Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) Shares Purchased by Pinebridge Investments L.P.

Pinebridge Investments L.P. raised its stake in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL - Free Report) by 1,887.4% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 125,526 shares of the financial services provider's stock after buying an additional 119,210 shares during the quarter. Pinebridge Investments L.P.'s holdings in Aflac were worth $12,984,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of AFL. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Aflac in the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. BankPlus Trust Department purchased a new stake in Aflac during the fourth quarter worth about $34,000. Curio Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Aflac during the fourth quarter worth about $36,000. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new position in shares of Aflac in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Finally, Rialto Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Aflac in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.44% of the company's stock.

Aflac Stock Down 0.1 %

Aflac stock traded down $0.08 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $108.42. The company had a trading volume of 351,212 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,111,202. The stock has a market cap of $59.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.29, a PEG ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.81. Aflac Incorporated has a 1 year low of $80.59 and a 1 year high of $115.50. 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 has a fifty day moving average of $107.22 and a 200 day moving average of $107.04.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly 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 net margin of 28.76% and a return on equity of 16.20%. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $107.63, for a total value of $107,630.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 25,393 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,733,048.59. This represents a 3.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Charles D. Lake II sold 29,802 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 49,962 shares of the company's stock, valued at $5,360,422.98. The trade was a 37.36 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.90% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently issued reports on AFL. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on Aflac from $118.00 to $124.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price 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. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Aflac from $109.00 to $114.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Aflac from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $103.93.

Aflac 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.