American Financial (US:AFG) ZACKSยท2025-09-16 15:15Core Insights - American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG) is currently trading above its 200-day simple moving average, indicating a short-term bullish trend, with a share price of $139.32, down 7.2% from its 52-week high of $150.19 [1] - The company has a market capitalization of $11.61 billion and has seen a 2% increase in share price over the past year, underperforming the industry average return of 6.4% [2] Valuation and Performance - AFG's forward 12-month price-to-book ratio stands at 2.58X, significantly higher than the industry average of 1.55X, indicating an expensive valuation [3] - The company has maintained a combined ratio that has outperformed the industry average for over 20 years, with a target of 92.5% for 2025 [6] - AFG has achieved 18 consecutive years of dividend increases, with a 10-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.4% [6][14] Growth Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects a 22% increase in earnings per share and a 10.7% increase in revenues for 2026 compared to 2025 estimates [8] - AFG's return on equity (ROE) has improved, currently at 17.4%, compared to the industry average of 7.6% [9] Strategic Positioning - The company is well-positioned for growth due to new business opportunities, a favorable renewal rate environment, and additional crop premiums from its acquisition of Crop Risk Services [10] - AFG has reported 35 consecutive quarters of renewal rate increases, indicating strong pricing power in the property and casualty (P&C) market [11] Financial Stability - AFG's financial stability is reflected in its consistent dividend payments and robust operating profitability in the P&C segment [13] - The dividend yield of 2.3% is notably higher than the industry average of 0.2% [14] Conclusion - Despite an expensive valuation and some bearish sentiment from analysts, AFG is expected to benefit from strategic acquisitions and improved underwriting profits, making it a stock worth holding [16]