AFG gives its dividend another boost

A little more cash for shareholders

American Financial Group is doing the classic “we’re doing fine, thanks” move: it lifted its dividend by 10.2% in the second quarter and kept the buyback machine humming. That’s now 21 straight years of annual dividend increases, which is basically the financial equivalent of a stubborn marathon streak.

Why this matters

For income investors, dividend hikes are the corporate version of a thank-you note written in cash. AFG’s latest bump suggests management still sees enough earnings power and capital flexibility to reward shareholders without flinching.

The buyback sidekick

The stock repurchases matter too. Buybacks don’t always grab headlines, but they can quietly boost per-share metrics if the company keeps shrinking the share count. Translation: fewer slices of the pie, same pie.

Big picture

This isn’t flashy growth-stock stuff. It’s the kind of steady, cash-compounding update that can keep a boring-looking insurer interesting — especially when the dividend streak keeps getting longer.