KBC Group NV Has $10.11 Million Stake in Aflac Incorporated $AFL

KBC Group NV cut its holdings in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 34.2% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 95,820 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 49,799 shares during the quarter. KBC Group NV’s holdings in Aflac were worth $10,106,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. boosted its position in Aflac by 6.2% during the second quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 38,553 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $4,066,000 after purchasing an additional 2,242 shares during the period. Blackston Financial Advisory Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Aflac by 5.2% during the 2nd quarter. Blackston Financial Advisory Group LLC now owns 4,947 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $522,000 after buying an additional 244 shares during the last quarter. S&CO Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Aflac by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter. S&CO Inc. now owns 84,270 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $8,887,000 after buying an additional 1,100 shares during the period. Vise Technologies Inc. acquired a new position in Aflac in the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,624,000. Finally, Allworth Financial LP grew its stake in Aflac by 23.9% in the 2nd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 36,153 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $3,813,000 after buying an additional 6,979 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 67.44% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on AFL shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Aflac from $100.00 to $101.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Aflac from $108.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, August 18th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Aflac from $107.00 to $109.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Aflac in a report on Thursday. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price objective on Aflac from $114.00 to $111.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $110.50.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Frederic Jean Guy Simard sold 1,722 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.50, for a total transaction of $193,725.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 1,364 shares in the company, valued at approximately $153,450. This trade represents a 55.80% decrease in their position. 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 Aflac stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.00, for a total transaction of $114,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 23,615 shares in the company, valued at $2,692,110. This trade represents a 4.06% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.80% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Aflac Price Performance

Aflac stock opened at $114.27 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $59.89 billion, a PE ratio of 25.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.11 and a quick ratio of 0.11. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $109.71 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $105.95. Aflac Incorporated has a one year low of $96.95 and a one year high of $115.84.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last released its earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The financial services provider reported $1.07 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $5.91 billion during the quarter. Aflac had a return on equity of 15.08% and a net margin of 15.32%. As a group, research analysts expect that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Aflac Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 18th will be paid a dividend of $0.61 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 18th. This is a positive change from Aflac’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.58. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. Aflac’s dividend payout ratio is currently 30.29%.

Aflac announced that its board has authorized a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, August 12th that allows the company to buyback 100,000,000 shares. This buyback authorization allows the financial services provider to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

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.