Metis Global Partners LLC Sells 3,672 Shares of Aflac Incorporated $AFL

Metis Global Partners LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 7.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 42,732 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 3,672 shares during the period. Metis Global Partners LLC’s holdings in Aflac were worth $4,507,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Nuveen LLC acquired a new position in shares of Aflac during the first quarter worth approximately $140,746,000. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al acquired a new position in Aflac during the 2nd quarter valued at $60,954,000. Sterling Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Aflac by 146.3% in the 2nd quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 772,061 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $81,422,000 after purchasing an additional 458,551 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. grew its position in Aflac by 133.2% in the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 758,424 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $84,329,000 after purchasing an additional 433,134 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Guinness Asset Management LTD grew its position in Aflac by 19.4% in the 2nd quarter. Guinness Asset Management LTD now owns 2,372,484 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $250,187,000 after purchasing an additional 385,546 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.44% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on AFL shares. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Aflac in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Aflac from $100.00 to $101.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Wall Street Zen upgraded Aflac from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, August 9th. UBS Group cut their target price on Aflac from $114.00 to $111.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 6th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on shares of Aflac from $108.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 9th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Aflac currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $110.50.

Aflac Price Performance

Aflac stock opened at $114.06 on Friday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $108.98 and a 200 day simple moving average of $105.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.11 and a quick ratio of 0.11. The company has a market capitalization of $61.00 billion, a PE ratio of 25.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.83. Aflac Incorporated has a one year low of $96.95 and a one year high of $115.43.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 27th. The financial services provider reported $1.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Aflac had a return on equity of 15.08% and a net margin of 15.32%.The firm had revenue of $5.91 billion during the quarter. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Aflac Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 19th will be paid a dividend of $0.58 per share. This represents a $2.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 19th. Aflac’s dividend payout ratio is currently 30.29%.

Aflac declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, August 12th that allows the company to repurchase 100,000,000 outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the financial services provider to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are often a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

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.