Heritage Trust Co Invests $2.22 Million in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

Heritage Trust Co acquired a new stake 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 SEC. The firm acquired 21,475 shares of the financial services provider's stock, valued at approximately $2,221,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Argent Trust Co raised its position in Aflac by 12.6% during the fourth quarter. Argent Trust Co now owns 10,885 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $1,126,000 after purchasing an additional 1,215 shares in the last quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina raised its holdings in shares of Aflac by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 253,560 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $26,228,000 after buying an additional 2,710 shares in the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Aflac by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 67,290 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $6,960,000 after buying an additional 424 shares in the last quarter. DRW Securities LLC lifted its position in Aflac by 125.6% in the 4th quarter. DRW Securities LLC now owns 4,081 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $422,000 after buying an additional 2,272 shares during the last quarter. Finally, APG Asset Management N.V. boosted its stake in Aflac by 84.8% in the fourth quarter. APG Asset Management N.V. now owns 401,041 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $40,061,000 after buying an additional 183,997 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.44% of the company's stock.

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Aflac Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of AFL stock traded down $0.49 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $108.02. 1,228,464 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,142,476. Aflac Incorporated has a 1 year low of $79.69 and a 1 year high of $115.50. The firm has a market cap of $58.96 billion, a PE ratio of 11.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.81. The company's 50 day moving average is $106.37 and its two-hundred day moving average is $107.39. The company has a current ratio of 0.10, a quick ratio of 0.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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 return on equity of 16.20% and a net margin of 28.76%. On average, equities research analysts predict that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Charles D. Lake II sold 29,802 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $107.29, for a total value 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. The trade was a 37.36 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $107.63, for a total transaction of $107,630.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 25,393 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,733,048.59. This trade represents a 3.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.90% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Aflac from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Aflac from $94.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Aflac from $105.00 to $100.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 10th. UBS Group boosted their target price on Aflac from $109.00 to $114.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, Piper Sandler lifted their price target on Aflac from $118.00 to $124.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Aflac presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $103.93.

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.