Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) Position Increased by DnB Asset Management AS

DnB Asset Management AS raised its stake in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 0.5% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 104,772 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 531 shares during the period. DnB Asset Management AS’s holdings in Aflac were worth $10,838,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of AFL. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Aflac during the fourth quarter worth $26,000. BankPlus Trust Department purchased a new position in Aflac in the 4th quarter worth about $34,000. Raelipskie Partnership acquired a new stake in Aflac during the 3rd quarter worth about $38,000. Curio Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Aflac during the fourth quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, OFI Invest Asset Management acquired a new position in shares of Aflac in the fourth quarter worth about $38,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.44% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Aflac

In other news, Director Charles D. Lake II sold 29,802 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $107.29, for a total value of $3,197,456.58. Following the transaction, the director now owns 49,962 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,360,422.98. This trade represents a 37.36 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 1,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $107.63, for a total transaction of $107,630.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 25,393 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,733,048.59. This represents a 3.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Aflac Stock Performance

Shares of AFL opened at $109.71 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $59.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.93. The company’s fifty day moving average is $106.49 and its 200-day moving average is $107.66. The company has a quick ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 0.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. Aflac Incorporated has a 12 month low of $79.31 and a 12 month high of $115.50.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last posted 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%. Equities analysts expect that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently commented on AFL shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price target on shares of Aflac from $107.00 to $104.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Barclays decreased their target price on Aflac from $98.00 to $95.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on Aflac from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. StockNews.com raised Aflac from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Aflac from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $103.36.

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.