Diversified Trust Co Buys 3,806 Shares of Aflac Incorporated $AFL

Key Points

• Diversified Trust Co significantly increased its stake in Aflac by 211.6% during the second quarter, acquiring an additional 3,806 shares, bringing its total holdings to 5,605 shares worth $591,000.
• Aflac declared a stock buyback plan authorizing the repurchase of up to 100 million shares, indicating that the company's leadership believes its stock is undervalued.
• The company recently reported earnings of $1.78 EPS for the quarter, exceeding analysts' estimates, but revenue declined by 19.0% year-over-year to $4.16 billion.

Diversified Trust Co increased its stake in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL - Free Report) by 211.6% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,605 shares of the financial services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 3,806 shares during the quarter. Diversified Trust Co's holdings in Aflac were worth $591,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. AlphaCore Capital LLC bought a new position in Aflac during the first quarter worth $28,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Aflac by 121.9% during the first quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 304 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 167 shares during the period. Groupe la Francaise bought a new position in Aflac during the first quarter worth $34,000. Garde Capital Inc. bought a new position in Aflac during the first quarter worth $36,000. Finally, Meeder Asset Management Inc. increased its position in Aflac by 90.8% during the first quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. now owns 330 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 157 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 67.44% of the company's stock.

Aflac Stock Up 0.7%

Shares of NYSE:AFL opened at $108.16 on Wednesday. Aflac Incorporated has a 52 week low of $96.95 and a 52 week high of $115.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.11 and a current ratio of 0.11. The company's fifty day moving average is $104.93 and its 200-day moving average is $105.17. The company has a market capitalization of $57.85 billion, a PE ratio of 24.53, a P/E/G ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.85.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, August 5th. The financial services provider reported $1.78 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.71 by $0.07. Aflac had a net margin of 15.32% and a return on equity of 15.08%. The company had revenue of $4.16 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.30 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.83 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down 19.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Aflac declared that its board has initiated a share buyback plan on Tuesday, August 12th that allows the company to repurchase 100,000,000 shares. This repurchase authorization allows the financial services provider to purchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically a sign that the company's leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Aflac Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 20th were paid a $0.58 dividend. This represents a $2.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 20th. Aflac's payout ratio is currently 52.61%.

Insider Activity at Aflac

In other news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 1,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.57, for a total value of $102,570.00. Following the sale, the director owned 25,105 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,575,019.85. The trade was a 3.83% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.80% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Aflac from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, August 9th. UBS Group decreased their price target on shares of Aflac from $114.00 to $111.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 6th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Aflac from $108.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Monday, August 18th. Evercore ISI reiterated an "underperform" rating and set a $106.00 price target (up previously from $105.00) on shares of Aflac in a research note on Thursday, August 14th. Finally, Raymond James Financial decreased their price target on shares of Aflac from $115.00 to $110.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, May 29th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $109.15.

Aflac 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.

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