Aflac (NYSE:AFL) Major Shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan Sells 13,500 Shares

Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFLGet Free Report) major shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.19, for a total value of $1,582,065.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 50,687,690 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,940,090,391.10. The trade was a 0.03% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Major shareholders that own 10% or more 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 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 value of $1,473,200.00.
  • On Friday, August 28th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,000 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were 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 stock was sold at an average price of $117.35, for a total transaction 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 transaction 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 transaction 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 value of $1,527,460.00.
  • On Wednesday, August 19th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,700 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.05, for a total value of $1,486,535.00.

Aflac Stock Down 1.1%

Shares of NYSE:AFL opened at $117.09 on Friday. Aflac Incorporated has a 1 year low of $104.66 and a 1 year high of $130.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.12 and a quick ratio of 0.12. The business’s 50-day moving average is $121.49 and its 200-day moving average is $116.27. The company has a market capitalization of $58.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.55, a P/E/G ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 0.59.

Aflac (NYSE:AFLGet Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The financial services provider reported $1.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.76 by ($0.01). Aflac had a return on equity of 13.27% and a net margin of 26.91%.The business had revenue of $4.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.11 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.78 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Aflac Incorporated will post 7.04 earnings per share for the current year.

Aflac Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced 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 yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 19th. Aflac’s payout ratio is presently 26.15%.

Key Headlines Impacting Aflac

Here are the key news stories impacting Aflac this week:

  • Positive Sentiment: Aflac partnered with actor Ben Affleck and its iconic duck for a new advertising campaign, including branded billboards and social-media activity in Los Angeles. The campaign could increase consumer awareness and support future policy sales, although its direct financial impact is uncertain. Ben Affleck and the Aflac Duck Unite for New Ad Campaign
  • Positive Sentiment: Aflac remains attractive to income-focused and defensive investors. The company pays a quarterly dividend of $0.61 per share, equivalent to $2.44 annually, with an approximately 2.1% yield and a payout ratio near 26%. A recent dividend-focused article also recognized Aflac’s long record of annual increases. Safe High-Yield Dividend Stocks
  • Neutral Sentiment: The Ben Affleck billboard activity appears to be a planned publicity campaign rather than actual vandalism. It may generate short-term brand engagement, but no revenue, earnings guidance or other measurable financial benefit was announced. Ben Affleck Aflac Advertising Campaign
  • Negative Sentiment: Japan Post Holdings, a major Aflac shareholder, sold 13,500 shares for approximately $1.58 million on September 2 and has reported several similar sales in recent weeks. The latest transaction reduced its stake by only about 0.03% and was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan, limiting its significance, but the repeated selling may create a modest supply overhang. Aflac Major Shareholder SEC Filing

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have issued reports on AFL shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on Aflac from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Aflac from $117.00 to $116.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, August 11th. Wolfe Research initiated coverage on Aflac in a research report on Wednesday, August 19th. They set an “underperform” rating and a $103.00 target price on the stock. UBS Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $124.00 target price (up from $114.00) on shares of Aflac in a report on Wednesday, July 8th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company set a $122.00 price target on shares of Aflac and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 19th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $116.62.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Aflac

Institutional Trading of Aflac

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in AFL. California State Teachers Retirement System grew its position in Aflac by 11,094.0% in the 2nd quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 86,458,157 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $10,137,219,000 after purchasing an additional 85,685,796 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. bought a new position in shares of Aflac during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $4,093,787,000. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Aflac in the 4th quarter worth approximately $420,078,000. Legal & General Group Plc bought a new position in shares of Aflac in the second quarter valued at approximately $404,639,000. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp bought a new position in shares of Aflac in the second quarter valued at approximately $298,418,000. Institutional investors own 67.44% of the company’s stock.

About Aflac

(Get Free Report)

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.

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Insider Buying and Selling by Quarter for Aflac (NYSE:AFL)

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