Key Points
- Japan Post Holdings sold 15,000 Aflac shares for approximately $1.76 million at an average price of $117.47. The transaction was conducted under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan and reduced its stake by just 0.03%, leaving it with roughly 50.65 million shares.
- Aflac’s latest quarterly results were mixed: revenue of $4.22 billion topped estimates, while earnings per share of $1.75 narrowly missed forecasts. The company maintains a quarterly dividend of $0.61, equivalent to a 2.1% yield.
- Analyst sentiment remains cautious, with a consensus “Hold” rating and an average price target of $116.62. Aflac shares recently traded near $114.79, while the stock’s one-year range is $105.43 to $130.22.
Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) major shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 15,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.47, for a total transaction of $1,762,050.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 50,652,690 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,950,171,494.30. The trade was a 0.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Large shareholders that own at least 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 Thursday, September 3rd, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 20,000 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.49, for a total value of $2,369,800.00.
- On Wednesday, September 2nd, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,500 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.19, for a total value of $1,582,065.00.
- On Tuesday, September 1st, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,800 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.77, for a total value of $1,481,856.00.
- On Monday, August 31st, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,700 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.00, for a total value of $1,473,200.00.
- On Friday, August 28th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,000 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.52, for a total value of $1,514,760.00.
- On Thursday, August 27th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,700 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.67, for a total value of $1,481,709.00.
- On Wednesday, August 26th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,200 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.35, for a total value of $1,549,020.00.
- On Tuesday, August 25th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,700 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.49, for a total value of $1,479,423.00.
- On Monday, August 24th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,500 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.02, for a total value of $1,593,270.00.
- On Friday, August 21st, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,900 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.28, for a total transaction of $1,500,012.00.
Aflac Price Performance
NYSE:AFL opened at $114.79 on Thursday. Aflac Incorporated has a one year low of $105.43 and a one year high of $130.22. The company has a market cap of $57.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.30, a P/E/G ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 0.59. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $121.32 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $116.32. 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 (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 6th. The financial services provider reported $1.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.76 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $4.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.11 billion. Aflac had a net margin of 26.91% and a return on equity of 13.27%. Aflac's revenue for the quarter was down 1.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.78 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that Aflac Incorporated will post 7.04 earnings per share for the current year.
Aflac Announces Dividend
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 19th were issued a $0.61 dividend. This represents a $2.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 19th. Aflac's dividend payout ratio is currently 26.15%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on AFL shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Aflac from $117.00 to $116.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, August 11th. UBS Group reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $124.00 target price (up from $114.00) on shares of Aflac in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Weiss Ratings raised Aflac from a "buy (b+)" rating to a "buy (a-)" rating in a report on Friday, August 21st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on Aflac from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Aflac from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, May 21st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $116.62.
Read Our Latest Research Report on Aflac
Aflac News Roundup
Here are the key news stories impacting Aflac this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Aflac said its more than 30-year commitment to childhood cancer and sickle cell disease support has surpassed $200 million in contributions. The milestone strengthens the company’s brand and corporate reputation, although it is unlikely to have a material near-term effect on earnings. Aflac commemorates National Childhood Cancer and Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month
- Neutral Sentiment: Aflac’s latest quarterly results were mixed: revenue of $4.22 billion exceeded estimates, but earnings per share of $1.75 narrowly missed forecasts and declined from $1.78 a year earlier. The company continues to offer a $0.61 quarterly dividend, or $2.44 annually, with a yield of roughly 2.1%.
- Negative Sentiment: Japan Post Holdings, a major Aflac shareholder, disclosed additional sales of 15,000 shares for approximately $1.76 million after selling 20,000 shares for about $2.37 million in an earlier transaction. The sales were conducted under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan and reduced its stake by only 0.03%–0.04%, limiting the fundamental significance but potentially weighing on sentiment. Major AFLAC Stakeholder Quietly Executes Multi-Million Dollar Move
- Negative Sentiment: An analysis argued that Aflac remains a consistent compounder but is fully valued, potentially limiting upside from current levels. Analyst views are mixed, with a consensus “Hold” rating and an average price target near $116.62. Aflac: Scrooge Keeps Compounding, But The Stock Is Fully Valued
Institutional Trading of Aflac
Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. DNB Asset Management AS grew its position in Aflac by 51.3% during the 4th quarter. DNB Asset Management AS now owns 168,003 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $18,526,000 after acquiring an additional 56,975 shares during the last quarter. Employees Retirement System of Texas bought a new position in Aflac in the fourth quarter valued at about $3,743,000. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Aflac during the second quarter valued at about $6,630,000. Atlas Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Aflac during the first quarter valued at about $1,802,000. Finally, Integrated Investment Consultants LLC grew its holdings in shares of Aflac by 716.1% during the fourth quarter. Integrated Investment Consultants LLC now owns 17,465 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,926,000 after purchasing an additional 15,325 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 67.44% of the company's stock.
About Aflac
(
Get Free Report)
Aflac Incorporated is an insurance company that provides supplemental health and life insurance products. Its coverage is designed to help policyholders manage expenses that may not be fully covered by major medical insurance, including costs associated with accidents, illness, hospitalization, disability and critical illness.
Through its U.S. operations, Aflac markets policies to individuals, businesses and employees through workplace benefit programs, independent agents and brokers. The company is also a major provider of supplemental insurance in Japan, where it offers products focused primarily on cancer, medical and income-support coverage.
Founded in 1955 in Columbus, Georgia, as American Family Life Assurance Company, the business adopted the name Aflac in 1990.
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