HMS Capital Management LLC Sells 112 Shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

HMS Capital Management LLC trimmed its position in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 4.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,273 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 112 shares during the period. HMS Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Aflac were worth $235,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AFL. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its position in shares of Aflac by 39.9% in the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 64,399 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $6,592,000 after purchasing an additional 18,366 shares during the period. Lester Murray Antman dba SimplyRich lifted its position in shares of Aflac by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Lester Murray Antman dba SimplyRich now owns 16,565 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,713,000 after purchasing an additional 222 shares during the period. Kentucky Trust Co purchased a new stake in shares of Aflac in the 4th quarter worth approximately $324,000. Sage Private Wealth Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Aflac by 3.1% in the 4th quarter. Sage Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 4,019 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $416,000 after purchasing an additional 119 shares during the period. Finally, Stonebridge Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Aflac in the 4th quarter worth approximately $5,563,000. 67.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Aflac Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE AFL opened at $102.98 on Thursday. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $104.41 and its 200 day moving average price is $107.07. Aflac Incorporated has a 1 year low of $77.01 and a 1 year high of $115.50. The company has a market capitalization of $57.21 billion, a PE ratio of 10.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.08 and a current ratio of 0.10.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $1.56 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.63 by ($0.07). Aflac had a net margin of 28.76% and a return on equity of 16.20%. On average, research analysts predict that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Aflac Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 19th will be issued a dividend of $0.58 per share. This represents a $2.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.25%. This is an increase from Aflac’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 19th. Aflac’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 20.83%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Aflac from $103.00 to $104.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Aflac from $90.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on shares of Aflac from $122.00 to $118.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 7th. BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on shares of Aflac in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. They set a “market perform” rating and a $111.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price target on shares of Aflac from $107.00 to $104.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Aflac has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $103.00.

Insider Buying and Selling at Aflac

In other news, EVP Audrey B. Tillman sold 24,744 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $103.40, for a total value of $2,558,529.60. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 222,618 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $23,018,701.20. This trade represents a 10.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.90% of the company’s stock.

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.