Pictet Asset Management Holding SA Raises Stake in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG)

Pictet Asset Management Holding SA boosted its position in shares of American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) by 4.1% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 47,989 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,874 shares during the period. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA’s holdings in American Financial Group were worth $6,571,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of AFG. UMB Bank n.a. grew 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 purchasing an additional 158 shares in the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its holdings 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 worth $71,000 after buying an additional 248 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP boosted its position in shares of American Financial Group by 301.1% during the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 702 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $94,000 after acquiring an additional 527 shares in the last quarter. iA Global Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of American Financial Group in the 3rd quarter valued at about $125,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in shares of American Financial Group by 31.6% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,059 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $145,000 after acquiring an additional 254 shares in the last quarter. 64.37% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

American Financial Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE AFG opened at $130.12 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $10.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.31 and a beta of 0.79. American Financial Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $118.97 and a twelve month high of $150.19. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $127.81 and a two-hundred day moving average of $133.74. The company has a current ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG) last announced 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, research analysts forecast that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.5 earnings per share for the current year.

American Financial Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 25th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 15th will be paid a $0.80 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 15th. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.46%. American Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 30.27%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Gregory G. Joseph bought 3,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 20th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $121.00 per share, for a total transaction 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. This trade represents a 5.51 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 14.50% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

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

American Financial Group 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.