Generali Asset Management SPA SGR Invests $3.26 Million in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

Generali Asset Management SPA SGR acquired a new position in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 31,533 shares of the financial services provider's stock, valued at approximately $3,262,000.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Aflac by 75.2% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 776,131 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $88,533,000 after purchasing an additional 333,083 shares during the last quarter. Transamerica Financial Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Aflac in the 3rd quarter worth about $979,000. Roxbury Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Aflac in the 4th quarter valued at about $948,000. FMR LLC lifted its position in shares of Aflac by 4.0% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,202,104 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $134,395,000 after buying an additional 45,745 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Willis Investment Counsel boosted its stake in shares of Aflac by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Willis Investment Counsel now owns 273,466 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $28,287,000 after buying an additional 3,357 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.44% of the company's stock.

Aflac Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:AFL traded up $1.46 during trading on Monday, reaching $109.70. The company had a trading volume of 1,553,913 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,994,451. The company has a fifty day moving average of $105.95 and a two-hundred day moving average of $107.61. The company has a current ratio of 0.10, a quick ratio of 0.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The stock has a market capitalization of $59.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.93. Aflac Incorporated has a 12 month low of $79.31 and a 12 month high of $115.50.

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Aflac (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $1.56 EPS 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%. Equities research analysts forecast that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on AFL shares. BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on shares of Aflac in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They set a "market perform" rating and a $111.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Aflac from $98.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Aflac from $98.00 to $95.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Aflac from $90.00 to $94.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Aflac from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note 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 assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $103.36.

Insider Activity at Aflac

In related news, Director Charles D. Lake II sold 29,802 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $107.29, for a total transaction of $3,197,456.58. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 49,962 shares in the company, valued at $5,360,422.98. This represents a 37.36 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Audrey B. Tillman sold 24,744 shares of the stock in a transaction on 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 sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 222,618 shares of the company's stock, valued at $23,018,701.20. The trade was a 10.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 55,546 shares of company stock worth $5,863,616 in the last ninety days. 0.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.