KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS Invests $3.53 Million in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG)

KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS acquired a new stake in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 25,800 shares of the insurance provider's stock, valued at approximately $3,533,000.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in American Financial Group by 26.2% in the 4th quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 997,340 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $136,566,000 after buying an additional 207,285 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC lifted its position in shares of American Financial Group by 3.8% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,516,351 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $742,501,000 after acquiring an additional 202,522 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in shares of American Financial Group by 78.3% in 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 in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 10.2% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,553,207 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $208,699,000 after acquiring an additional 143,820 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp increased its position in shares of American Financial Group by 4.0% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,693,356 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $362,526,000 after purchasing an additional 104,172 shares in the last quarter. 64.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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American Financial Group Price Performance

AFG stock traded up $2.33 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $130.10. The company's stock had a trading volume of 624,233 shares, compared to its average volume of 356,797. The company has a current ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The company's 50 day moving average is $128.06 and its two-hundred day moving average is $133.80. American Financial Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $118.97 and a fifty-two week high of $150.19. The stock has a market cap of $10.93 billion, a PE ratio of 12.31 and a beta of 0.79.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG - Get Free Report) last posted 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%. Equities 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 announced a special dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 17th were given a $2.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 17th. American Financial Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 30.27%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Gregory G. Joseph acquired 3,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 20th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $121.00 per share, for a total transaction of $363,000.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 57,477 shares in the company, valued at $6,954,717. The trade was a 5.51 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 14.50% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered American Financial Group from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $164.00 to $144.00 in a report on Friday, February 7th.

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.