Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership Has $10.34 Million Position in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG)

Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its stake in shares of American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG - Free Report) by 10.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 75,500 shares of the insurance provider's stock after buying an additional 7,236 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership owned 0.09% of American Financial Group worth $10,338,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Intech Investment Management LLC raised its stake in American Financial Group by 57.1% in the 4th quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 38,623 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $5,289,000 after purchasing an additional 14,045 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. raised its position in shares of American Financial Group by 2.6% in 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 in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd raised its position in shares of American Financial Group by 55.2% in the 4th 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 buying an additional 2,789 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in shares of American Financial Group by 78.3% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 333,078 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $44,832,000 after buying an additional 146,237 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. raised its position in shares of 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 in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.37% of the company's stock.

American Financial Group Price Performance

Shares of American Financial Group stock traded up $0.66 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $125.92. 40,429 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 366,740. The stock has a market cap of $10.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.91 and a beta of 0.59. 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 firm's fifty day moving average price is $125.82 and its 200-day moving average price is $133.09. American Financial Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $114.73 and a 12 month high of $150.19.

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

American Financial Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 25th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.80 per share. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.54%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 15th. American Financial Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 30.27%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other American Financial Group news, Director Gregory G. Joseph bought 3,000 shares of American Financial Group stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 20th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $121.00 per share, with a total value of $363,000.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 57,477 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,954,717. The trade was a 5.51 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 14.50% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their target price on shares of American Financial Group from $144.00 to $126.00 and set a "market perform" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday.

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.