Key Points
- Japan Post Holdings sold 12,800 Aflac shares for approximately $1.49 million at an average price of $116.22 under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The sale reduced its position by just 0.03%, leaving it with roughly 50.5 million shares.
- Aflac’s latest quarter was mixed: earnings of $1.75 per share narrowly missed estimates, while $4.22 billion in revenue exceeded forecasts but declined 1% year over year.
- Aflac pays a quarterly dividend of $0.61, equivalent to $2.44 annually and a 2.1% yield. Analysts have a consensus “Hold” rating with an average price target of $116.62.
Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) major shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,800 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.22, for a total transaction of $1,487,616.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 50,531,490 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,872,769,767.80. The trade was a 0.03% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed 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 shares are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC.
Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan also recently made the following trade(s):
- On Thursday, September 17th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,900 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.58, for a total value of $1,503,882.00.
- On Wednesday, September 16th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,800 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.49, for a total value of $1,621,362.00.
- On Monday, September 14th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,600 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.74, for a total value of $1,587,664.00.
- On Friday, September 11th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 14,000 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.14, for a total value of $1,611,960.00.
- On Thursday, September 10th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,300 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.32, for a total value of $1,520,456.00.
- On Tuesday, September 8th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,600 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.44, for a total value of $1,569,984.00.
- On Friday, September 4th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 15,000 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.47, for a total value of $1,762,050.00.
- 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 transaction 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 transaction of $1,582,065.00.
- 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.
Aflac Stock Down 0.5%
AFL opened at $114.62 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.12 and a quick ratio of 0.12. The company's 50-day moving average is $120.31 and its 200 day moving average is $116.51. Aflac Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $105.43 and a fifty-two week high of $130.22. The firm has a market capitalization of $57.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.29, a PEG ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 0.59.
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 (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.76 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $4.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.11 billion. Aflac had a return on equity of 13.27% and a net margin of 26.91%.The company's revenue for the quarter was down 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.78 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Aflac Incorporated will post 7.04 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Aflac Announces Dividend
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 19th were paid a $0.61 dividend. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 19th. Aflac's payout ratio is presently 26.15%.
Trending Headlines about Aflac
Here are the key news stories impacting Aflac this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Aflac’s dividend increase and valuation near 12 times earnings support its appeal to income-focused and defensive investors. The company’s annualized dividend is $2.44 per share, with a payout ratio near 26%. Aflac valuation and dividend article
- Positive Sentiment: Aflac launched a cancer-screening awareness campaign with fashion designer Rachel Zoe, using a scannable jacket design to encourage screenings. The initiative reinforces Aflac’s cancer-insurance brand, although it is unlikely to materially affect near-term earnings. Aflac and Rachel Zoe campaign
- Neutral Sentiment: Aflac President Virgil Miller and former athlete Brian Jordan visited a St. Louis children’s hospital to support families affected by cancer and sickle cell disease. The charitable event may strengthen brand goodwill but has no clear immediate financial impact. Aflac hospital outreach event
- Negative Sentiment: Japan Post Holdings, Aflac’s major shareholder, sold another 12,800 shares for approximately $1.49 million after several similar sales in September. The latest transaction reduced its stake by only 0.03% and was conducted under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan, limiting its significance but potentially creating a near-term supply overhang. SEC filing on Japan Post Holdings sale
- Negative Sentiment: Aflac’s latest quarterly results were mixed: earnings of $1.75 per share narrowly missed the $1.76 consensus estimate, revenue of $4.22 billion exceeded forecasts but declined 1% year over year, and EPS fell from $1.78 in the prior-year quarter. This has tempered enthusiasm despite strong profitability and dividend growth. Aflac earnings and revenue report
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
A number of brokerages recently commented on AFL. Weiss Ratings lowered Aflac from a "buy (a-)" rating to a "buy (b)" rating in a report on Wednesday, September 9th. TD Cowen restated a "hold" rating and issued a $110.00 price objective (up from $101.00) on shares of Aflac in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $138.00 target price (up from $130.00) on shares of Aflac in a research report on Monday, August 10th. Barclays reiterated an "underweight" rating and set a $99.00 target price (up from $98.00) on shares of Aflac in a research note on Friday, August 7th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Aflac from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Saturday, August 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $116.62.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Aflac
Hedge Funds Weigh In On Aflac
Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of AFL. BlackRock Inc. bought a new position in Aflac during the second quarter valued at $4,093,787,000. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its stake in shares of Aflac by 27.8% in the second quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 5,201,217 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $609,843,000 after buying an additional 1,132,091 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Aflac by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 4,550,855 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $499,216,000 after buying an additional 67,650 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Aflac during the 4th quarter valued at $420,078,000. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc bought a new position in shares of Aflac during the 2nd quarter worth $404,639,000. Hedge funds and other 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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