Steel Grove Capital Advisors LLC Has $4.46 Million Stock Holdings in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

Steel Grove Capital Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL - Free Report) by 1,337.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 43,157 shares of the financial services provider's stock after buying an additional 40,155 shares during the period. Aflac makes up 0.6% of Steel Grove Capital Advisors LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest holding. Steel Grove Capital Advisors LLC's holdings in Aflac were worth $4,464,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Aflac in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. BankPlus Trust Department acquired a new position in Aflac in the fourth quarter worth about $34,000. Curio Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Aflac in the fourth quarter worth about $36,000. OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new position in Aflac during the fourth quarter worth about $38,000. Finally, Rialto Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Aflac during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Institutional investors own 67.44% of the company's stock.

Aflac Trading Down 1.1 %

AFL traded down $1.18 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $107.96. The stock had a trading volume of 1,829,748 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,118,468. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $107.06 and its 200-day simple moving average is $107.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $58.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.81. Aflac Incorporated has a 1-year low of $80.59 and a 1-year high of $115.50. 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 (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $1.56 earnings per share 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, research analysts forecast that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Aflac

In related news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 1,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $107.63, for a total value of $107,630.00. Following the completion of the transaction, 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 position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Charles D. Lake II sold 29,802 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The stock was 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 approximately $5,360,422.98. This trade represents a 37.36 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.90% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have weighed in on AFL. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Aflac from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on shares of Aflac from $118.00 to $124.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Aflac from $94.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Barclays cut their price target on Aflac from $98.00 to $95.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price objective 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. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $103.93.

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.