Kwmg LLC Has $7.03 Million Holdings in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

Kwmg LLC boosted its position in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 0.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 81,871 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after buying an additional 144 shares during the period. Kwmg LLC’s holdings in Aflac were worth $7,029,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Riverview Trust Co acquired a new position in shares of Aflac during the first quarter valued at about $100,000. Jacobs & Co. CA bought a new position in shares of Aflac during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $204,000. Unison Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Aflac by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Unison Advisors LLC now owns 45,105 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $3,873,000 after acquiring an additional 278 shares during the period. Global Assets Advisory LLC bought a new position in shares of Aflac during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $1,512,000. Finally, Lloyd Advisory Services LLC. bought a new position in shares of Aflac during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $1,415,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.44% of the company’s stock.

Aflac Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:AFL traded down $0.45 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $89.56. 853,628 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,227,243. The stock has a market cap of $50.89 billion, a PE ratio of 9.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 0.96. The business’s fifty day moving average is $86.57 and its two-hundred day moving average is $83.71. The company has a current ratio of 0.08, a quick ratio of 0.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. Aflac Incorporated has a one year low of $67.12 and a one year high of $91.15.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last issued its earnings results on Monday, May 6th. The financial services provider reported $1.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.58 by $0.08. Aflac had a net margin of 27.67% and a return on equity of 16.88%. The company had revenue of $5.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.09 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.55 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 13.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.46 earnings per share for the current year.

Aflac Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 3rd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 22nd were issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.23%. This is a boost from Aflac’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 21st. Aflac’s dividend payout ratio is presently 22.08%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 600 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $84.84, for a total value of $50,904.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 27,550 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,337,342. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 600 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $84.84, for a total transaction of $50,904.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 27,550 shares in the company, valued at $2,337,342. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Charles D. Lake II sold 22,378 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.47, for a total transaction of $1,957,403.66. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 61,522 shares in the company, valued at $5,381,329.34. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have issued reports on AFL. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Aflac from $80.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, April 15th. Piper Sandler increased their price target on shares of Aflac from $90.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, April 5th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on shares of Aflac from $83.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 10th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Aflac from $81.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, May 10th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Aflac from $80.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, May 3rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $82.38.

About Aflac

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.