Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC Increases Stock Position in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG)

Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) by 11.4% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 4,954 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after buying an additional 505 shares during the period. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC’s holdings in American Financial Group were worth $589,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of AFG. National Bank of Canada FI increased its stake in American Financial Group by 59.2% in the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 2,457 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $268,000 after purchasing an additional 914 shares in the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC grew its stake in American Financial Group by 242.3% during the third quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 3,053 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $341,000 after buying an additional 2,161 shares during the period. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC grew its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 16.4% in the third quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 5,374 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $600,000 after buying an additional 759 shares in the last quarter. Oak Thistle LLC raised its holdings in shares of American Financial Group by 111.1% during the 3rd quarter. Oak Thistle LLC now owns 4,951 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $553,000 after buying an additional 2,606 shares during the period. Finally, Ballentine Partners LLC purchased a new position in American Financial Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $280,000. 64.37% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at American Financial Group

In other news, Director James E. Evans sold 2,274 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $128.64, for a total value of $292,527.36. Following the transaction, the director now owns 105,302 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,546,049.28. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, Director James E. Evans sold 2,274 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $128.64, for a total transaction of $292,527.36. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 105,302 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $13,546,049.28. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Brian S. Hertzman sold 1,067 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $126.95, for a total transaction of $135,455.65. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 10,583 shares in the company, valued at $1,343,511.85. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 14,843 shares of company stock valued at $1,854,746. Company insiders own 14.50% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on AFG shares. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of American Financial Group from $139.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, March 25th. Piper Sandler reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $129.00 target price on shares of American Financial Group in a research report on Monday, April 1st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, American Financial Group currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $133.50.

American Financial Group Price Performance

Shares of AFG opened at $128.71 on Friday. American Financial Group, Inc. has a one year low of $105.22 and a one year high of $137.71. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $129.60 and its 200-day moving average is $120.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a current ratio of 0.47. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.81 and a beta of 0.79.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 7th. The insurance provider reported $2.84 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.81 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $1.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.67 billion. American Financial Group had a return on equity of 22.14% and a net margin of 10.89%. The company’s revenue was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.99 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.99 EPS for the current year.

American Financial Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 25th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 15th were issued a dividend of $0.71 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, April 12th. This represents a $2.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.21%. American Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio is 28.26%.

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.