Aflac (NYSE:AFL) Stock Price Target Lowered at Mizuho

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) had its price target cut by stock analysts at Mizuho from $116.00 to $107.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The firm presently has an “underperform” rating on the financial services provider’s stock. Mizuho’s price target points to a potential downside of 5.13% from the company’s current price.

Several other analysts have also commented on AFL. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Aflac from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Saturday, August 15th. Wolfe Research started coverage on Aflac in a research note on Wednesday, August 19th. They set an “underperform” rating and a $103.00 price objective for the company. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Aflac from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (a-)” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 22nd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on Aflac from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Aflac from $117.00 to $116.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Aflac has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $116.15.

Aflac Stock Down 0.7%

Shares of NYSE AFL traded down $0.84 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $112.78. 417,234 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,297,943. The company has a quick ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 0.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The company has a market cap of $56.54 billion, a PE ratio of 12.08, a PEG ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 0.56. Aflac has a 12 month low of $105.43 and a 12 month high of $130.22. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $118.00 and a 200-day moving average price of $116.75.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 6th. The financial services provider reported $1.75 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.76 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $4.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.11 billion. Aflac had a net margin of 26.91% and a return on equity of 13.27%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.78 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Aflac will post 7.04 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, major shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 20,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.49, for a total transaction of $2,369,800.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 50,667,690 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,003,614,588.10. This represents a 0.04% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last three months, insiders sold 440,801 shares of company stock worth $51,378,752. Company insiders own 0.80% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Aflac

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Aflac during the second quarter valued at about $4,093,787,000. Legal & General Group Plc bought a new stake in shares of Aflac in the second quarter worth $404,639,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new stake in Aflac in the second quarter valued at $298,418,000. Bank of America Corp DE bought a new position in shares of Aflac during the second quarter worth about $244,516,000. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP grew its stake in Aflac by 161.9% in the first 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. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.44% of the company’s stock.

Key Aflac News

Here are the key news stories impacting Aflac this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Aflac is expanding its workplace-benefits technology through bswift’s AI-powered tools, which are designed to simplify plan configuration and improve employee access to voluntary insurance products. The initiative could strengthen distribution and support longer-term premium growth, although no immediate financial impact was disclosed. Aflac bswift AI tools article
• Positive Sentiment: Aflac’s life-insurance and legacy-planning study found that one in three U.S. workers lacks a legacy plan. The sizable coverage and planning gap could create additional demand for life insurance and supplemental protection products, though the study does not provide a specific earnings forecast. Aflac legacy planning study
• Neutral Sentiment: UBS raised its price target to $125 from $124 while retaining a Neutral rating. Barclays also increased its target, to $101 from $99, but maintained an Underweight rating. The changes suggest modest valuation adjustments rather than a strong shift in the investment outlook. UBS Aflac price target Barclays Aflac price target
• Negative Sentiment: Japan Post Holdings sold additional Aflac shares, including 13,000 shares on October 5 and 13,200 shares on October 2. The transactions were executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan and represent only a tiny fraction of its roughly 50.4 million-share position, limiting the fundamental concern but creating a modest supply overhang. Aflac shareholder SEC filing

Aflac Company Profile

Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL) is an insurance company that provides supplemental health and life insurance products to individuals, employers and groups. Its coverage is designed to help policyholders manage expenses that may not be fully covered by major medical insurance, including costs associated with illness, injury and other qualifying events.

The company’s products include accident, cancer, critical illness, hospital indemnity, disability, dental, vision and life insurance. Aflac distributes its policies through workplace benefits programs, independent agents, brokers and other distribution channels.

Founded in 1955 as American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus, Aflac has its headquarters in Columbus, Georgia.