Trillium Asset Management LLC Cuts Position in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

Trillium Asset Management LLC trimmed its position in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL - Free Report) by 1.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 335,763 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 4,422 shares during the period. Trillium Asset Management LLC owned approximately 0.06% of Aflac worth $34,731,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Xponance Inc. grew its position in Aflac by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 80,118 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $8,287,000 after buying an additional 2,468 shares during the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Aflac by 252.3% during the 4th quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 252,445 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $26,113,000 after purchasing an additional 180,781 shares in the last quarter. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR purchased a new stake in shares of Aflac during the 4th quarter worth $3,262,000. Horizon Investments LLC boosted its position in shares of Aflac by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Horizon Investments LLC now owns 8,692 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $899,000 after purchasing an additional 158 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Flagship Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Aflac during the 4th quarter worth $124,000. 67.44% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

AFL has been the topic of several research analyst reports. 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 target price on the stock. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of Aflac from $98.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Aflac from $98.00 to $95.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their target price on shares of Aflac from $107.00 to $104.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Aflac from $90.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $103.36.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Aflac

In other news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 directly owns 25,393 shares in the company, valued at $2,733,048.59. This represents a 3.79 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, 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 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. The trade was a 37.36 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 55,546 shares of company stock worth $5,863,616. Corporate insiders own 0.80% of the company's stock.

Aflac Trading Down 0.6 %

NYSE:AFL traded down $0.61 on Friday, reaching $108.10. The stock had a trading volume of 5,333,576 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,996,221. The company has a market cap of $59.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.26, a P/E/G ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.93. 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 firm's fifty day moving average is $105.95 and its two-hundred day moving average is $107.63. Aflac Incorporated has a 12-month low of $79.31 and a 12-month high of $115.50.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) last released its 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 net margin of 28.76% and a return on equity of 16.20%. Equities analysts expect that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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.