Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) Shares Acquired by SlateStone Wealth LLC

SlateStone Wealth LLC increased its holdings in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 2.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 17,735 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 400 shares during the quarter. SlateStone Wealth LLC’s holdings in Aflac were worth $1,835,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Aflac by 75.2% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 776,131 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $88,533,000 after purchasing an additional 333,083 shares during the last quarter. Transamerica Financial Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Aflac during the third quarter valued at approximately $979,000. Roxbury Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Aflac during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $948,000. FMR LLC grew its holdings in shares of Aflac by 4.0% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,202,104 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $134,395,000 after purchasing an additional 45,745 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Willis Investment Counsel grew its holdings in shares of Aflac by 1.2% during the fourth quarter. Willis Investment Counsel now owns 273,466 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $28,287,000 after purchasing an additional 3,357 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.44% of the company’s stock.

Aflac Trading Up 2.2 %

Aflac stock opened at $107.44 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.10 and a quick ratio of 0.08. The company has a market capitalization of $58.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.19, a PEG ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.93. Aflac Incorporated has a one year low of $79.31 and a one year high of $115.50. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $105.37 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $107.69.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last posted its 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%. On average, analysts forecast that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Charles D. Lake II sold 29,802 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The stock was 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 approximately $5,360,422.98. This trade represents a 37.36 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, 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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 222,618 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,018,701.20. This represents a 10.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 55,546 shares of company stock valued at $5,863,616. 0.90% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their target price on Aflac from $107.00 to $104.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Evercore ISI decreased their price target on Aflac from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. BMO Capital Markets assumed 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. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Aflac from $98.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Aflac from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Two investment 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’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price 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.