Lester Murray Antman dba SimplyRich Purchases 222 Shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

Lester Murray Antman dba SimplyRich increased its holdings in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 1.4% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 16,565 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after buying an additional 222 shares during the period. Lester Murray Antman dba SimplyRich’s holdings in Aflac were worth $1,713,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AFL. Kentucky Trust Co purchased a new stake in shares of Aflac in the 4th quarter valued at about $324,000. Sage Private Wealth Group LLC grew its stake in Aflac by 3.1% in the 4th quarter. Sage Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 4,019 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $416,000 after buying an additional 119 shares in the last quarter. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Aflac during the 4th quarter worth $5,563,000. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC increased its stake in Aflac by 14.1% in the fourth quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 59,570 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $6,162,000 after acquiring an additional 7,341 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Howland Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Aflac in the fourth quarter valued at $207,000. Institutional investors own 67.44% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Aflac

In other news, EVP Audrey B. Tillman sold 24,744 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 222,618 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $23,018,701.20. This represents a 10.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.90% of the company’s stock.

Aflac Stock Performance

NYSE:AFL opened at $103.09 on Wednesday. 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 twelve month low of $77.01 and a twelve month high of $115.50. The stock has a market cap of $57.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.99. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $104.49 and its 200 day simple moving average is $107.02.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $1.56 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.63 by ($0.07). Aflac had a net margin of 28.76% and a return on equity of 16.20%. As a group, research analysts predict that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.95 EPS for the current year.

Aflac Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 19th will be issued a dividend of $0.58 per share. This is an increase from Aflac’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 19th. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.25%. Aflac’s dividend payout ratio is 20.83%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently commented on AFL shares. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on Aflac from $122.00 to $118.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price target on shares of Aflac from $108.00 to $107.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 10th. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on Aflac in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. They set a “market perform” rating and a $111.00 price objective on the stock. Truist Financial increased their target price on Aflac from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Barclays dropped their price objective on Aflac from $98.00 to $95.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Aflac currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $103.21.

Aflac 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.