Aflac (NYSE:AFL) Major Shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan Sells 13,000 Shares of Stock

Key Points

• Japan Post Holdings sold 13,000 Aflac shares at an average price of $112.25, generating approximately $1.46 million. The Rule 10b5-1 transaction reduced its ownership by just 0.03%, leaving it with roughly 50.4 million shares.
• Aflac shares fell 0.6% to $112.91, below their 50-day moving average of $118.00 but above the 52-week low of $105.43. The company reported quarterly revenue of $4.22 billion, though earnings per share slightly missed analysts’ estimates.
• Aflac continues to pay a quarterly dividend of $0.61, equivalent to a 2.2% annualized yield. Analysts’ consensus rating is Hold, with an average price target of $116.85.

Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) major shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,000 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction on Monday, October 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.25, for a total value of $1,459,250.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 50,407,190 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,658,207,077.50. The trade was a 0.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Major shareholders that own at least 10% of a company's shares are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC.

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

• On Friday, October 2nd, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,200 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $111.30, for a total value of $1,469,160.00.
• On Thursday, October 1st, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 11,900 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.18, for a total value of $1,323,042.00.
• On Tuesday, September 29th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,100 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.36, for a total value of $1,371,656.00.
• On Monday, September 28th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,000 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.63, for a total transaction of $1,363,560.00.
• On Thursday, September 24th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,100 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.64, for a total transaction of $1,387,144.00.
• On Wednesday, September 23rd, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,500 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.20, for a total transaction of $1,555,200.00.
• On Monday, September 21st, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,200 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.49, for a total value of $1,408,978.00.
• On Friday, September 18th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,800 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.22, for a total transaction of $1,487,616.00.
• On Thursday, September 17th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,900 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.58, for a total transaction of $1,503,882.00.
• On Wednesday, September 16th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,800 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.49, for a total transaction of $1,621,362.00.

Aflac Trading Down 0.6%

NYSE AFL traded down $0.72 on Wednesday, reaching $112.91. The company had a trading volume of 169,780 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,296,669. Aflac Incorporated has a 52 week low of $105.43 and a 52 week high of $130.22. The stock's 50 day moving average is $118.00 and its 200-day moving average is $116.75. The company has a quick ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 0.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The stock has a market cap of $56.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.10, a PEG ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 0.56.

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

Aflac Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 19th were given a $0.61 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 19th. This represents a $2.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. Aflac's payout ratio is currently 26.15%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have weighed in on AFL. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Aflac from a "buy (b)" rating to a "buy (a-)" rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 22nd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price objective on shares of Aflac from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. TD Cowen reissued a "hold" rating and issued a $110.00 price target (up from $101.00) on shares of Aflac in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. Barclays reissued an "underweight" rating and issued a $101.00 target price (up from $99.00) on shares of Aflac in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Piper Sandler restated an "overweight" rating and set a $138.00 price objective (up from $130.00) on shares of Aflac in a research note on Monday, August 10th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Aflac has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $116.85.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Aflac

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in Aflac during the second quarter worth approximately $4,093,787,000. Legal & General Group Plc acquired a new position in shares of Aflac in the second quarter valued at approximately $404,639,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp bought a new position in shares of Aflac during the second quarter worth approximately $298,418,000. Bank of America Corp DE bought a new position in shares of Aflac during the second quarter worth approximately $244,516,000. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP lifted its holdings in Aflac by 161.9% during the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 3,184,801 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $349,405,000 after purchasing an additional 1,968,738 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.44% of the company's stock.

More Aflac News

Here are the key news stories impacting Aflac this week:

• Positive Sentiment: UBS raised its price target to $125 from $124 while keeping a Neutral rating. The higher target suggests slightly improved valuation expectations and supports the stock’s recent strength. UBS adjusts price target on Aflac
• Positive Sentiment: Aflac’s new study found that one in three U.S. workers lacks a legacy plan. The planning gap could support long-term demand for Aflac’s life-insurance and supplemental-protection products, although the announcement did not provide a financial forecast. Aflac legacy planning study
• Neutral Sentiment: Barclays increased its price target to $101 from $99 but maintained an Underweight rating. The target increase is mildly supportive, but the bearish rating highlights continued concerns about Aflac’s near-term upside. Barclays adjusts Aflac price target
• Negative Sentiment: Japan Post Holdings, a major Aflac shareholder, sold 13,200 shares for approximately $1.47 million on October 2, following a 11,900-share sale worth about $1.32 million on October 1. The trades occurred under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan and reduced its stake by only about 0.05% combined, limiting the fundamental impact but potentially creating a modest supply overhang. Japan Post Holdings sells Aflac shares

About Aflac

Aflac Incorporated NYSE: AFL is an insurance company that provides supplemental health and life insurance products to individuals, employers and groups. Its coverage is designed to help policyholders manage expenses that may not be fully covered by major medical insurance, including costs associated with illness, injury and other qualifying events.

The company's products include accident, cancer, critical illness, hospital indemnity, disability, dental, vision and life insurance. Aflac distributes its policies through workplace benefits programs, independent agents, brokers and other distribution channels.

Founded in 1955 as American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus, Aflac has its headquarters in Columbus, Georgia.

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