{
  "id": 5534968,
  "title": "American Financial Group Lifted Its Dividend 10.2% and Kept Buying Back Stock",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/american-financial-group-lifted-its-dividend-10-2-and-kept-buying",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-04T10:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Motley Fool",
    "slug": "motley-fool",
    "url": "https://www.fool.com/investing/2026/09/04/american-financial-group-lifted-its-dividend-102-a/?source=iedfolrf0000001"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "American Financial Group (AFG), a $11 billion market cap property and casualty insurer, has announced a significant 10.2% increase in its dividend, maintaining its impressive streak of annual dividend hikes. The last dividend raise, disclosed in August 2026, came with an above-market yield of nearly 2.5%, making it an attractive option for investors focused on dividend growth. However, the story does not end there. AFG's stock buyback program also plays a crucial role in its financial strategy. The company's combined ratio, a key metric for property and casualty insurers, provides insight into its financial health. This ratio compares the company's expenses and claims to the premiums it earns, with a figure below 100% indicating a profitable operation. In the second quarter of 2026, AFG's combined ratio stood at 91.6%, a marked improvement from 93.1% in the same quarter of 2025. This improvement in the combined ratio, coupled with the substantial dividend increase, suggests that AFG is on a positive trajectory, making it an appealing prospect for investors.",
  "summary": "American Financial Group had a good second quarter, rewarding investors while also preparing for a tougher market.",
  "key_points": [
    "American Financial Group increased dividend by 10.2%",
    "Maintained streak of annual dividend hikes",
    "Stock buyback program part of financial strategy"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Nasdaq Markets",
        "title": "American Financial Group Lifted Its Dividend 10.2% and Kept Buying Back Stock",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/american-financial-group-lifted-its-dividend-10-2-and-kept-buying-5544086",
        "published": "2026-09-04T10:35:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}