O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC Has $36.19 Million Position in Aflac Incorporated $AFL

O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC lowered its position in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 1.4% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 328,194 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 4,506 shares during the period. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Aflac were worth $36,190,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Navalign LLC acquired a new position in Aflac in the fourth quarter worth approximately $32,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Aflac in the second quarter worth approximately $33,000. Activest Wealth Management increased its holdings in Aflac by 95.6% in the fourth quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 311 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 152 shares during the last quarter. Park Square Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in Aflac by 80.6% in the fourth quarter. Park Square Financial Group LLC now owns 354 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 158 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Leonteq Securities AG acquired a new position in Aflac in the fourth quarter worth approximately $44,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.44% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Aflac

In other news, EVP Steven Kent Beaver sold 5,508 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.81, for a total value of $648,897.48. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 40,537 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,775,663.97. This represents a 11.96% 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, major shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 16,300 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.19, for a total value of $1,877,597.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 51,248,735 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,903,341,784.65. This represents a 0.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold 908,146 shares of company stock valued at $103,042,983 over the last three months. 0.80% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Aflac Trading Up 0.1%

Shares of AFL stock opened at $118.37 on Monday. Aflac Incorporated has a 12 month low of $96.95 and a 12 month high of $119.81. The company has a quick ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 0.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. The business’s 50 day moving average is $113.89 and its two-hundred day moving average is $111.80. The company has a market cap of $60.25 billion, a PE ratio of 13.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 0.61.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 29th. The financial services provider reported $1.75 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.80 by ($0.05). Aflac had a net margin of 25.60% and a return on equity of 13.88%. The company had revenue of $4.24 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.20 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.66 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 27.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that Aflac Incorporated will post 7.08 EPS for the current year.

Aflac Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 20th were given a $0.61 dividend. This represents a $2.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 20th. Aflac’s dividend payout ratio is currently 27.70%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently commented on AFL. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Aflac from $116.00 to $111.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, May 5th. Piper Sandler reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $130.00 price target (up from $125.00) on shares of Aflac in a report on Tuesday, May 26th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Aflac from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, May 21st. Mizuho set a $104.00 price target on Aflac in a report on Monday, May 4th. Finally, Barclays set a $99.00 price target on Aflac and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Thursday, April 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $112.27.

About Aflac

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.