Securian Asset Management Inc. Trims Position in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG)

Securian Asset Management Inc. cut its holdings in shares of American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) by 2.8% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,456 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after selling 155 shares during the quarter. Securian Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in American Financial Group were worth $747,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. raised its position 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 worth $794,000 after buying an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. Horan Securities Inc. raised its position in American Financial Group by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. Horan Securities Inc. now owns 2,595 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $355,000 after buying an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. raised its position in American Financial Group by 4.0% during the 3rd quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 2,165 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $291,000 after buying an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Shoker Investment Counsel Inc. raised its position in American Financial Group by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. Shoker Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 2,648 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $363,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its position in American Financial Group by 4.6% during the 4th quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 2,226 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $305,000 after buying an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. 64.37% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at American Financial Group

In related news, Director Gregory G. Joseph purchased 3,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 20th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $121.00 per share, with a total value of $363,000.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 57,477 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,954,717. The trade was a 5.51 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 14.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

American Financial Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE AFG opened at $127.25 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.04 and a beta of 0.79. American Financial Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $118.97 and a 12 month high of $150.19. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $129.35 and its 200-day simple moving average is $134.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 0.53 and a quick ratio of 0.53.

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

American Financial Group Announces Dividend

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

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.