KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS Purchases Shares of 297,670 Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS bought a new stake in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 297,670 shares of the financial services provider's stock, valued at approximately $30,791,000. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS owned about 0.05% of Aflac at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its stake in 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 buying an additional 333,083 shares in the last quarter. Transamerica Financial Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Aflac in the third quarter valued at about $979,000. Roxbury Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Aflac during the fourth quarter worth about $948,000. FMR LLC grew its holdings in shares of Aflac by 4.0% during the third 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 raised its position in Aflac by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Willis Investment Counsel now owns 273,466 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $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.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on AFL shares. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on shares of Aflac in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. They set a "market perform" rating and a $111.00 price target for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price target on shares of Aflac from $107.00 to $104.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Aflac from $98.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Aflac from $90.00 to $94.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Evercore ISI lowered their target price on shares of Aflac from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an "underperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Aflac currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $103.36.

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Insider Activity at Aflac

In other Aflac news, 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 completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 49,962 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,360,422.98. This trade represents a 37.36 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 1,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred 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 $2,733,048.59. This represents a 3.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 55,546 shares of company stock valued at $5,863,616 in the last 90 days. 0.90% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Aflac Price Performance

Shares of AFL stock traded up $0.43 on Thursday, hitting $110.87. 1,804,339 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,991,895. Aflac Incorporated has a 12 month low of $79.31 and a 12 month 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. The company has a 50 day moving average of $106.32 and a 200 day moving average of $107.64. The stock has a market cap of $60.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.93.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $1.56 earnings per share (EPS) 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.

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.