KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS Grows Stock Position in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS increased its position in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL - Free Report) by 0.9% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 300,270 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 2,600 shares during the quarter. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS owned approximately 0.06% of Aflac worth $33,387,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Golden State Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Aflac by 121.9% in the first quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 304 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares in the last quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC bought a new stake in Aflac during the 1st quarter valued at $206,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in Aflac by 11.6% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 13,527 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $1,504,000 after acquiring an additional 1,411 shares in the last quarter. Garde Capital Inc. bought a new stake in Aflac during the 1st quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, Sowell Financial Services LLC bought a new stake in Aflac during the 1st quarter valued at $865,000. Institutional investors own 67.44% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have issued reports on AFL. UBS Group increased their target price on Aflac from $109.00 to $114.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Aflac from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, May 19th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Aflac from $103.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Piper Sandler increased their target price on Aflac from $118.00 to $124.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price objective on Aflac from $104.00 to $106.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 7th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Aflac presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $108.15.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Arthur Reginald Collins sold 2,750 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.70, for a total value of $290,675.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 6,728 shares in the company, valued at $711,149.60. This trade represents a 29.01% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 1,000 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.79, for a total value of $106,790.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 26,096 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,786,791.84. The trade was a 3.69% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 40,750 shares of company stock worth $4,304,295 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.90% of the company's stock.

Aflac Stock Performance

AFL stock traded up $0.95 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $103.40. The stock had a trading volume of 2,023,594 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,454,763. The stock has a market cap of $55.90 billion, a PE ratio of 16.16, a P/E/G ratio of 3.16 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.09 and a current ratio of 0.09. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $103.04 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $105.17. Aflac Incorporated has a 52-week low of $94.03 and a 52-week high of $115.50.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.67 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $3.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.53 billion. Aflac had a return on equity of 15.55% and a net margin of 21.27%. The business's revenue was down 37.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.66 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 EPS for the current year.

Aflac Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 2nd. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 21st were paid a $0.58 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 21st. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.24%. Aflac's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 36.25%.

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.