Aflac (NYSE:AFL) Major Shareholder Sells $2,369,800.00 in Stock

Key Points

• Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 20,000 Aflac shares at an average price of $118.49, generating $2.37 million. The sale, made under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, reduced its position by 0.04% to approximately 50.67 million shares; it has also made several other sales recently.
• Aflac shares traded at $115.60, with a market capitalization of approximately $57.95 billion and a 52-week range of $105.43 to $130.22. The company recently reported quarterly EPS of $1.75, slightly below estimates, while revenue of $4.22 billion exceeded forecasts.
• Aflac paid a quarterly dividend of $0.61, equivalent to $2.44 annually and a 2.1% yield. Analysts maintain a consensus “Hold” rating with an average price target of $116.62.

Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) major shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 20,000 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.49, for a total transaction of $2,369,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 50,667,690 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,003,614,588.10. The trade was a 0.04% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Large shareholders that own more than 10% of a company's shares are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC.

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

• On Wednesday, September 2nd, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,500 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.19, for a total value of $1,582,065.00.
• On Tuesday, September 1st, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,800 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.77, for a total value of $1,481,856.00.
• On Monday, August 31st, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,700 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.00, for a total transaction of $1,473,200.00.
• On Friday, August 28th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,000 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.52, for a total transaction of $1,514,760.00.
• On Thursday, August 27th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,700 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.67, for a total transaction of $1,481,709.00.
• On Wednesday, August 26th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,200 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.35, for a total value of $1,549,020.00.
• On Tuesday, August 25th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,700 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.49, for a total value of $1,479,423.00.
• On Monday, August 24th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,500 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.02, for a total value of $1,593,270.00.
• On Friday, August 21st, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,900 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.28, for a total transaction of $1,500,012.00.
• On Thursday, August 20th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,100 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.60, for a total transaction of $1,527,460.00.

Aflac Stock Performance

AFL stock traded down $1.61 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $115.60. 449,383 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,326,515. The firm has a market capitalization of $57.95 billion, a PE ratio of 12.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.89 and a beta of 0.59. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $121.43 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $116.29. Aflac Incorporated has a 52 week low of $105.43 and a 52 week high of $130.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.12 and a current ratio of 0.12.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 6th. The financial services provider reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.76 by ($0.01). The company 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 revenue for the quarter was down 1.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.78 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Aflac Incorporated will post 7.04 EPS for the current year.

Aflac Dividend Announcement

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. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 19th. Aflac's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 26.15%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a "hold" rating and issued a $108.00 price target (up from $100.00) on shares of Aflac in a report on Friday, July 10th. TD Cowen reissued a "hold" rating and issued a $110.00 price target (up from $101.00) on shares of Aflac in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of Aflac from $117.00 to $116.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. Barclays restated an "underweight" rating and set a $99.00 price target (up from $98.00) on shares of Aflac in a research report on Friday, August 7th. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded Aflac from a "buy (b+)" rating to a "buy (a-)" rating in a research report on Friday, August 21st. Two research 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 given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $116.62.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Aflac

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Aflac in the first quarter worth approximately $25,000. Groupe la Francaise bought a new stake in Aflac during the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. Quarry LP bought a new stake in Aflac during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Archer Investment Corp purchased a new stake in Aflac during the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. Finally, Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. purchased a new stake in Aflac during the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. 67.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Aflac

Aflac Incorporated (American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus) is a provider of supplemental insurance products designed to help policyholders manage out-of-pocket health care and living expenses. The company underwrites a range of individual and group policies that typically pay cash benefits directly to insureds when covered events occur, enabling greater financial flexibility for medical treatment, hospital stays, critical illness, and related costs. Aflac's product mix includes supplemental health insurance, life insurance and other specialty coverages intended to complement primary medical plans.

Founded in the mid-20th century and headquartered in Columbus, Georgia, Aflac distributes its products through a combination of employer-sponsored programs, independent brokers and agents, and direct marketing.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.