Bank of Montreal Can Lowers Position in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG)

Bank of Montreal Can decreased its holdings in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG - Free Report) by 54.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 67,132 shares of the insurance provider's stock after selling 80,760 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can owned approximately 0.08% of American Financial Group worth $9,071,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. grew its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 4.0% in the 3rd quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 2,165 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $291,000 after buying an additional 83 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. grew its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 26,059 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $3,206,000 after buying an additional 86 shares during the period. Diversified Trust Co boosted its position in shares of American Financial Group by 5.0% during the 2nd quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 2,105 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $259,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of American Financial Group by 6.3% during the 3rd quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 2,100 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $283,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares during the period. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. boosted its position in shares of American Financial Group by 44.3% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 433 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $59,000 after purchasing an additional 133 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.37% of the company's stock.

American Financial Group Stock Down 1.6 %

Shares of AFG traded down $2.29 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $144.57. The stock had a trading volume of 71,841 shares, compared to its average volume of 311,446. American Financial Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $114.73 and a 1-year high of $150.19. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $136.87 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $131.42. The company has a market cap of $12.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.76 and a beta of 0.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 0.53 and a quick ratio of 0.53.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 5th. The insurance provider reported $2.31 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate 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 company had revenue of $2.06 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.80 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.45 earnings per share. American Financial Group's revenue was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.73 earnings per share for the current year.

American Financial Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a None dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, November 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 15th were paid a $4.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 15th. This is a positive change from American Financial Group's previous None dividend of $1.00. American Financial Group's payout ratio is currently 29.99%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Piper Sandler increased their price objective on shares of American Financial Group from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of American Financial Group from $135.00 to $143.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th.

About American Financial Group

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.