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,954,717. This represents a 5.51 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 14.50% of the company’s stock.

American Financial Group Trading Down 0.7 %

NYSE:AFG opened at $127.12 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $10.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.03 and a beta of 0.79. American Financial Group, Inc. has a one year low of $118.97 and a one year high of $150.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.53. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $130.40 and its 200 day simple moving average is $134.46.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG) last released its 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 net margin of 10.66% and a return on equity of 20.30%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

American Financial Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a special dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 17th will be paid a $2.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 17th. American Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 30.27%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on American Financial Group from $135.00 to $143.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Piper Sandler lifted their price objective 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. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded shares of American Financial Group from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and decreased their target price for the company from $164.00 to $144.00 in a research note on Friday, February 7th.

American Financial Group 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.