Aflac (NYSE:AFL) Stock: Insider Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan Sells 42,000 Shares

Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) major shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 42,000 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.38, for a total value of $4,887,960.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 50,302,940 shares in the company, valued at $5,854,256,157.20. The trade was a 0.08% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Major shareholders that own more than 10% of a company’s stock are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC.

Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan also recently made the following trade(s):

• On Wednesday, October 14th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 55,000 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.79, for a total transaction of $6,478,450.00.
• On Monday, October 12th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,200 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.85, for a total value of $1,413,370.00.
• On Friday, October 9th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,000 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.72, for a total transaction of $1,376,640.00.
• On Thursday, October 8th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,000 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.45, for a total transaction of $1,487,850.00.
• On Wednesday, October 7th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,000 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.80, for a total value of $1,353,600.00.
• On Tuesday, October 6th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,050 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.49, for a total value of $1,481,044.50.
• On Monday, October 5th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,000 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.25, for a total transaction of $1,459,250.00.
• On Friday, October 2nd, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,200 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.30, for a total value of $1,469,160.00.
• On Thursday, October 1st, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 11,900 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.18, for a total transaction of $1,323,042.00.
• On Tuesday, September 29th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,100 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.36, for a total value of $1,371,656.00.

Aflac Stock Up 1.5%

NYSE:AFL opened at $119.84 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $116.36 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $117.20. The company has a current ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 0.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. Aflac Incorporated has a 1 year low of $105.43 and a 1 year high of $130.22. The stock has a market cap of $60.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.61, a PEG ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 0.56.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 6th. The financial services provider reported $1.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.76 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $4.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.11 billion. Aflac had a return on equity of 13.27% and a net margin of 26.91%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.78 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Aflac Incorporated will post 7.04 earnings per share for the current year.

Aflac Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 19th were issued a dividend of $0.61 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 19th. This represents a $2.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.0%. Aflac’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 26.15%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of Aflac from $108.00 to $112.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, August 10th. Mizuho lowered their target price on shares of Aflac from $116.00 to $107.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 7th. Bank of America cut their price target on shares of Aflac from $137.00 to $133.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 12th. Evercore raised their price objective on shares of Aflac from $109.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an “underperform” rating in a research report on Monday, July 13th. Finally, Piper Sandler reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $138.00 target price (up from $130.00) on shares of Aflac in a research note on Monday, August 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $117.20.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Archer Investment Corp purchased a new stake in Aflac during the second quarter valued at about $26,000. Groupe la Francaise bought a new stake in Aflac in the first quarter valued at $25,000. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. purchased a new position in Aflac during the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Aflac during the first quarter valued at about $25,000. Finally, Washington Trust Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Aflac in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.44% of the company’s stock.

Aflac News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Aflac this week:

• Positive Sentiment: DOWLING & PARTN raised its Aflac EPS estimates to $7.65 for fiscal 2027 from $7.55 and to $8.25 for fiscal 2028 from $8.05. The revisions suggest improving confidence in Aflac’s future earnings growth and provide a bullish counterpoint to the current-year consensus estimate of $7.04. Aflac analyst earnings estimates
• Positive Sentiment: AM Best affirmed the credit ratings of Aflac and its subsidiaries, supporting investor confidence in the insurer’s financial strength, balance sheet and ability to meet policyholder obligations. AM Best affirms Aflac credit ratings
• Neutral Sentiment: JPMorgan raised its price target for Aflac to $119 from $116 while maintaining a “neutral” rating. Because the new target is close to recent trading levels and implies limited upside, the revision is modestly supportive but does not represent a strong bullish call. JPMorgan raises Aflac price target
• Negative Sentiment: Japan Post Holdings Co. Ltd. continued selling Aflac shares, including 55,000 shares on October 14 and 42,000 shares on October 13. The sales were made under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan and reduced its enormous position only slightly, limiting the fundamental impact. However, the repeated transactions could weigh on sentiment by signaling ongoing shareholder selling pressure. Aflac shareholder SEC filing

About Aflac

Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL) is an insurance company that provides supplemental health and life insurance products to individuals, employers and groups. Its coverage is designed to help policyholders manage expenses that may not be fully covered by major medical insurance, including costs associated with illness, injury and other qualifying events.

The company’s products include accident, cancer, critical illness, hospital indemnity, disability, dental, vision and life insurance. Aflac distributes its policies through workplace benefits programs, independent agents, brokers and other distribution channels.

Founded in 1955 as American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus, Aflac has its headquarters in Columbus, Georgia.