Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. Grows Position in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG)

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. increased its position in shares of American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG - Free Report) by 2.6% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 151,771 shares of the insurance provider's stock after purchasing an additional 3,911 shares during the period. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. owned approximately 0.18% of American Financial Group worth $20,782,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 86.8% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 340 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 158 shares during the period. iA Global Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of American Financial Group during the 3rd quarter worth about $125,000. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new position in shares of American Financial Group during the 3rd quarter worth about $130,000. AlphaMark Advisors LLC boosted its position in American Financial Group by 320.7% in the 3rd quarter. AlphaMark Advisors LLC now owns 1,077 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $145,000 after buying an additional 821 shares during the period. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in American Financial Group by 31.6% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,059 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $145,000 after buying an additional 254 shares during the period. 64.37% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

American Financial Group Stock Down 0.8 %

Shares of NYSE:AFG traded down $1.04 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $123.28. The company's stock had a trading volume of 546,466 shares, compared to its average volume of 364,639. American Financial Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $118.97 and a 52 week 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. The company has a market capitalization of $10.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.66 and a beta of 0.83. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $134.65 and its 200 day moving average price is $134.80.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The insurance provider reported $3.12 EPS 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, research analysts expect that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.5 EPS for the current year.

American Financial Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 24th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 14th were issued a $0.80 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, January 14th. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.60%. American Financial Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 30.27%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on AFG shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut shares of American Financial Group from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $164.00 to $144.00 in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on shares of American Financial Group from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. 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.

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.