Aflac (NYSE:AFL) PT Raised to $82.00

Aflac (NYSE:AFL - Free Report) had its target price lifted by Truist Financial from $80.00 to $82.00 in a research note published on Friday, Benzinga reports. Truist Financial currently has a hold rating on the financial services provider's stock.

Several other analysts have also weighed in on the company. Raymond James upped their target price on Aflac from $83.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Aflac from $83.00 to $81.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 11th. UBS Group upped their target price on Aflac from $80.00 to $84.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on Aflac from $61.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a report on Tuesday, January 9th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price objective on Aflac from $83.00 to $87.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $82.31.

Aflac Price Performance

AFL stock traded down $0.83 on Friday, reaching $83.21. 2,901,181 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,308,597. Aflac has a twelve month low of $64.10 and a twelve month high of $86.26. The company has a quick ratio of 0.06, a current ratio of 0.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $83.08 and a 200-day moving average of $81.87. The firm has a market cap of $47.88 billion, a PE ratio of 9.18, a P/E/G ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 0.91.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 1st. The financial services provider reported $1.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.58 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $5.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.09 billion. Aflac had a net margin of 27.67% and a return on equity of 17.24%. The business's revenue was up 13.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.55 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Aflac will post 6.41 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Aflac Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 3rd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 22nd will be paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 21st. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.40%. This is an increase from Aflac's previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. Aflac's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 22.08%.

Insider Activity at Aflac

In other Aflac news, Director Arthur Reginald Collins sold 3,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $79.73, for a total transaction of $239,190.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 5,592 shares in the company, valued at $445,850.16. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, SVP Albert Riggieri sold 8,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.34, for a total transaction of $666,720.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 32,825 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,735,635.50. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Arthur Reginald Collins sold 3,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $79.73, for a total value of $239,190.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 5,592 shares in the company, valued at $445,850.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 46,493 shares of company stock worth $3,765,706. 0.90% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Aflac

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Fortitude Family Office LLC acquired a new stake in Aflac in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Atwood & Palmer Inc. grew its holdings in Aflac by 80.0% during the 1st quarter. Atwood & Palmer Inc. now owns 315 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares in the last quarter. OFI Invest Asset Management acquired a new stake in Aflac during the 1st quarter valued at $29,000. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Aflac during the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd acquired a new position in Aflac in the 3rd quarter worth $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.44% of the company's stock.

About Aflac

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.