Gateway Investment Advisers LLC Raises Holdings in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG)

Gateway Investment Advisers LLC boosted its stake in shares of American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) by 0.6% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 63,164 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after buying an additional 358 shares during the period. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC’s holdings in American Financial Group were worth $8,649,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of AFG. Acadian Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of American Financial Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $85,000. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in American Financial Group by 35.6% during the second quarter. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC now owns 716 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $88,000 after acquiring an additional 188 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new position in shares of American Financial Group during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $99,000. Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo LLC purchased a new stake in American Financial Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $111,000. Finally, Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of American Financial Group in the second quarter valued at about $124,000. 64.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

American Financial Group Price Performance

American Financial Group stock opened at $137.83 on Friday. 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 company has a market capitalization of $11.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.92 and a beta of 0.83. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $139.33 and its 200-day simple moving average is $133.66. American Financial Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $115.64 and a 1 year high of $150.19.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 5th. The insurance provider reported $2.31 EPS 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 firm had revenue of $2.06 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.80 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.45 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.74 earnings per share for the current year.

American Financial Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 24th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, January 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.80 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 14th. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.32%. American Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.99%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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

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.