Analysts Set American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) Price Target at $141.25

Shares of American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) have been given an average recommendation of “Hold” by the five research firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and one has assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $141.25.

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Piper Sandler increased their price target on shares of American Financial Group from $130.00 to $139.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of American Financial Group from $165.00 to $160.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “hold” rating and issued a $142.00 target price on shares of American Financial Group in a research note on Tuesday, November 11th. Finally, Weiss Ratings lowered American Financial Group from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th.

American Financial Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE AFG opened at $128.85 on Monday. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $132.84 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $135.26. American Financial Group has a twelve month low of $114.73 and a twelve month high of $150.02. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.80 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The insurance provider reported $3.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.18 by $0.47. The firm had revenue of $2.06 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.79 billion. American Financial Group had a return on equity of 18.92% and a net margin of 10.30%.The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $3.12 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that American Financial Group will post 10.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

American Financial Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a special dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 25th. Investors of record on Monday, February 16th will be given a $1.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. American Financial Group’s payout ratio is presently 34.96%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On American Financial Group

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in AFG. Hantz Financial Services Inc. grew its holdings in shares of American Financial Group by 421.1% during the 2nd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 198 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares during the last quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp purchased a new stake in American Financial Group during the second quarter valued at about $27,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 904.8% during the fourth quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 211 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 190 shares during the last quarter. Alpine Bank Wealth Management purchased a new position in shares of American Financial Group in the third quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, Root Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of American Financial Group in the third quarter worth about $34,000. 64.37% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

American Financial Group Company Profile

American Financial Group, Inc (NYSE: AFG) is a diversified holding company primarily engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance. Through its flagship subsidiary, Great American Insurance Company, the firm underwrites a broad range of specialty insurance products for commercial and industrial clients, including inland marine, excess and surplus lines, executive liability, and environmental liability coverage. In addition, American Financial Group offers supplemental accident and health insurance and assumes reinsurance risks from other insurers, helping to diversify its underwriting portfolio.

The company traces its roots to 1946, when it was founded by Carl Lindner, Sr.