Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC Acquires 266 Shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 11.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 2,503 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after buying an additional 266 shares during the period. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC’s holdings in Aflac were worth $259,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Great Diamond Partners LLC increased its holdings in Aflac by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Great Diamond Partners LLC now owns 24,832 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $2,569,000 after acquiring an additional 167 shares during the last quarter. Caprock Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Aflac by 4.9% in the fourth quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 21,871 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $2,262,000 after buying an additional 1,027 shares in the last quarter. Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Aflac by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 58,034 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $6,003,000 after buying an additional 271 shares during the last quarter. Southern Capital Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Aflac by 90.3% during the 4th quarter. Southern Capital Advisors LLC now owns 32,567 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $3,369,000 after buying an additional 15,452 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC increased its stake in Aflac by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC now owns 9,560 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $988,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.44% of the company’s stock.

Aflac Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE:AFL opened at $106.79 on Wednesday. The business’s 50 day moving average is $105.37 and its 200 day moving average is $106.64. The stock has a market cap of $59.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.99. Aflac Incorporated has a 52-week low of $75.44 and a 52-week high of $115.50. The company has a quick ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 0.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32.

Aflac Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 19th will be paid a dividend of $0.58 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 19th. This represents a $2.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.17%. This is a positive change from Aflac’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. Aflac’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 30.12%.

Insider Activity at Aflac

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on AFL shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their target price on shares of Aflac from $108.00 to $107.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 10th. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on shares of Aflac in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued a “market perform” rating and a $111.00 target price on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Aflac from $103.00 to $104.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Evercore ISI decreased their price objective on Aflac from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Aflac from $90.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $103.71.

Aflac Company Profile

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.