Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) Shares Sold by Townsquare Capital LLC

Townsquare Capital LLC reduced its position in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL - Free Report) by 28.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 14,112 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 5,585 shares during the period. Townsquare Capital LLC's holdings in Aflac were worth $1,460,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of AFL. Barclays PLC raised its holdings in Aflac by 10.1% in the 3rd 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. McIlrath & Eck LLC grew its position in shares of Aflac by 29.3% in the third quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 2,490 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $278,000 after purchasing an additional 564 shares during the period. Anchor Investment Management LLC increased its stake in Aflac by 4.4% in the third quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 20,384 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $2,279,000 after purchasing an additional 852 shares during the last quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Aflac during the third quarter worth about $594,000. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB boosted its stake in Aflac by 5.5% in the 3rd quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 158,424 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $17,712,000 after buying an additional 8,274 shares during the last quarter. 67.44% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Aflac Stock Up 3.2 %

Shares of AFL stock traded up $3.31 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $108.28. The company had a trading volume of 1,545,147 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,122,669. The company has a market capitalization of $59.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.81. Aflac Incorporated has a twelve month low of $80.59 and a twelve month high of $115.50. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $106.84 and its 200 day simple moving average is $107.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.08 and a current ratio of 0.10.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $1.56 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.63 by ($0.07). Aflac had a net margin of 28.76% and a return on equity of 16.20%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

AFL has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on shares of Aflac in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. They set a "market perform" rating and a $111.00 price objective on the stock. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Aflac from $105.00 to $100.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 10th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Aflac from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price objective on Aflac from $107.00 to $104.00 and set a "market perform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, Piper Sandler lifted their target price on Aflac from $118.00 to $124.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock 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 firm'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 transaction, the director now directly owns 49,962 shares of the company's stock, valued at $5,360,422.98. This trade represents a 37.36 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 1,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $107.63, for a total transaction of $107,630.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 25,393 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,733,048.59. The trade was a 3.79 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.90% of the company's stock.

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.