Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) Shares Acquired by Candriam S.C.A.

Candriam S.C.A. increased its stake in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 17.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 42,984 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 6,495 shares during the period. Candriam S.C.A.’s holdings in Aflac were worth $4,446,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Aflac in the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Aflac during the third quarter valued at approximately $34,000. BankPlus Trust Department acquired a new position in Aflac during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Raelipskie Partnership acquired a new position in Aflac during the third quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Finally, Covestor Ltd lifted its position in Aflac by 41.8% during the third quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 363 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. 67.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Aflac Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE:AFL opened at $108.48 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.10, a quick ratio of 0.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $105.08 and a 200 day simple moving average of $107.72. The firm has a market cap of $59.29 billion, a PE ratio of 11.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.93. Aflac Incorporated has a 12-month low of $79.31 and a 12-month high of $115.50.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $1.56 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates 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 research analysts anticipate that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Aflac news, EVP Audrey B. Tillman sold 24,744 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, December 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $103.40, for a total transaction of $2,558,529.60. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 222,618 shares in the company, valued at $23,018,701.20. The trade was a 10.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.90% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have weighed in on AFL shares. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on shares of Aflac in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They set a “market perform” rating and a $111.00 price target on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price target on shares of Aflac from $107.00 to $104.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Aflac from $90.00 to $94.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Aflac from $98.00 to $95.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on shares of Aflac from $122.00 to $118.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Aflac presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $103.36.

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.