Aflac Incorporated $AFL Shares Bought by Russell Investments Group Ltd.

Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 454,777 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 8,877 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd. owned approximately 0.09% of Aflac worth $50,769,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Confluence Wealth Services Inc. raised its position in Aflac by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Confluence Wealth Services Inc. now owns 11,827 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,321,000 after buying an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. Courier Capital LLC boosted its position in Aflac by 3.9% during the third quarter. Courier Capital LLC now owns 2,597 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $290,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC grew its stake in Aflac by 5.1% during the 3rd quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 2,037 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $227,000 after acquiring an additional 99 shares in the last quarter. Stiles Financial Services Inc grew its stake in Aflac by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. Stiles Financial Services Inc now owns 3,169 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $354,000 after acquiring an additional 99 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Berkeley Capital Partners LLC raised its holdings in Aflac by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Berkeley Capital Partners LLC now owns 11,669 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,303,000 after acquiring an additional 99 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.44% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on AFL shares. TD Cowen restated a “hold” rating on shares of Aflac in a report on Monday, December 22nd. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b+)” rating on shares of Aflac in a report on Monday, December 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Aflac from $109.00 to $118.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Aflac from $101.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Finally, Raymond James Financial reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $119.00 price objective (up from $110.00) on shares of Aflac in a report on Tuesday, December 30th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Aflac presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $111.73.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Steven Kent Beaver sold 7,387 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.58, for a total value of $839,015.46. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 40,526 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,602,943.08. This represents a 15.42% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, major shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 19,300 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.96, for a total transaction of $2,141,528.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 52,241,500 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,796,716,840. The trade was a 0.04% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 51,279 shares of company stock valued at $5,697,789. Insiders own 0.80% of the company’s stock.

Aflac Stock Up 0.2%

NYSE:AFL opened at $110.35 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 0.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The stock has a market capitalization of $56.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.61 and a beta of 0.66. Aflac Incorporated has a 52 week low of $96.95 and a 52 week high of $119.32. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $111.70 and its two-hundred day moving average is $110.30.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $1.57 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.69 by ($0.12). The business had revenue of $4.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.45 billion. Aflac had a return on equity of 14.35% and a net margin of 21.24%.Aflac’s quarterly revenue was down 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.57 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 EPS for the current year.

About Aflac

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.