Korea Investment CORP Has $3.98 Million Holdings in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG)

Korea Investment CORP decreased its stake in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG - Free Report) by 8.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 29,088 shares of the insurance provider's stock after selling 2,600 shares during the quarter. Korea Investment CORP's holdings in American Financial Group were worth $3,983,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its position in American Financial Group by 26.2% during 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 purchasing an additional 207,285 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in shares of American Financial Group by 78.3% during the third 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. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of American Financial Group by 10.2% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,553,207 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $208,699,000 after buying an additional 143,820 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its position in 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 valued at $362,526,000 after buying an additional 104,172 shares during the period. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in American Financial Group by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 8,287,861 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $1,134,857,000 after acquiring an additional 99,560 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.37% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Gregory G. Joseph acquired 3,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 20th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $121.00 per share, with a total value of $363,000.00. Following the completion of 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 ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 14.50% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

American Financial Group Stock Down 6.5 %

Shares of NYSE AFG traded down $8.50 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $121.78. The company had a trading volume of 510,400 shares, compared to its average volume of 363,236. American Financial Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $118.97 and a twelve month high of $150.19. The stock's 50 day moving average is $127.54 and its 200-day moving average is $133.60. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $10.23 billion, a PE ratio of 11.52 and a beta of 0.59.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG - Get Free Report) last released 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 return on equity of 20.30% and a net margin of 10.66%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

American Financial Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 25th. Stockholders 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 2.63%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 15th. American Financial Group's payout ratio is presently 30.27%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut American Financial Group from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating and lowered their target price for the company from $164.00 to $144.00 in a research note 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.