#10 - Aflac (NYSE:AFL)
Aflac (NYSE: AFL) Healthcare, and how to pay for it, is one sector that will remain at the forefront of consumer's minds and wallets well into 2019 and beyond. Aflac is a supplemental insurance provider that helps consumers by providing insurance that can help them pay the high costs that come from unanticipated health costs. But while Aflac is well-known in the United States, it earns 75% of its profits from Japan. From a fundamental perspective, there's a lot to like about Aflac. To begin with, the stock trades at 11 times forward estimates on 2019 earnings, and they have earnings per share growth for next year that is forecast at 1.99%. But one of the real appeals of a stock like AFL is the dividend. Aflac is a dividend aristocrat, having issued a dividend for the last 36 years. And they are also expecting to see a benefit from a stronger Japanese yen.
About Aflac
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.
More- Current Price
- $107.33
- Consensus Rating
- Hold
- Ratings Breakdown
- 2 Buy Ratings, 10 Hold Ratings, 2 Sell Ratings.
- Consensus Price Target
- $103.71 (3.4% Downside)
Historically, the period after a mid-term election is a great time to be invested in stocks, and 2018 looks to be no different. With institutional investors taking a closer look at fundamentals now that the noise of the election has quieted down, it's a time for investors to take a close look at blue-chip stocks that provide both steady income by way of a dividend – and the potential for growth by being in markets and sectors that are at the core of a robust U.S. economy. The blue-chip stocks in this presentation represent a cross-section of stocks. From technology to healthcare to utilities, you can find quality stocks that will help provide diversification for your portfolio. You can track these stocks, as well as others, at MarketBeat.com and bolster your portfolio for 2019 and beyond.
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