Hurlow Wealth Management Group Inc. Makes New Investment in Aflac Incorporated $AFL

Hurlow Wealth Management Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 5,453 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $639,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Aflac in the 1st quarter worth about $25,000. Groupe la Francaise bought a new stake in Aflac during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in shares of Aflac in the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. Nalls Sherbakoff Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Aflac in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, Evergreen Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Aflac during the first quarter valued at approximately $29,000. 67.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Aflac

In related news, major shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 14,100 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $121.43, for a total value of $1,712,163.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 50,858,590 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,175,758,583.70. This trade represents a 0.03% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 600 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.10, for a total transaction of $74,460.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 32,710 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,059,311. This represents a 1.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last three months, insiders sold 523,833 shares of company stock worth $61,339,113. Insiders own 0.80% of the company’s stock.

Aflac Stock Performance

Shares of AFL opened at $121.74 on Wednesday. Aflac Incorporated has a 1 year low of $104.66 and a 1 year high of $130.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.12 and a quick ratio of 0.12. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $121.60 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $116.04. The firm has a market cap of $61.03 billion, a PE ratio of 13.05, a PEG ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 0.60.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The financial services provider reported $1.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.76 by ($0.01). Aflac had a return on equity of 13.27% and a net margin of 26.91%.The firm had revenue of $4.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.11 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.78 EPS. The firm’s revenue was down 1.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Aflac Incorporated will post 7.04 EPS for the current year.

Aflac Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 19th will be paid a $0.61 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 19th. This represents a $2.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. Aflac’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.15%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on AFL shares. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “hold” rating and set a $108.00 price objective (up from $100.00) on shares of Aflac in a report on Friday, July 10th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Aflac from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 21st. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $138.00 price objective (up from $130.00) on shares of Aflac in a research report on Monday, August 10th. TD Cowen reiterated a “hold” rating and issued a $110.00 price objective (up from $101.00) on shares of Aflac in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Aflac from $117.00 to $116.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Aflac presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $117.58.

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.