Advisors Preferred LLC Makes New $425,000 Investment in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG)

Advisors Preferred 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 and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 3,137 shares of the insurance provider's stock, valued at approximately $425,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake 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 valued at $44,832,000 after acquiring an additional 146,237 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its holdings in American Financial Group by 17.4% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 49,796 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $6,833,000 after buying an additional 7,365 shares during the period. Argent Capital Management LLC raised its stake in American Financial Group by 9.8% during the fourth quarter. Argent Capital Management LLC now owns 31,362 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $4,294,000 after purchasing an additional 2,787 shares during the period. Quest Partners LLC raised its position in shares of American Financial Group by 166.1% in the 3rd quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 7,078 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $953,000 after buying an additional 4,418 shares during the period. Finally, Everence Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of American Financial Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $285,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 64.37% of the company's stock.

American Financial Group Trading Down 1.6 %

Shares of NYSE AFG traded down $2.07 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $125.06. 295,784 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 375,928. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. American Financial Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $118.97 and a 1 year high of $150.19. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.83 and a beta of 0.83. The business has a 50 day moving average of $135.44 and a two-hundred day moving average of $134.85.

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 (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $3.15 by ($0.03). American Financial Group had a net margin of 10.66% and a return on equity of 20.30%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

American Financial Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 24th. Investors of record on Tuesday, January 14th were paid a $0.80 dividend. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.56%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, January 14th. American Financial Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 30.27%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on AFG shares. Piper Sandler increased their target price on American Financial Group from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered shares of American Financial Group from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating and dropped their price target for the company from $164.00 to $144.00 in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted 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 note on Friday, November 15th.

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.