Unigestion Holding SA Takes Position in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG)

Unigestion Holding SA purchased a new position in shares of American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 4,200 shares of the insurance provider’s stock, valued at approximately $575,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 86.8% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 340 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 158 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its stake in American Financial Group by 91.2% during the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 520 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $71,000 after acquiring an additional 248 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP raised its stake in American Financial Group by 301.1% during the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 702 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $94,000 after acquiring an additional 527 shares during the last quarter. iA Global Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in American Financial Group during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $125,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 31.6% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,059 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $145,000 after purchasing an additional 254 shares during the last quarter. 64.37% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

American Financial Group Trading Down 6.5 %

NYSE AFG opened at $121.78 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.52 and a beta of 0.59. American Financial Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $118.97 and a 52-week high of $150.19. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $127.54 and a 200 day moving average price of $133.60.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG) last issued its 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 return on equity of 20.30% and a net margin of 10.66%. Equities research analysts expect that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.5 EPS for the current year.

American Financial Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 25th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 15th will be issued a $0.80 dividend. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.63%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 15th. American Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 30.27%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut American Financial Group from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and cut their price target for the stock 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.