American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG) To Go Ex-Dividend on July 15th

American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG) declared a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, July 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 15th will be given a dividend of 0.88 per share by the insurance provider on Friday, July 24th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 15th.

American Financial Group has raised its dividend by an average of 0.1%per year over the last three years and has increased its dividend annually for the last 19 consecutive years. American Financial Group has a payout ratio of 29.8% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect American Financial Group to earn $11.97 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $3.52 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 29.4%.

American Financial Group Stock Performance

Shares of AFG opened at $141.22 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.42 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a current ratio of 0.48. American Financial Group has a 1 year low of $122.11 and a 1 year high of $150.02. The company’s fifty day moving average is $135.07 and its two-hundred day moving average is $132.23.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 30th. The insurance provider reported $2.47 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.54 by ($0.07). American Financial Group had a return on equity of 19.50% and a net margin of 10.76%.The firm had revenue of $1.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.70 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.81 EPS. The firm’s revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that American Financial Group will post 11.37 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider David Lawrence Thompson, Jr. sold 11,370 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $135.05, for a total value of $1,535,518.50. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 584,098 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $78,882,434.90. This trade represents a 1.91% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Michelle A. Gillis sold 2,247 shares of American Financial Group stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $139.00, for a total value of $312,333.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 13,135 shares in the company, valued at $1,825,765. The trade was a 14.61% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Company insiders own 16.90% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of American Financial Group

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. UBS Group AG lifted its holdings in shares of American Financial Group by 10.1% during the 4th quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 581,805 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $79,521,000 after acquiring an additional 53,431 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in shares of American Financial Group by 32.4% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 407,772 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $59,421,000 after buying an additional 99,898 shares during the period. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System acquired a new stake in shares of American Financial Group in the first quarter valued at about $2,567,000. Capula Management Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of American Financial Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $2,087,000. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its position in American Financial Group by 3,295.3% during the 4th quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 93,270 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $12,748,000 after acquiring an additional 90,523 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.37% of the company’s stock.

About American Financial Group

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.