Raymond James Financial Inc. Takes Position in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG)

Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 20,996 shares of the insurance provider's stock, valued at approximately $2,875,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. FMR LLC boosted its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 3.8% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,516,351 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $742,501,000 after purchasing an additional 202,522 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its stake 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 valued at $362,526,000 after buying an additional 104,172 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake 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 during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in shares of American Financial Group by 26.2% in the fourth 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 period. Finally, Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH lifted its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH now owns 607,677 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $83,209,000 after acquiring an additional 3,580 shares during the last quarter. 64.37% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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American Financial Group Trading Up 1.1 %

AFG stock traded up $1.41 on Monday, reaching $131.45. The company's stock had a trading volume of 770,266 shares, compared to its average volume of 358,444. The firm has a market cap of $11.04 billion, a PE ratio of 12.44 and a beta of 0.79. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $128.06 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $133.80. American Financial Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $118.97 and a 12-month high of $150.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.53.

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, research analysts forecast that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.5 EPS for the current year.

American Financial Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a special dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 17th were issued a $2.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 17th. American Financial Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 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 decreased their price target for the stock from $164.00 to $144.00 in a research note on Friday, February 7th.

Insider Buying and Selling at American Financial Group

In other American Financial Group news, Director Gregory G. Joseph bought 3,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 20th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $121.00 per share, with a total value of $363,000.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 57,477 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,954,717. This trade represents a 5.51 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 14.50% of the company's stock.

About American Financial Group

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.