Bank OZK Sells 500 Shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

Bank OZK lowered its stake in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 2.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 22,500 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 500 shares during the quarter. Bank OZK’s holdings in Aflac were worth $2,327,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in AFL. Whipplewood Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Aflac during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Aflac in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $34,000. BankPlus Trust Department purchased a new position in shares of Aflac in the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Raelipskie Partnership purchased a new position in shares of Aflac in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $38,000. Finally, Covestor Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of Aflac by 41.8% in the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 363 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 67.44% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Aflac

In related news, EVP Audrey B. Tillman sold 24,744 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, December 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.40, for a total transaction of $2,558,529.60. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 222,618 shares in the company, valued at $23,018,701.20. The trade was a 10.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.90% of the company’s stock.

Aflac Trading Up 1.9 %

Shares of NYSE AFL opened at $109.46 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $60.81 billion, a PE ratio of 11.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 0.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. Aflac Incorporated has a twelve month low of $78.62 and a twelve month high of $115.50. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $104.56 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $107.52.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $1.56 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 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Aflac Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 19th will be given a $0.58 dividend. This represents a $2.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.12%. This is a positive change from Aflac’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 19th. Aflac’s payout ratio is presently 24.17%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

AFL has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Aflac from $98.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price target on Aflac from $107.00 to $104.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Barclays decreased their price target on Aflac from $98.00 to $95.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Truist Financial raised their price target on Aflac from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on Aflac in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. They set a “market perform” rating and a $111.00 price target for the company. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Aflac presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $103.36.

Aflac Company 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.