Aflac (NYSE:AFL) Major Shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan Sells 15,000 Shares

Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) major shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 15,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.47, for a total value of $1,762,050.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 50,652,690 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,950,171,494.30. This represents a 0.03% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Large shareholders that own 10% or more of a company’s shares are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC.

Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan also recently made the following trade(s):

• On Thursday, September 3rd, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 20,000 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.49, for a total value of $2,369,800.00.
• On Wednesday, September 2nd, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,500 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.19, for a total value of $1,582,065.00.
• On Tuesday, September 1st, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,800 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.77, for a total value of $1,481,856.00.
• On Monday, August 31st, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,700 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.00, for a total transaction of $1,473,200.00.
• On Friday, August 28th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,000 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.52, for a total transaction of $1,514,760.00.
• On Thursday, August 27th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,700 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.67, for a total transaction of $1,481,709.00.
• On Wednesday, August 26th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,200 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.35, for a total transaction of $1,549,020.00.
• On Tuesday, August 25th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,700 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.49, for a total transaction of $1,479,423.00.
• On Monday, August 24th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,500 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.02, for a total transaction of $1,593,270.00.
• On Friday, August 21st, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,900 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.28, for a total transaction of $1,500,012.00.

Aflac Price Performance

Shares of NYSE AFL opened at $114.79 on Thursday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $121.32 and a 200 day moving average price of $116.32. The firm has a market cap of $57.55 billion, a PE ratio of 12.30, a PEG ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a current ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 0.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. Aflac Incorporated has a 1-year low of $105.43 and a 1-year high of $130.22.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The financial services provider reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.76 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $4.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.11 billion. Aflac had a net margin of 26.91% and a return on equity of 13.27%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.78 EPS. Research analysts predict that Aflac Incorporated will post 7.04 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Aflac Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 19th were given a $0.61 dividend. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 19th. Aflac’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 26.15%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on AFL shares. Wall Street Zen downgraded Aflac from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Saturday, August 15th. TD Cowen reiterated a “hold” rating and issued a $110.00 price objective (up from $101.00) on shares of Aflac in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Aflac from a “buy (b+)” rating to a “buy (a-)” rating in a report on Friday, August 21st. Mizuho set a $116.00 target price on shares of Aflac in a research report on Monday, August 10th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company set a $122.00 target price on shares of Aflac and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 19th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Aflac currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $116.62.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of AFL. Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Aflac during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Groupe la Francaise bought a new position in shares of Aflac in the first quarter valued at $25,000. Quarry LP bought a new position in shares of Aflac in the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Archer Investment Corp bought a new position in shares of Aflac in the second quarter valued at $26,000. Finally, Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. acquired a new position in Aflac during the second quarter worth $27,000. 67.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Key Headlines Impacting Aflac

Here are the key news stories impacting Aflac this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Aflac said its more than 30-year commitment to childhood cancer and sickle cell disease support has surpassed $200 million in contributions. The milestone strengthens the company’s brand and corporate reputation, although it is unlikely to have a material near-term effect on earnings. Aflac commemorates National Childhood Cancer and Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month
• Neutral Sentiment: Aflac’s latest quarterly results were mixed: revenue of $4.22 billion exceeded estimates, but earnings per share of $1.75 narrowly missed forecasts and declined from $1.78 a year earlier. The company continues to offer a $0.61 quarterly dividend, or $2.44 annually, with a yield of roughly 2.1%.
• Negative Sentiment: Japan Post Holdings, a major Aflac shareholder, disclosed additional sales of 15,000 shares for approximately $1.76 million after selling 20,000 shares for about $2.37 million in an earlier transaction. The sales were conducted under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan and reduced its stake by only 0.03%–0.04%, limiting the fundamental significance but potentially weighing on sentiment. Major AFLAC Stakeholder Quietly Executes Multi-Million Dollar Move
• Negative Sentiment: An analysis argued that Aflac remains a consistent compounder but is fully valued, potentially limiting upside from current levels. Analyst views are mixed, with a consensus “Hold” rating and an average price target near $116.62. Aflac: Scrooge Keeps Compounding, But The Stock Is Fully Valued

Aflac Company Profile

Aflac Incorporated is an insurance company that provides supplemental health and life insurance products. Its coverage is designed to help policyholders manage expenses that may not be fully covered by major medical insurance, including costs associated with accidents, illness, hospitalization, disability and critical illness.

Through its U.S. operations, Aflac markets policies to individuals, businesses and employees through workplace benefit programs, independent agents and brokers. The company is also a major provider of supplemental insurance in Japan, where it offers products focused primarily on cancer, medical and income-support coverage.

Founded in 1955 in Columbus, Georgia, as American Family Life Assurance Company, the business adopted the name Aflac in 1990.