American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG) Stock Price Down 5.6% on Disappointing Earnings

American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG - Get Free Report)'s stock price traded down 5.6% during trading on Wednesday following a dissappointing earnings announcement. The stock traded as low as $129.05 and last traded at $128.44. 45,098 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 84% from the average session volume of 285,336 shares. The stock had previously closed at $136.02.

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 10.84% and a return on equity of 19.97%.

American Financial Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 24th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 14th were issued a dividend of $0.80 per share. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.49%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, January 14th. American Financial Group's payout ratio is presently 29.99%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have commented on AFG. 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 report on Friday, November 15th. Piper Sandler increased their price target on shares of American Financial Group from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price objective on shares of American Financial Group from $165.00 to $164.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 10th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of AFG. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. raised its holdings in American Financial Group by 1.4% in the fourth quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 5,798 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $794,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares during the period. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. increased its position 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 in the last quarter. Shoker Investment Counsel Inc. raised its stake in American Financial Group by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. Shoker Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 2,648 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $363,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the period. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in American Financial Group by 4.6% during the fourth quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 2,226 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $305,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp grew its stake in American Financial Group by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 12,040 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $1,649,000 after acquiring an additional 101 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 64.37% of the company's stock.

American Financial Group Trading Up 0.9 %

The stock has a market capitalization of $10.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.07 and a beta of 0.83. 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 business has a 50 day simple moving average of $137.23 and a 200-day simple moving average of $134.81.

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.