Savant Capital LLC Decreases Stock Holdings in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

Savant Capital LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 1.9% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 15,911 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 313 shares during the quarter. Savant Capital LLC’s holdings in Aflac were worth $1,646,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of AFL. AMF Tjanstepension AB increased its position in shares of Aflac by 13.3% during the third quarter. AMF Tjanstepension AB now owns 252,137 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $28,206,000 after acquiring an additional 29,602 shares during the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC bought a new position in Aflac during the third quarter valued at $998,000. Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its holdings in Aflac by 3.1% during the third quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 50,379 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $5,632,000 after purchasing an additional 1,509 shares during the period. Fulton Breakefield Broenniman LLC bought a new position in Aflac during the third quarter valued at $250,000. Finally, B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Aflac by 12.9% during the third quarter. B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors LLC now owns 47,801 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $5,344,000 after purchasing an additional 5,459 shares during the period. 67.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Aflac

In other Aflac news, EVP Audrey B. Tillman sold 24,744 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.40, for a total transaction of $2,558,529.60. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 222,618 shares in the company, valued at $23,018,701.20. This trade represents a 10.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.90% of the company’s stock.

Aflac Trading Up 1.1 %

Shares of AFL stock opened at $104.12 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.08 and a current ratio of 0.10. Aflac Incorporated has a 52-week low of $78.20 and a 52-week high of $115.50. The company has a market capitalization of $57.84 billion, a PE ratio of 10.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.99. The business’s fifty day moving average is $104.33 and its 200 day moving average is $107.05.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $1.56 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.63 by ($0.07). Aflac had a return on equity of 16.20% and a net margin of 28.76%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Aflac Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 19th will be given a dividend of $0.58 per share. This is an increase from Aflac’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 19th. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.23%. Aflac’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 20.83%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have weighed in on AFL. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on Aflac from $122.00 to $118.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 7th. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on Aflac in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued a “market perform” rating and a $111.00 price target for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Aflac from $90.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Evercore ISI cut their price target on Aflac from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, Barclays cut their price target on Aflac from $98.00 to $95.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 7th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Aflac has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $103.00.

About Aflac

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.