Vest Financial LLC Has $82.20 Million Stock Position in Aflac Incorporated $AFL

Vest Financial LLC cut its position in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 4.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 735,924 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 34,104 shares during the quarter. Aflac accounts for 1.1% of Vest Financial LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest position. Vest Financial LLC owned about 0.14% of Aflac worth $82,203,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Sage Mountain Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Aflac by 66.8% during the third quarter. Sage Mountain Advisors LLC now owns 5,784 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $646,000 after buying an additional 2,317 shares in the last quarter. Jackson Thornton Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Aflac in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $202,000. Inscription Capital LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Aflac by 44.3% during the 3rd quarter. Inscription Capital LLC now owns 5,533 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $618,000 after buying an additional 1,698 shares during the period. Root Financial Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Aflac in the third quarter worth about $226,000. Finally, Element Wealth LLC grew its holdings in Aflac by 12.9% in the 3rd quarter. Element Wealth LLC now owns 2,813 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $314,000 after buying an additional 322 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 67.44% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Aflac

In related news, EVP Steven Kent Beaver sold 5,492 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.53, for a total transaction of $601,538.76. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 38,368 shares in the company, valued at $4,202,447.04. This trade represents a 12.52% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Audrey B. Tillman sold 15,862 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $112.00, for a total value of $1,776,544.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 230,688 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $25,837,056. This trade represents a 6.43% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last three months, insiders sold 31,766 shares of company stock worth $3,549,706. Corporate insiders own 0.80% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently issued reports on AFL. Barclays set a $101.00 price objective on shares of Aflac and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on shares of Aflac from $108.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 9th. Raymond James Financial restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $119.00 price objective (up previously from $110.00) on shares of Aflac in a research note on Tuesday, December 30th. TD Cowen increased their price target on shares of Aflac from $100.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. Finally, Cowen reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Aflac in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Aflac presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $110.67.

Aflac Stock Down 0.3%

NYSE AFL opened at $109.19 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 0.11 and a current ratio of 0.11. Aflac Incorporated has a 52 week low of $96.95 and a 52 week high of $115.83. The stock has a market capitalization of $57.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.21 and a beta of 0.67. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $110.29 and a 200-day moving average of $107.91.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The financial services provider reported $2.49 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.77 by $0.72. The business had revenue of $4.41 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.36 billion. Aflac had a net margin of 23.55% and a return on equity of 14.97%. Aflac’s revenue for the quarter was up 59.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.16 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 EPS for the current year.

Aflac Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 18th will be given a $0.61 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 18th. This represents a $2.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. This is a boost from Aflac’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.58. Aflac’s payout ratio is presently 30.29%.

Aflac Profile

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.