KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS Buys Shares of 25,800 American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG)

KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS purchased a new position in shares of American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 25,800 shares of the insurance provider’s stock, valued at approximately $3,533,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its stake in American Financial Group by 86.8% in the 4th 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 last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its position in shares of American Financial Group by 91.2% in the fourth quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 520 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $71,000 after acquiring an additional 248 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP grew its holdings in American Financial Group by 301.1% in the fourth quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 702 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $94,000 after purchasing an additional 527 shares during the period. iA Global Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in American Financial Group during the third quarter worth approximately $125,000. Finally, Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new position in American Financial Group during the third quarter worth approximately $130,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.37% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded American Financial Group from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $164.00 to $144.00 in a report on Friday, February 7th.

Insider Transactions at American Financial Group

In related news, Director Gregory G. Joseph purchased 3,000 shares of American Financial Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 20th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $121.00 per share, with a total value of $363,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 57,477 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,954,717. The trade was a 5.51 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 14.50% of the company’s stock.

American Financial Group Trading Down 0.2 %

NYSE AFG opened at $127.85 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.10 and a beta of 0.79. 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, Inc. has a one year low of $118.97 and a one year high of $150.19. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $128.37 and its 200 day moving average price is $133.89.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The insurance provider reported $3.12 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.15 by ($0.03). American Financial Group had a net margin of 10.66% and a return on equity of 20.30%. On average, sell-side analysts predict that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.5 EPS for the current year.

American Financial Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a special dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 17th will be paid a dividend of $2.00 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 17th. American Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 30.27%.

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.