37,439 Shares in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) Acquired by Proficio Capital Partners LLC

Proficio Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 37,439 shares of the insurance provider's stock, valued at approximately $5,127,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of AFG. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. raised its holdings in American Financial Group by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 151,771 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $20,782,000 after buying an additional 3,911 shares during the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd raised its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 55.2% during the fourth 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 last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in shares of American Financial Group by 78.3% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 333,078 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $44,832,000 after purchasing an additional 146,237 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 17.4% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 49,796 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $6,833,000 after purchasing an additional 7,365 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Argent Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in American Financial Group by 9.8% during the 4th quarter. Argent Capital Management LLC now owns 31,362 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $4,294,000 after purchasing an additional 2,787 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 64.37% of the company's stock.

American Financial Group Stock Performance

American Financial Group stock opened at $128.56 on Tuesday. American Financial Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $118.97 and a fifty-two week high of $150.19. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $131.28 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $134.55. 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 stock has a market cap of $10.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.16 and a beta of 0.83.

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

American Financial Group Dividend Announcement

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have weighed in on AFG. Piper Sandler increased their price objective on American Financial Group from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered American Financial Group from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $164.00 to $144.00 in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted 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 research report on Friday, November 15th.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other American Financial Group news, Director Gregory G. Joseph acquired 3,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 20th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $121.00 per share, for a total transaction 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 ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 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.

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