Southeast Asset Advisors LLC Trims Position in Aflac Incorporated $AFL

Southeast Asset Advisors LLC lessened its stake in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 5.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 134,740 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 7,238 shares during the period. Aflac accounts for about 1.6% of Southeast Asset Advisors LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 12th biggest position. Southeast Asset Advisors LLC’s holdings in Aflac were worth $15,050,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. True Wealth Design LLC increased its holdings in shares of Aflac by 188.5% in the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 225 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 147 shares during the period. Whipplewood Advisors LLC increased its stake in Aflac by 1,526.7% in the 2nd quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 244 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 229 shares during the period. Chilton Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Aflac in the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. Mid American Wealth Advisory Group Inc. purchased a new position in Aflac during the 2nd quarter worth $26,000. Finally, Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Aflac in the 2nd quarter worth $33,000. 67.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Aflac Stock Performance

Shares of AFL stock opened at $114.82 on Monday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $110.72 and a 200 day moving average price of $109.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.11 and a current ratio of 0.11. The stock has a market cap of $60.18 billion, a PE ratio of 16.69, a P/E/G ratio of 3.76 and a beta of 0.67. Aflac Incorporated has a 1 year low of $96.95 and a 1 year high of $119.32.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $1.57 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.69 by ($0.12). The firm had revenue of $4.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.45 billion. Aflac had a net margin of 21.24% and a return on equity of 14.35%. The company’s quarterly revenue was down 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.57 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently issued reports on AFL shares. TD Cowen reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Aflac in a report on Monday, December 22nd. Barclays set a $101.00 target price on Aflac and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Aflac from $107.00 to $109.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Aflac from $101.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, January 5th. Finally, Mizuho set a $107.00 target price on Aflac in a report on Monday, February 9th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Aflac has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $110.91.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Audrey B. Tillman sold 15,862 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $112.00, for a total transaction of $1,776,544.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 230,688 shares in the company, valued at $25,837,056. The trade was a 6.43% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Steven Kent Beaver sold 5,492 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.53, for a total value of $601,538.76. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 38,368 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,202,447.04. This trade represents a 12.52% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 24,806 shares of company stock valued at $2,755,248 over the last 90 days. 0.80% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

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.