Zacks Research Issues Optimistic Outlook for AFG Earnings

American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG - Free Report) - Stock analysts at Zacks Research increased their Q3 2024 EPS estimates for American Financial Group in a research report issued on Wednesday, October 23rd. Zacks Research analyst T. De now anticipates that the insurance provider will post earnings of $2.51 per share for the quarter, up from their prior estimate of $2.50. The consensus estimate for American Financial Group's current full-year earnings is $10.99 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for American Financial Group's Q4 2024 earnings at $3.09 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $2.97 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $2.73 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $3.09 EPS and Q1 2026 earnings at $3.33 EPS.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, August 6th. The insurance provider reported $2.56 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.45 by $0.11. American Financial Group had a net margin of 11.06% and a return on equity of 21.16%. The business had revenue of $1.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.72 billion. The company's quarterly revenue was up 3.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.38 EPS.

Other research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Citigroup downgraded American Financial Group from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $144.00 to $137.00 in a research report on Friday, June 28th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on American Financial Group from $132.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th.

American Financial Group Stock Performance

NYSE AFG traded down $3.17 on Friday, hitting $129.44. 249,817 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 301,110. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 0.46 and a quick ratio of 0.46. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $134.18 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $129.67. The firm has a market cap of $10.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.21 and a beta of 0.78. American Financial Group has a fifty-two week low of $106.62 and a fifty-two week high of $138.81.

American Financial Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 25th. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 15th will be given a dividend of $0.80 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, October 15th. This is a positive change from American Financial Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.71. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.47%. American Financial Group's payout ratio is 30.19%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On American Financial Group

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Sei Investments Co. raised its position in shares of American Financial Group by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 26,059 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $3,206,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of American Financial Group by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 4,674 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $638,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Diversified Trust Co boosted its holdings in shares of American Financial Group by 5.0% in the 2nd quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 2,105 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $259,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. grew 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 valued at $59,000 after buying an additional 133 shares during the last quarter. Finally, DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale raised its stake in American Financial Group by 2.0% during the first quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 6,882 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $937,000 after acquiring an additional 136 shares during the period. 64.37% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.