QRG Capital Management Inc. Sells 105,831 Shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

QRG Capital Management Inc. trimmed its position in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 15.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 562,011 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 105,831 shares during the period. Aflac makes up approximately 0.6% of QRG Capital Management Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 26th largest holding. QRG Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in Aflac were worth $58,134,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AFL. AMF Tjanstepension AB increased its stake in Aflac by 13.3% during the third quarter. AMF Tjanstepension AB now owns 252,137 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $28,206,000 after acquiring an additional 29,602 shares during the period. Pettinga Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in Aflac during the third quarter valued at about $203,000. Arkadios Wealth Advisors increased its stake in Aflac by 8.7% during the third quarter. Arkadios Wealth Advisors now owns 3,002 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $336,000 after acquiring an additional 239 shares during the period. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC bought a new position in Aflac during the third quarter valued at about $422,000. Finally, Fidelis Capital Partners LLC increased its stake in Aflac by 5.8% during the third quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC now owns 14,265 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,600,000 after acquiring an additional 777 shares during the period. 67.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Aflac Stock Down 0.9 %

Shares of AFL opened at $105.73 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $58.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.01, a PEG ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.10 and a quick ratio of 0.08. Aflac Incorporated has a one year low of $78.62 and a one year high of $115.50. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $104.30 and its 200-day simple moving average is $107.46.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last announced its 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, sell-side analysts predict that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Aflac Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 19th will be given a $0.58 dividend. This represents a $2.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.19%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 19th. This is a boost from Aflac’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. Aflac’s payout ratio is 24.17%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Audrey B. Tillman sold 24,744 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $103.40, for a total value of $2,558,529.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 222,618 shares in the company, valued at $23,018,701.20. The trade was a 10.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.80% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently issued reports on AFL. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price target on Aflac from $107.00 to $104.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on Aflac from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Piper Sandler decreased their price objective on Aflac from $122.00 to $118.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Barclays decreased their price objective on Aflac from $98.00 to $95.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Aflac from $90.00 to $94.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $102.86.

About Aflac

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.