MML Investors Services LLC Buys 34,845 Shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

MML Investors Services LLC increased its stake in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL - Free Report) by 45.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 111,625 shares of the financial services provider's stock after buying an additional 34,845 shares during the period. MML Investors Services LLC's holdings in Aflac were worth $11,547,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Barclays PLC increased its stake in shares of Aflac by 10.1% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 1,391,127 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $155,529,000 after purchasing an additional 127,911 shares during the period. McIlrath & Eck LLC increased its position in Aflac by 29.3% during the 3rd quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 2,490 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $278,000 after buying an additional 564 shares during the period. Anchor Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Aflac by 4.4% during the third quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 20,384 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $2,279,000 after buying an additional 852 shares in the last quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Aflac in the third quarter valued at about $594,000. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB grew its stake in shares of Aflac by 5.5% in the third quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 158,424 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $17,712,000 after acquiring an additional 8,274 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.44% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have weighed in on AFL. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Aflac from $94.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on Aflac from $105.00 to $100.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 10th. Barclays lowered their price objective on Aflac from $98.00 to $95.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Piper Sandler upped 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 reduced their target price on Aflac from $107.00 to $104.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $103.93.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Charles D. Lake II sold 29,802 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $107.29, for a total value of $3,197,456.58. Following the transaction, the director now owns 49,962 shares in the company, valued at $5,360,422.98. The trade was a 37.36 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $107.63, for a total value of $107,630.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 25,393 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,733,048.59. The trade was a 3.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.90% of the company's stock.

Aflac Trading Up 0.5 %

Aflac stock traded up $0.59 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $108.53. The stock had a trading volume of 311,258 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,979,342. The stock has a market cap of $59.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.31, a P/E/G ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a quick ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 0.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $107.14 and its 200-day simple moving average is $107.07. Aflac Incorporated has a one year low of $80.59 and a one year high of $115.50.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $1.56 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.63 by ($0.07). Aflac had a return on equity of 16.20% and a net margin of 28.76%. On average, equities analysts predict that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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.