Zions Bancorporation N.A. Increases Stake in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG)

Zions Bancorporation N.A. raised its holdings in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) by 51.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,584 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after buying an additional 1,567 shares during the period. Zions Bancorporation N.A.’s holdings in American Financial Group were worth $628,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 7.3% in the third quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 16,952 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $2,282,000 after acquiring an additional 1,146 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 8.5% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 503,115 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $67,719,000 after buying an additional 39,623 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. grew its position in shares of American Financial Group by 17.7% during the third quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 84,910 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $11,429,000 after buying an additional 12,749 shares in the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 17.0% during the third quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 5,365 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $722,000 after buying an additional 781 shares during the period. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 12.3% during the third quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 5,474 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $737,000 after buying an additional 600 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.37% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut shares of American Financial Group from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $164.00 to $144.00 in a report on Friday, February 7th.

American Financial Group Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE AFG opened at $127.85 on Thursday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $128.37 and a two-hundred day moving average of $133.89. The company has a market capitalization of $10.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.10 and a beta of 0.79. American Financial Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $118.97 and a 1 year high of $150.19. 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 posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The insurance provider reported $3.12 earnings per share 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%. On average, analysts forecast that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

American Financial Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a special dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Investors of record on Monday, March 17th will be paid a dividend of $2.00 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 17th. American Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 30.27%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Gregory G. Joseph acquired 3,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 20th. The shares were bought at an average price of $121.00 per share, with a total value of $363,000.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 57,477 shares in the company, valued at $6,954,717. This trade represents a 5.51 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 14.50% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.