American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG) Sets New 12-Month High – Should You Buy?

American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG)’s share price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $140.00 and last traded at $140.00, with a volume of 1399 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $127.44.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of American Financial Group from $132.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th.

American Financial Group Price Performance

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 business’s fifty day simple moving average is $133.93 and its 200 day simple moving average is $129.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.40 and a beta of 0.79.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 5th. The insurance provider reported $2.31 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.51 by ($0.20). American Financial Group had a net margin of 11.06% and a return on equity of 21.16%. The business had revenue of $2.06 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.80 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.45 EPS. American Financial Group’s revenue was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.98 EPS for the current year.

American Financial Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 25th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 15th were paid a $0.80 dividend. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, October 15th. This is an increase from American Financial Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.71. American Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio is 30.19%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. lifted its position in shares of American Financial Group by 4.0% during the 3rd quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 2,165 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $291,000 after buying an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. lifted its stake 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 buying an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. boosted its holdings in 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 period. Diversified Trust Co grew its stake in 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Verdence Capital Advisors LLC raised its holdings in American Financial Group by 6.3% during the 3rd quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 2,100 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $283,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares during the period. 64.37% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.