Aflac (NYSE:AFL) Major Shareholder Sells 13,050 Shares of Company Stock

Key Points

• Japan Post Holdings sold 13,050 Aflac shares at an average price of $113.49, generating approximately $1.48 million. The transaction reduced its stake by just 0.03%, leaving it with roughly 50.4 million shares, and was conducted under a Rule 10b5-1 plan.
• Aflac reported mixed quarterly results, with revenue of $4.22 billion beating estimates but adjusted EPS of $1.75 narrowly missing consensus. Revenue declined 1% year over year, while analysts expect full-year EPS of about $7.04.
• The company maintains a $0.61 quarterly dividend, equivalent to a 2.1% yield and a 26.15% payout ratio. Analyst sentiment remains mixed, with a consensus “Hold” rating and an average price target of $116.15.

Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) major shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,050 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.49, for a total value of $1,481,044.50. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 50,394,140 shares of the company's stock, valued at $5,719,230,948.60. The trade was a 0.03% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Major shareholders that own more than 10% of a company's stock are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC.

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

• On Monday, October 5th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,000 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $112.25, for a total transaction of $1,459,250.00.
• On Friday, October 2nd, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,200 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.30, for a total transaction of $1,469,160.00.
• On Thursday, October 1st, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 11,900 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $111.18, for a total transaction 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 transaction 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 stock was 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 shares were sold at an average price of $115.20, for a total value of $1,555,200.00.
• On Monday, September 21st, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,200 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was 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 value of $1,487,616.00.
• On Thursday, September 17th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,900 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.58, for a total value of $1,503,882.00.

Aflac Price Performance

AFL opened at $114.86 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 0.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The company has a market cap of $57.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 0.56. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $117.43 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $116.84. Aflac Incorporated has a 12-month low of $105.43 and a 12-month high of $130.22.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The financial services provider reported $1.75 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.76 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $4.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.11 billion. Aflac had a net margin of 26.91% and a return on equity of 13.27%. The business's quarterly revenue was down 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $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 firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 19th were issued a $0.61 dividend. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 19th. Aflac's dividend payout ratio is 26.15%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of AFL. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in shares of Aflac by 6.7% during the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 19,421 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $2,171,000 after buying an additional 1,219 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its position in Aflac by 18.1% in the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 37,956 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $4,243,000 after buying an additional 5,825 shares during the last quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Aflac by 17.1% during the 3rd quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 8,170 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $913,000 after acquiring an additional 1,193 shares during the period. Apella Capital LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Aflac by 18.3% during the 3rd quarter. Apella Capital LLC now owns 4,916 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $554,000 after acquiring an additional 762 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Gradient Investments LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Aflac by 16.3% during the 3rd quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 8,379 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $937,000 after acquiring an additional 1,175 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.44% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

AFL has been the topic of several recent research reports. Barclays restated an "underweight" rating and issued a $101.00 price target (up from $99.00) on shares of Aflac in a research note on Wednesday. Weiss Ratings raised Aflac from a "buy (b)" rating to a "buy (a-)" rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 22nd. Piper Sandler restated an "overweight" rating and set a $138.00 price target (up from $130.00) on shares of Aflac in a report on Monday, August 10th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on Aflac from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of Aflac from $117.00 to $116.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given 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.com, Aflac presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $116.15.

Trending Headlines about Aflac

Here are the key news stories impacting Aflac this week:

• Positive Sentiment: bswift launched AI-powered carrier-configuration tools starting with Aflac. The technology is designed to simplify workplace-benefit plan setup and improve access to Aflac’s voluntary insurance products. The initiative could improve distribution efficiency and support longer-term growth, although no immediate financial impact was disclosed. bswift launches AI-powered carrier configuration tools
• Positive Sentiment: UBS raised its price target for Aflac to $125 from $124 while maintaining a Neutral rating. The increase indicates slightly improved valuation expectations and provides some support for the stock, although UBS stopped short of issuing a bullish recommendation. UBS raises target for Aflac
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst sentiment remains divided. Barclays maintained an Underweight rating despite raising its target to $101 from $99, while the broader analyst consensus remains around Hold. This limits the impact of UBS’s target increase.
• Neutral Sentiment: Aflac’s dividend continues to provide income support. The company pays $0.61 quarterly, or $2.44 annually, representing a yield of approximately 2.2% and a payout ratio near 26%. The yield may appeal to defensive and income-oriented investors, but it is not a new catalyst.
• Negative Sentiment: Mizuho lowered its Aflac price target to $107 from $116 and downgraded the stock to Underperform. The target implies downside from recent levels and reinforces concerns following Aflac’s latest quarterly results, which slightly missed EPS expectations and showed a 1% year-over-year revenue decline.
• Negative Sentiment: Japan Post Holdings continued reducing its large Aflac position. The major shareholder sold 13,000 shares for approximately $1.46 million on October 5, following several similar Rule 10b5-1 sales. The latest transaction reduced its position by only 0.03%, so the fundamental effect is limited, but repeated selling may create 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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