Prospera Financial Services Inc Has $7.98 Million Holdings in Aflac Incorporated $AFL

Prospera Financial Services Inc decreased its stake in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 16.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 71,460 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 14,483 shares during the quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc’s holdings in Aflac were worth $7,984,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AFL. ProShare Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Aflac by 10.4% in the 3rd quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 1,731,482 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $193,407,000 after acquiring an additional 163,791 shares during the period. Nordea Investment Management AB increased its stake in Aflac by 3.8% in the third quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 1,768,705 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $196,662,000 after purchasing an additional 65,308 shares in the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. increased its stake in Aflac by 12.2% in the third quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 90,976 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $10,162,000 after purchasing an additional 9,878 shares in the last quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund raised its holdings in Aflac by 31.0% in the third quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 55,022 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $6,146,000 after purchasing an additional 13,017 shares during the period. Finally, Rakuten Investment Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Aflac during the third quarter worth $1,117,000. Institutional investors own 67.44% of the company’s stock.

Aflac Stock Performance

Shares of Aflac stock opened at $115.85 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.11 and a quick ratio of 0.11. The firm has a market cap of $60.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.70 and a beta of 0.67. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $110.33 and its 200-day moving average is $108.90. Aflac Incorporated has a one year low of $96.95 and a one year high of $119.32.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $1.57 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.69 by ($0.12). Aflac had a net margin of 21.24% and a return on equity of 14.35%. The firm had revenue of $4.87 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.45 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.57 EPS. The company’s revenue was down 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently commented on the stock. TD Cowen restated a “hold” rating on shares of Aflac in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. Barclays set a $101.00 price target on Aflac and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b+)” rating on shares of Aflac in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Aflac from $101.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, January 5th. Finally, Mizuho set a $107.00 target price on Aflac in a research note on Monday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Aflac presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $110.91.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Steven Kent Beaver sold 5,492 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.53, for a total value of $601,538.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 38,368 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,202,447.04. This trade represents a 12.52% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Audrey B. Tillman sold 15,862 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.00, for a total transaction of $1,776,544.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 230,688 shares in the company, valued at $25,837,056. The trade was a 6.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 29,044 shares of company stock worth $3,241,981 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.80% of the company’s stock.

Aflac Company Profile

Aflac Incorporated (American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus) is a provider of supplemental insurance products designed to help policyholders manage out-of-pocket health care and living expenses. The company underwrites a range of individual and group policies that typically pay cash benefits directly to insureds when covered events occur, enabling greater financial flexibility for medical treatment, hospital stays, critical illness, and related costs. Aflac’s product mix includes supplemental health insurance, life insurance and other specialty coverages intended to complement primary medical plans.

Founded in the mid-20th century and headquartered in Columbus, Georgia, Aflac distributes its products through a combination of employer-sponsored programs, independent brokers and agents, and direct marketing.