Global Financial Private Client LLC Decreases Stock Position in Aflac Incorporated $AFL

Global Financial Private Client LLC cut its stake in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 44.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 8,694 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 7,026 shares during the quarter. Global Financial Private Client LLC’s holdings in Aflac were worth $971,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. True Wealth Design LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Aflac by 188.5% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 225 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 147 shares during the last quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Aflac by 1,526.7% during the 2nd quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 244 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 229 shares during the last quarter. Chilton Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Aflac in the 2nd quarter worth about $26,000. Mid American Wealth Advisory Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Aflac in the 2nd quarter worth about $26,000. Finally, Hilltop National Bank bought a new stake in Aflac in the second quarter worth about $32,000. Institutional investors own 67.44% of the company’s stock.

Aflac Trading Down 0.4%

AFL opened at $110.31 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 0.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $110.17 and its two-hundred day moving average is $107.31. The company has a market capitalization of $57.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.40, a PEG ratio of 3.15 and a beta of 0.67. Aflac Incorporated has a 52 week low of $96.95 and a 52 week high of $115.83.

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

Aflac Increases Dividend

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently commented on AFL shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Aflac from $100.00 to $101.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Morgan Stanley set a $120.00 price objective on Aflac in a report on Monday, December 15th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their target price on Aflac from $108.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 9th. Barclays reiterated an “underweight” rating and set a $104.00 target price (up from $102.00) on shares of Aflac in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Finally, Piper Sandler set a $125.00 target price on shares of Aflac and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. 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 stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Aflac presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $110.58.

Insider Buying and Selling at Aflac

In other news, EVP Frederic Jean Guy Simard sold 1,722 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.50, for a total value of $193,725.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 1,364 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $153,450. This represents a 55.80% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Steven Kent Beaver sold 5,492 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.53, for a total transaction of $601,538.76. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 38,368 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,202,447.04. The trade was a 12.52% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 31,766 shares of company stock worth $3,549,706. 0.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Aflac Company Profile

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.