Key Points
- Japan Post Holdings sold 13,500 Aflac shares at an average price of $117.19, generating approximately $1.58 million. The sale reduced its stake by just 0.03% and was conducted under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, following several similar sales in recent weeks.
- Aflac reported quarterly EPS of $1.75, slightly below the $1.76 analyst consensus, while revenue of $4.22 billion exceeded expectations. Revenue declined 1% year over year, and analysts expect full-year EPS of approximately $7.04.
- Aflac maintains a quarterly dividend of $0.61 per share, or $2.44 annually, yielding about 2.1% with a 26.15% payout ratio. The stock has a consensus analyst rating of Hold and an average price target of $116.62.
Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) major shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,500 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.19, for a total value of $1,582,065.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 50,687,690 shares in the company, valued at $5,940,090,391.10. The trade was a 0.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Large shareholders that own more than 10% of a company's stock are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC.
Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan also recently made the following trade(s):
- On Tuesday, September 1st, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,800 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.77, for a total transaction of $1,481,856.00.
- On Monday, August 31st, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,700 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.00, for a total transaction of $1,473,200.00.
- On Friday, August 28th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,000 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.52, for a total transaction of $1,514,760.00.
- On Thursday, August 27th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,700 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.67, for a total transaction of $1,481,709.00.
- On Wednesday, August 26th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,200 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.35, for a total transaction of $1,549,020.00.
- On Tuesday, August 25th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,700 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.49, for a total transaction of $1,479,423.00.
- On Monday, August 24th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,500 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.02, for a total transaction of $1,593,270.00.
- On Friday, August 21st, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,900 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.28, for a total value of $1,500,012.00.
- On Thursday, August 20th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,100 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.60, for a total value of $1,527,460.00.
- On Wednesday, August 19th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,700 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.05, for a total value of $1,486,535.00.
Aflac Stock Performance
NYSE:AFL opened at $117.09 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $58.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.55, a P/E/G ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 0.59. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $121.49 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $116.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.12 and a quick ratio of 0.12. Aflac Incorporated has a 1 year low of $104.66 and a 1 year high of $130.22.
Aflac (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The financial services provider reported $1.75 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.76 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $4.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.11 billion. Aflac had a net margin of 26.91% and a return on equity of 13.27%. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.78 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Aflac Incorporated will post 7.04 earnings per share for the current year.
Aflac Announces Dividend
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 19th were paid a $0.61 dividend. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 19th. Aflac's payout ratio is currently 26.15%.
Key Aflac News
Here are the key news stories impacting Aflac this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Aflac partnered with actor Ben Affleck and its iconic duck for a new advertising campaign, including branded billboards and social-media activity in Los Angeles. The campaign could increase consumer awareness and support future policy sales, although its direct financial impact is uncertain. Ben Affleck and the Aflac Duck Unite for New Ad Campaign
- Positive Sentiment: Aflac remains attractive to income-focused and defensive investors. The company pays a quarterly dividend of $0.61 per share, equivalent to $2.44 annually, with an approximately 2.1% yield and a payout ratio near 26%. A recent dividend-focused article also recognized Aflac’s long record of annual increases. Safe High-Yield Dividend Stocks
- Neutral Sentiment: The Ben Affleck billboard activity appears to be a planned publicity campaign rather than actual vandalism. It may generate short-term brand engagement, but no revenue, earnings guidance or other measurable financial benefit was announced. Ben Affleck Aflac Advertising Campaign
- Negative Sentiment: Japan Post Holdings, a major Aflac shareholder, sold 13,500 shares for approximately $1.58 million on September 2 and has reported several similar sales in recent weeks. The latest transaction reduced its stake by only about 0.03% and was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan, limiting its significance, but the repeated selling may create a modest supply overhang. Aflac Major Shareholder SEC Filing
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Aflac
Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of AFL. Archer Investment Corp purchased a new position in Aflac during the second quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Quarry LP bought a new stake in Aflac during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Groupe la Francaise purchased a new stake in Aflac in the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. purchased a new stake in Aflac in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Finally, Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new position in Aflac in the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. 67.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Aflac from $117.00 to $116.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Aflac from a "buy (b+)" rating to a "buy (a-)" rating in a research note on Friday, August 21st. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and issued a $138.00 price objective (up from $130.00) on shares of Aflac in a report on Monday, August 10th. Mizuho set a $116.00 price objective on shares of Aflac in a research note on Monday, August 10th. Finally, TD Cowen reissued a "hold" rating and set a $110.00 target price (up from $101.00) on shares of Aflac in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $116.62.
Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Aflac
Aflac Company Profile
(
Get Free Report)
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.
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