Unigestion Holding SA Increases Stock Position in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

Unigestion Holding SA lifted its stake in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL - Free Report) by 23.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 66,870 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 12,796 shares during the quarter. Unigestion Holding SA's holdings in Aflac were worth $6,917,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Weiss Asset Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Aflac during the 3rd quarter worth $3,212,000. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC increased its position in Aflac by 238.4% during the third quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 70,731 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $7,220,000 after purchasing an additional 49,829 shares during the last quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in Aflac by 150.2% during the third quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 14,244 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,593,000 after purchasing an additional 8,552 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI boosted its holdings in Aflac by 22.2% in the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 345,803 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $38,660,000 after purchasing an additional 62,929 shares during the last quarter. Finally, iSAM Funds UK Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Aflac in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $225,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.44% of the company's stock.

Aflac Stock Up 2.1 %

Shares of Aflac stock traded up $2.24 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $106.92. 827,867 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,148,976. The firm has a market cap of $58.36 billion, a PE ratio of 11.07, a PEG ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.81. 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 Incorporated has a 1 year low of $79.31 and a 1 year high of $115.50. The stock's fifty day moving average is $106.34 and its 200 day moving average is $107.44.

Remove Ads

Aflac (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly 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 return on equity of 16.20% and a net margin of 28.76%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently commented on AFL. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on Aflac in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued a "market perform" rating and a $111.00 price objective on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on Aflac from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on Aflac from $118.00 to $124.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Aflac from $109.00 to $114.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Aflac from $98.00 to $95.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Two 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 MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $103.93.

Insider Activity at Aflac

In other news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 1,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction 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 sale, the director now directly 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 sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Charles D. Lake II sold 29,802 shares of the business's stock in a transaction 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 of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,360,422.98. The trade was a 37.36 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.90% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.