D.A. Davidson & CO. Trims Stake in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

D.A. Davidson & CO. lessened its position in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 18.7% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 30,766 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 7,095 shares during the quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO.’s holdings in Aflac were worth $3,182,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of AFL. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Aflac in the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. Raelipskie Partnership purchased a new stake in Aflac during the 3rd quarter worth about $38,000. Covestor Ltd increased its holdings in Aflac by 41.8% during the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 363 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the period. Kennebec Savings Bank purchased a new stake in Aflac during the 3rd quarter worth about $45,000. Finally, Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Aflac during the 3rd quarter worth about $51,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.44% of the company’s stock.

Aflac Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE AFL opened at $104.31 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $57.95 billion, a PE ratio of 10.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.30 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 0.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. Aflac Incorporated has a 52-week low of $78.60 and a 52-week high of $115.50. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $104.16 and a 200 day moving average price of $107.26.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $1.56 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.63 by ($0.07). Aflac had a net margin of 28.76% and a return on equity of 16.20%. Equities research analysts forecast that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 earnings per share for the current year.

Aflac Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 19th will be given a $0.58 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 19th. This is a boost from Aflac’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.22%. Aflac’s dividend payout ratio is 20.83%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on AFL shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price target on Aflac from $107.00 to $104.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. StockNews.com upgraded Aflac from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Piper Sandler cut their price target on Aflac from $122.00 to $118.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Aflac from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Barclays cut their price target on Aflac from $98.00 to $95.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $102.86.

Insider Activity at Aflac

In related news, EVP Audrey B. Tillman sold 24,744 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.40, for a total value of $2,558,529.60. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 222,618 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $23,018,701.20. This represents a 10.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.90% of the company’s stock.

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.