Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) Shares Sold by Brightwater Advisory LLC

Brightwater Advisory LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 1.2% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 33,367 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 392 shares during the period. Aflac accounts for approximately 2.7% of Brightwater Advisory LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 15th biggest position. Brightwater Advisory LLC’s holdings in Aflac were worth $3,451,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. AMF Tjanstepension AB lifted its position in Aflac by 13.3% in the 3rd quarter. AMF Tjanstepension AB now owns 252,137 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $28,206,000 after purchasing an additional 29,602 shares during the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Aflac by 21.5% in the third quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 21,913 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $2,450,000 after purchasing an additional 3,876 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. raised its holdings in shares of Aflac by 11.3% during the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 72,198 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $8,072,000 after buying an additional 7,341 shares during the last quarter. Pettinga Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Aflac during the third quarter worth approximately $203,000. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. increased its position in Aflac by 21.6% in the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 69,608 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $7,698,000 after acquiring an additional 12,348 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.44% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Aflac

In other Aflac news, EVP Audrey B. Tillman sold 24,744 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 owns 222,618 shares in the company, valued at $23,018,701.20. This trade represents a 10.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.80% of the company’s stock.

Aflac Stock Up 2.6 %

Shares of Aflac stock opened at $106.77 on Wednesday. Aflac Incorporated has a 1 year low of $78.62 and a 1 year high of $115.50. The company has a market cap of $59.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.12, a P/E/G ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a current ratio of 0.10, a quick ratio of 0.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $104.19 and a 200 day moving average price of $107.47.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $1.56 EPS 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 expect that Aflac Incorporated 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 3rd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 19th will be given a dividend of $0.58 per share. This represents a $2.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.17%. This is an increase from Aflac’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 19th. Aflac’s dividend payout ratio is presently 24.17%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on AFL shares. Barclays reduced 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. Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of Aflac from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Evercore ISI cut their target price on Aflac from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on Aflac in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They set a “market perform” rating and a $111.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Aflac from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Aflac presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $102.86.

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.