Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) Shares Sold by New York State Common Retirement Fund

New York State Common Retirement Fund lessened its holdings in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL - Free Report) by 6.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 418,135 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 29,200 shares during the period. New York State Common Retirement Fund owned about 0.08% of Aflac worth $43,252,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC grew its stake in Aflac by 6.4% in the third quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 4,694,511 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $524,846,000 after purchasing an additional 281,148 shares during the last quarter. Guinness Asset Management LTD grew its position in shares of Aflac by 5.2% in the 4th quarter. Guinness Asset Management LTD now owns 2,395,045 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $247,682,000 after buying an additional 118,720 shares during the last quarter. National Pension Service raised its stake in shares of Aflac by 8.9% during the 3rd quarter. National Pension Service now owns 1,662,514 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $185,869,000 after acquiring an additional 136,238 shares in the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. raised its stake in shares of Aflac by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 1,584,552 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $177,153,000 after acquiring an additional 10,487 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC lifted its position in Aflac by 10.1% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 1,391,127 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $155,529,000 after acquiring an additional 127,911 shares during the last quarter. 67.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Aflac Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE AFL traded down $2.24 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $102.04. 3,539,580 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,836,717. The company has a quick ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 0.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The firm has a market cap of $56.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.63, a PEG ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 0.99. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $104.16 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $107.26. Aflac Incorporated has a twelve month low of $78.62 and a twelve month high of $115.50.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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, analysts anticipate that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 EPS for the current fiscal 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 given a $0.58 dividend. This is a positive change 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 yield of 2.27%. Aflac's payout ratio is presently 24.17%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Audrey B. Tillman sold 24,744 shares of the firm'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 of the company's stock, valued at approximately $23,018,701.20. This trade represents a 10.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.90% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

AFL has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Barclays reduced their price target on Aflac from $98.00 to $95.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Piper Sandler decreased their price target on Aflac from $122.00 to $118.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 7th. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on Aflac in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued a "market perform" rating and a $111.00 price target for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price objective on shares of Aflac from $107.00 to $104.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Aflac from $90.00 to $94.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Two investment 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 MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $102.86.

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.