Joseph Moskowitz Sells 786 Shares of Aflac (NYSE:AFL) Stock

Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) Director Joseph Moskowitz sold 786 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.75, for a total value of $89,407.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 24,829 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,824,298.75. This represents a 3.07% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink.

Aflac Stock Performance

Shares of Aflac stock traded down $3.42 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $108.34. 468,069 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,185,141. Aflac Incorporated has a one year low of $96.95 and a one year high of $115.83. The firm has a market capitalization of $56.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.58, a P/E/G ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a quick ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 0.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $109.94 and a 200 day moving average price of $106.02.

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

Aflac Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 18th will be paid a dividend of $0.61 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 18th. This represents a $2.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. This is a boost from Aflac’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.58. Aflac’s dividend payout ratio is 30.29%.

Aflac announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase plan on Tuesday, August 12th that allows the company to buyback 100,000,000 shares. This buyback authorization allows the financial services provider to reacquire shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Analyst Ratings Changes

AFL has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Evercore ISI raised their target price on Aflac from $110.00 to $111.00 and gave the stock an “underperform” rating in a report on Friday, November 7th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on Aflac from $108.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Thursday, October 9th. Wall Street Zen raised Aflac from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, August 9th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Aflac from $113.00 to $118.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Aflac from $107.00 to $109.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Aflac currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $111.00.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. True Wealth Design LLC raised its position in shares of Aflac by 188.5% during the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 225 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 147 shares during the last quarter. Mid American Wealth Advisory Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Aflac during the second quarter worth $26,000. Chilton Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Aflac during the second quarter valued at $26,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Aflac by 1,526.7% in the 2nd quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 244 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 229 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AlphaCore Capital LLC bought a new stake in Aflac in the 1st quarter valued at $28,000. 67.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.