Pacer Advisors Inc. Cuts Holdings in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG)

Pacer Advisors Inc. reduced its position in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG - Free Report) by 22.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 10,536 shares of the insurance provider's stock after selling 3,118 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc.'s holdings in American Financial Group were worth $1,443,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. lifted its stake in American Financial Group by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 5,798 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $794,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. lifted its position in shares of American Financial Group by 4.0% during the third quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 2,165 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $291,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. MML Investors Services LLC boosted its holdings in American Financial Group by 3.5% during the third quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 3,400 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $458,000 after purchasing an additional 116 shares during the last quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC grew its position in American Financial Group by 6.3% in the 3rd quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 2,100 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $283,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC increased its stake in American Financial Group by 2.4% in the 4th quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 5,581 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $764,000 after buying an additional 129 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.37% of the company's stock.

American Financial Group Stock Performance

AFG traded up $1.20 on Thursday, hitting $128.74. The company's stock had a trading volume of 972,279 shares, compared to its average volume of 361,312. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $137.23 and its 200-day simple moving average is $134.81. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. American Financial Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $115.64 and a 12 month high of $150.19. The firm has a market cap of $10.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.07 and a beta of 0.83.

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 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%. Analysts forecast that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.83 EPS for the current year.

American Financial Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 24th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 14th were given a $0.80 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, January 14th. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.49%. American Financial Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.99%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages recently commented on AFG. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on American Financial Group from $135.00 to $143.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Piper Sandler increased their target price on shares of American Financial Group from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price objective on American Financial Group from $165.00 to $164.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 10th.

American Financial Group 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.