Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC Trims Stock Position in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC lowered its position in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL - Free Report) by 42.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 30,801 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 22,707 shares during the period. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC's holdings in Aflac were worth $3,186,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Aflac during the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. BankPlus Trust Department bought a new position in shares of Aflac during the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Curio Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Aflac in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $36,000. OFI Invest Asset Management acquired a new position in shares of Aflac during the fourth quarter worth $38,000. Finally, Rialto Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Aflac in the 4th quarter worth $41,000. 67.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Aflac Price Performance

NYSE AFL traded up $0.15 on Tuesday, hitting $105.90. The company had a trading volume of 1,443,213 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,103,503. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.10 and a quick ratio of 0.08. The company has a market capitalization of $57.80 billion, a PE ratio of 11.03, a PEG ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.84. Aflac Incorporated has a 12-month low of $84.30 and a 12-month high of $115.50. The company's fifty day moving average price is $107.40 and its 200-day moving average price is $106.76.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.66 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.67 by ($0.01). Aflac had a net margin of 28.76% and a return on equity of 16.20%. The company had revenue of $3.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.53 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.66 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was down 37.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 earnings per share for the current year.

Aflac Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 2nd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.58 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 21st. This represents a $2.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.19%. Aflac's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 36.25%.

Insider Transactions at Aflac

In related news, Director Charles D. Lake II sold 29,802 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $107.29, for a total transaction of $3,197,456.58. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 49,962 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,360,422.98. This represents a 37.36 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 1,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $107.63, for a total value of $107,630.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 25,393 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,733,048.59. This represents a 3.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.90% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

AFL has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Aflac from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Monday. Barclays lifted their price target on Aflac from $95.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Piper Sandler increased their price target on shares of Aflac from $118.00 to $124.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Aflac from $105.00 to $100.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Aflac from $94.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Aflac currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $104.07.

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.