American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG) Releases Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.47 EPS

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG) released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The insurance provider reported $3.65 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.18 by $0.47, Zacks reports. 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%.American Financial Group’s quarterly revenue was down 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $3.12 EPS. American Financial Group updated its FY 2026 guidance to 11.000-11.000 EPS.

American Financial Group Trading Down 3.2%

Shares of AFG opened at $126.10 on Thursday. American Financial Group has a fifty-two week low of $114.73 and a fifty-two week high of $150.02. The company has a market capitalization of $10.52 billion, a PE ratio of 12.52 and a beta of 0.71. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $133.53 and a two-hundred day moving average of $135.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 0.55.

American Financial Group Announces Dividend

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have weighed in on AFG. Jefferies Financial Group restated a “hold” rating and set a $142.00 target price on shares of American Financial Group in a report on Tuesday, November 11th. Piper Sandler increased their price target on shares of American Financial Group from $130.00 to $139.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on American Financial Group in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $165.00 price objective for the company. 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. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, American Financial Group has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $142.50.

Insider Activity at American Financial Group

In related news, CFO Brian S. Hertzman sold 1,777 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $142.51, for a total value of $253,240.27. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 11,300 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,610,363. This represents a 13.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 17.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in AFG. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its holdings in American Financial Group by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 22,202 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $3,235,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares during the period. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV lifted its position in shares of American Financial Group by 2.1% during the third quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 6,150 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $896,000 after purchasing an additional 129 shares in the last quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC lifted its position in shares of American Financial Group by 9.7% during the second quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC now owns 1,895 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $239,000 after purchasing an additional 168 shares in the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank boosted its stake in shares of American Financial Group by 1.1% in the third quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 16,472 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $2,400,000 after purchasing an additional 184 shares during the period. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp grew its holdings in American Financial Group by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 11,137 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $1,623,000 after purchasing an additional 216 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.