YANKCOM Partnership Takes Position in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

YANKCOM Partnership purchased a new stake in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 1,826 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $189,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of AFL. AMF Tjanstepension AB raised its holdings in Aflac by 13.3% during the third quarter. AMF Tjanstepension AB now owns 252,137 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $28,206,000 after purchasing an additional 29,602 shares during the last quarter. Czech National Bank increased its position in Aflac by 4.2% during the third quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 102,674 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $11,479,000 after buying an additional 4,139 shares in the last quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC increased its position in Aflac by 3.7% during the third quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 4,373 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $489,000 after buying an additional 157 shares in the last quarter. C2P Capital Advisory Group LLC d.b.a. Prosperity Capital Advisors increased its position in Aflac by 22.1% during the third quarter. C2P Capital Advisory Group LLC d.b.a. Prosperity Capital Advisors now owns 8,839 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $988,000 after buying an additional 1,601 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wedmont Private Capital increased its position in Aflac by 5.3% during the third quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 7,000 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $783,000 after buying an additional 350 shares in the last quarter. 67.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Aflac Trading Down 3.9 %

Shares of AFL opened at $103.08 on Friday. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $105.09 and its two-hundred day moving average is $106.74. The stock has a market cap of $57.27 billion, a PE ratio of 15.52, a P/E/G ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.99. Aflac Incorporated has a 12 month low of $77.01 and a 12 month high of $115.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.08 and a quick ratio of 0.08.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $1.56 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.63 by ($0.07). Aflac had a return on equity of 16.34% and a net margin of 22.02%. Equities analysts forecast that Aflac Incorporated will post 7.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Aflac Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 19th will be paid a dividend of $0.58 per share. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.25%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 19th. This is a boost from Aflac’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. Aflac’s payout ratio is currently 24.17%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Audrey B. Tillman sold 24,744 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.40, for a total value of $2,558,529.60. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 222,618 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,018,701.20. The trade was a 10.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.90% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on AFL shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Aflac from $90.00 to $94.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Barclays lifted their price objective on Aflac from $96.00 to $98.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on Aflac from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Bank of America lifted their price objective on Aflac from $115.00 to $124.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Aflac from $103.00 to $104.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $103.71.

Aflac Company Profile

Aflac Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, provides supplemental health and life insurance products. The company operates through Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. segments. The Aflac Japan segment offers cancer, medical, nursing care, work leave, GIFT, and whole and term life insurance products, as well as WAYS and child endowment plans under saving type insurance products in Japan.