Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) EVP Steven Kent Beaver sold 3,452 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $109.26, for a total transaction of $377,165.52. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 43,860 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,792,143.60. This trade represents a 7.30% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link.
Aflac Stock Down 0.1%
AFL opened at $107.93 on Wednesday. Aflac Incorporated has a twelve month low of $96.95 and a twelve month high of $115.83. The company's 50-day moving average price is $110.17 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $106.49. The stock has a market cap of $56.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.09, a PEG ratio of 3.18 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a quick ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 0.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30.
Aflac (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The financial services provider reported $1.07 EPS for the quarter. Aflac had a net margin of 23.55% and a return on equity of 14.97%. The company had revenue of $5.91 billion for the quarter. As a group, equities analysts expect that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 earnings per share for the current year.
Aflac declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, August 12th that permits the company to buyback 100,000,000 shares. This buyback authorization permits the financial services provider to reacquire shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally a sign that the company's board believes its shares are undervalued.
Aflac Increases Dividend
The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 18th will be given a dividend of $0.61 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 18th. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. This is a boost from Aflac's previous quarterly dividend of $0.58. Aflac's payout ratio is currently 30.29%.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Barclays restated an "underweight" rating and issued a $104.00 price objective (up from $102.00) on shares of Aflac in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Evercore ISI boosted their price target on shares of Aflac from $110.00 to $111.00 and gave the company an "underperform" rating in a research report on Friday, November 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Aflac from $100.00 to $101.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Aflac in a research note on Monday. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Aflac from $113.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, November 17th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $111.00.
Read Our Latest Research Report on Aflac
Institutional Trading of Aflac
Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. IFP Advisors Inc grew its position in shares of Aflac by 25.2% during the 3rd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 8,672 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $976,000 after purchasing an additional 1,746 shares in the last quarter. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd boosted its stake in Aflac by 2.3% during the third quarter. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd now owns 128,848 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $14,392,000 after buying an additional 2,867 shares during the period. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp purchased a new position in Aflac during the third quarter worth about $415,000. Capital Square LLC bought a new position in Aflac in the 3rd quarter worth about $220,000. Finally, CIBC Bancorp USA Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Aflac in the 3rd quarter valued at about $8,350,000. 67.44% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
About Aflac
(
Get Free Report)
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.
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