Schroder Investment Management Group Trims Holdings in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

Schroder Investment Management Group cut its position in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 16.5% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,021,920 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 201,593 shares during the quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group owned approximately 0.18% of Aflac worth $105,227,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Aflac in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. BankPlus Trust Department acquired a new position in Aflac in the fourth quarter valued at $34,000. Raelipskie Partnership acquired a new stake in Aflac in the 3rd quarter worth about $38,000. Curio Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Aflac in the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, OFI Invest Asset Management acquired a new position in shares of Aflac during the 4th quarter valued at about $38,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.44% of the company’s stock.

Aflac Trading Down 1.0 %

AFL opened at $109.71 on Monday. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $106.49 and its 200-day moving average is $107.66. Aflac Incorporated has a 52-week low of $79.31 and a 52-week high of $115.50. The company has a quick ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 0.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The firm has a market capitalization of $59.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.43, a P/E/G ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.93.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last released its quarterly earnings results 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 return on equity of 16.20% and a net margin of 28.76%. Analysts expect that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Charles D. Lake II sold 29,802 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $107.29, for a total value of $3,197,456.58. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 49,962 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,360,422.98. This represents a 37.36 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $107.63, for a total transaction of $107,630.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 25,393 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,733,048.59. This represents a 3.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.90% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on AFL shares. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Aflac from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on Aflac from $122.00 to $118.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 7th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Aflac from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Aflac from $90.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Aflac from $98.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Aflac presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $103.36.

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.