Aegon (NYSE:AEG) Downgraded by Morgan Stanley to Equal Weight

Morgan Stanley lowered shares of Aegon (NYSE:AEG) from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note issued to investors on Friday, Marketbeat.com reports.

A number of other research analysts have also recently commented on AEG. Weiss Ratings upgraded Aegon from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b+)” rating in a research note on Monday. Wall Street Zen lowered Aegon from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, February 21st. BNP Paribas Exane initiated coverage on Aegon in a report on Tuesday, April 7th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $10.00 target price for the company. Finally, Citigroup reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Aegon in a report on Monday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $10.00.

Aegon Trading Up 0.2%

Shares of AEG opened at $8.39 on Friday. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $7.62 and its two-hundred day moving average is $7.64. The stock has a market cap of $16.83 billion, a PE ratio of -52.44, a P/E/G ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 0.85. Aegon has a 12 month low of $6.64 and a 12 month high of $8.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 0.07 and a quick ratio of 0.07.

Aegon Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 15th will be given a dividend of $0.2469 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 671.0%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 15th. Aegon’s dividend payout ratio is -262.50%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Aegon

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC acquired a new stake in Aegon during the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd increased its stake in shares of Aegon by 321.2% in the fourth quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 4,511 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 3,440 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC increased its stake in shares of Aegon by 87.2% in the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 5,767 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $46,000 after acquiring an additional 2,687 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust increased its position in Aegon by 299.5% during the third quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 7,410 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $59,000 after buying an additional 5,555 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quantessence Capital LLC acquired a new position in Aegon during the fourth quarter worth $78,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 4.32% of the company’s stock.

Aegon Company Profile

Aegon N.V. is a multinational financial services company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, specializing in life insurance, pensions and asset management. Established in 1983 through the merger of AGO and Ennia, Aegon has built a reputation for offering retirement solutions, savings products and protection plans aimed at helping customers secure their financial futures. The company operates under well-known brands, including Transamerica in the United States, and serves both individual and corporate clients.

Throughout its history, Aegon has pursued strategic acquisitions and partnerships to strengthen its market position and broaden its service offerings.