Tower Research Capital LLC TRC Boosts Stock Holdings in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its stake in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL - Free Report) by 276.0% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 39,675 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 29,124 shares during the quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC's holdings in Aflac were worth $4,104,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Transce3nd LLC acquired a new position in shares of Aflac during the fourth quarter worth $47,000. MML Investors Services LLC grew its stake in Aflac by 45.4% during the 4th quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 111,625 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $11,547,000 after buying an additional 34,845 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Aflac by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 133,350 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $13,794,000 after buying an additional 1,350 shares during the last quarter. Natixis acquired a new position in Aflac during the 4th quarter valued at about $8,441,000. Finally, Norinchukin Bank The raised its stake in Aflac by 10.4% in the fourth quarter. Norinchukin Bank The now owns 23,458 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $2,426,000 after buying an additional 2,211 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 67.44% of the company's stock.

Aflac Stock Performance

Aflac stock traded down $1.18 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $107.96. 1,829,748 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,117,396. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $107.06 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $107.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.08 and a current ratio of 0.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $58.93 billion, a PE ratio of 11.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.81. Aflac Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $80.59 and a fifty-two week high of $115.50.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results 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, sell-side analysts forecast that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on AFL. Barclays dropped their price target on Aflac from $98.00 to $95.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 7th. BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on shares of Aflac in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued a "market perform" rating and a $111.00 price target for the company. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Aflac from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Aflac from $105.00 to $100.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 10th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price target on 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 given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Aflac has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $103.93.

Insider Activity

In other Aflac news, Director Charles D. Lake II sold 29,802 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $107.29, for a total transaction of $3,197,456.58. Following the transaction, the director now owns 49,962 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,360,422.98. This represents a 37.36 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 1,000 shares of the business'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 sale, the director now owns 25,393 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,733,048.59. This trade represents a 3.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.90% of the company's stock.

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.