Aflac (NYSE:AFL) Given New $102.00 Price Target at TD Cowen

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) had its price objective hoisted by TD Cowen from $100.00 to $102.00 in a research report report published on Monday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a hold rating on the financial services provider’s stock.

A number of other brokerages also recently issued reports on AFL. Barclays reiterated an “underweight” rating and set a $104.00 price target (up previously from $102.00) on shares of Aflac in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Aflac in a research report on Monday, December 8th. Evercore ISI boosted their price target on shares of Aflac from $110.00 to $111.00 and gave the stock an “underperform” rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Aflac from $107.00 to $109.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, November 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $120.00 price objective on shares of Aflac in a report on Monday, December 15th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $109.83.

Aflac Stock Down 0.3%

Shares of NYSE:AFL opened at $110.08 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $109.87 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $106.92. The company has a market cap of $57.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.37, a PEG ratio of 3.25 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 0.11 and a quick ratio of 0.11. Aflac has a one year low of $96.95 and a one year high of $115.83.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 27th. The financial services provider reported $1.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Aflac had a return on equity of 14.97% and a net margin of 23.55%.The company had revenue of $5.91 billion for the quarter. Analysts anticipate that Aflac will post 6.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Aflac Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 18th will be given a $0.61 dividend. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 18th. This is a boost from Aflac’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.58. Aflac’s dividend payout ratio is 30.29%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Aflac

In other news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 786 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.75, for a total transaction of $89,407.50. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 24,829 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,824,298.75. This trade represents a 3.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Audrey B. Tillman sold 15,862 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.00, for a total value of $1,776,544.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 230,688 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $25,837,056. This trade represents a 6.43% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 31,766 shares of company stock valued at $3,549,706. Corporate insiders own 0.80% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in AFL. True Wealth Design LLC boosted its position in Aflac by 188.5% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 225 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 147 shares during the period. Mid American Wealth Advisory Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Aflac during the second quarter valued at about $26,000. Chilton Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Aflac during the second quarter worth about $26,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Aflac by 1,526.7% during the second quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 244 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 229 shares during the period. Finally, Hilltop National Bank bought a new stake in shares of Aflac in the second quarter worth about $32,000. 67.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Aflac

Aflac Incorporated (American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus) is a provider of supplemental insurance products designed to help policyholders manage out-of-pocket health care and living expenses. The company underwrites a range of individual and group policies that typically pay cash benefits directly to insureds when covered events occur, enabling greater financial flexibility for medical treatment, hospital stays, critical illness, and related costs. Aflac’s product mix includes supplemental health insurance, life insurance and other specialty coverages intended to complement primary medical plans.

Founded in the mid-20th century and headquartered in Columbus, Georgia, Aflac distributes its products through a combination of employer-sponsored programs, independent brokers and agents, and direct marketing.