Empowered Funds LLC boosted its position in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL – Free Report) by 47.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 65,296 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 20,939 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC’s holdings in Aflac were worth $7,164,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Aflac by 13.4% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 57,142,072 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $6,301,056,000 after acquiring an additional 6,759,169 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Aflac in the 4th quarter worth $420,078,000. First Trust Advisors LP lifted its holdings in shares of Aflac by 161.9% in the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 3,184,801 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $349,405,000 after purchasing an additional 1,968,738 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its position in Aflac by 1,184.5% in the 3rd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 1,264,090 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $141,199,000 after purchasing an additional 1,165,676 shares during the period. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP grew its position in Aflac by 390.7% in the 4th quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 1,111,711 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $122,588,000 after purchasing an additional 885,141 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.44% of the company’s stock.
Aflac Trading Up 0.1%
Shares of Aflac stock opened at $127.53 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $119.64 and a 200 day simple moving average of $114.80. Aflac Incorporated has a 12-month low of $96.95 and a 12-month high of $130.22. The company has a market capitalization of $64.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a current ratio of 0.11, a quick ratio of 0.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26.
Insider Transactions at Aflac
In other news, major shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 63,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, June 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.12, for a total value of $7,441,560.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 51,169,435 shares in the company, valued at $6,044,133,662.20. This represents a 0.12% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 744,916 shares of company stock worth $87,118,632. 0.80% of the stock is owned by insiders.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
Several research analysts have weighed in on AFL shares. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Aflac from a “buy (b+)” rating to a “buy (a-)” rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price objective on shares of Aflac from $115.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Aflac from $111.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Aflac from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, May 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Aflac from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, May 21st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $116.17.
View Our Latest Stock Report on Aflac
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.
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