Kentucky Retirement Systems Sells 477 Shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

Kentucky Retirement Systems lessened its holdings in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 1.4% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 34,636 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 477 shares during the period. Kentucky Retirement Systems’ holdings in Aflac were worth $3,583,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Financial Harvest LLC bought a new stake in Aflac during the fourth quarter worth about $954,000. Nicholson Wealth Management Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Aflac by 31.0% in the 4th quarter. Nicholson Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 13,830 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,431,000 after purchasing an additional 3,274 shares in the last quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Aflac by 6.5% in the 4th quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 35,434 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $3,665,000 after purchasing an additional 2,167 shares in the last quarter. TKG Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Aflac by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. TKG Advisors LLC now owns 21,255 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $2,230,000 after buying an additional 103 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Atlas Legacy Advisors LLC bought a new position in Aflac during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $894,000. 67.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Audrey B. Tillman sold 24,744 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.40, for a total transaction of $2,558,529.60. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 222,618 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $23,018,701.20. The trade was a 10.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.90% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Barclays lowered their price target on Aflac from $98.00 to $95.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their target price on shares of Aflac from $107.00 to $104.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of Aflac from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on shares of Aflac in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They set a “market perform” rating and a $111.00 price target for the company. Finally, Evercore ISI lowered their price objective on Aflac from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Aflac presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $102.86.

Aflac Stock Down 2.1 %

AFL stock opened at $102.04 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $56.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.63, a P/E/G ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.08 and a current ratio of 0.10. The business’s 50-day moving average is $104.11 and its two-hundred day moving average is $107.29. Aflac Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $78.62 and a fifty-two week high of $115.50.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $1.56 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.63 by ($0.07). Aflac had a return on equity of 16.20% and a net margin of 28.76%. As a group, analysts forecast that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 earnings per share for the current year.

Aflac Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 19th will be paid a dividend of $0.58 per share. This represents a $2.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.27%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 19th. This is a boost from Aflac’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. Aflac’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 24.17%.

About Aflac

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.