Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) Shares Bought by Beck Bode LLC

Beck Bode LLC increased its stake in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 4.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 128,562 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 5,063 shares during the period. Aflac accounts for about 2.4% of Beck Bode LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 9th biggest position. Beck Bode LLC’s holdings in Aflac were worth $10,606,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of AFL. Fortitude Family Office LLC purchased a new stake in Aflac in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Aflac in the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd purchased a new stake in Aflac in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Criterion Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Aflac in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Arlington Trust Co LLC purchased a new stake in Aflac in the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,000. 67.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Masatoshi Koide sold 30,493 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $79.91, for a total transaction of $2,436,695.63. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 86,090 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,879,451.90. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In related news, Director Thomas J. Kenny sold 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $84.62, for a total transaction of $423,100.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 17,920 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,516,390.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Masatoshi Koide sold 30,493 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $79.91, for a total transaction of $2,436,695.63. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 86,090 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,879,451.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 46,493 shares of company stock worth $3,765,706. 0.80% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Aflac Stock Down 1.1 %

Shares of Aflac stock traded down $0.90 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $83.64. The company had a trading volume of 2,375,264 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,271,133. The company has a market cap of $48.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 0.91. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $82.89 and its 200-day moving average is $81.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.06 and a current ratio of 0.06. Aflac Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $64.10 and a fifty-two week high of $86.26.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The financial services provider reported $1.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.47 by ($0.22). The company had revenue of $3.78 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.44 billion. Aflac had a net margin of 24.92% and a return on equity of 17.59%. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.29 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.41 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on AFL. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Aflac from $80.00 to $84.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, April 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on shares of Aflac from $61.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. Raymond James upped their price target on shares of Aflac from $83.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Evercore ISI cut shares of Aflac from an “in-line” rating to an “underperform” rating and upped their price target for the stock from $76.00 to $78.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on shares of Aflac from $83.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 10th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $82.15.

Aflac 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.