Aflac (NYSE:AFL) Major Shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan Sells 13,050 Shares of Company Stock

Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) major shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,050 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.49, for a total transaction of $1,481,044.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 50,394,140 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,719,230,948.60. The trade was a 0.03% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Large shareholders that own 10% or more of a company’s stock are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC.

Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan also recently made the following trade(s):

• On Monday, October 5th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,000 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.25, for a total transaction of $1,459,250.00.
• On Friday, October 2nd, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,200 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.30, for a total transaction of $1,469,160.00.
• On Thursday, October 1st, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 11,900 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.18, for a total value of $1,323,042.00.
• On Tuesday, September 29th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,100 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.36, for a total value of $1,371,656.00.
• On Monday, September 28th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,000 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.63, for a total value of $1,363,560.00.
• On Thursday, September 24th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,100 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.64, for a total transaction of $1,387,144.00.
• On Wednesday, September 23rd, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 13,500 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.20, for a total transaction of $1,555,200.00.
• On Monday, September 21st, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,200 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.49, for a total value of $1,408,978.00.
• On Friday, September 18th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,800 shares of Aflac stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.22, for a total value of $1,487,616.00.
• On Thursday, September 17th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 12,900 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.58, for a total transaction of $1,503,882.00.

Aflac Price Performance

AFL stock opened at $114.86 on Friday. Aflac Incorporated has a 52 week low of $105.43 and a 52 week high of $130.22. The firm has a market capitalization of $57.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $117.43 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $116.84. The company has a quick ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 0.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The financial services provider reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.76 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $4.22 billion for 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 firm’s quarterly revenue was down 1.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.78 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Aflac Incorporated will post 7.04 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Aflac Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 19th were issued a $0.61 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 19th. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. Aflac’s payout ratio is 26.15%.

Key Headlines Impacting Aflac

Here are the key news stories impacting Aflac this week:

• Positive Sentiment: bswift launched AI-powered carrier-configuration tools starting with Aflac. The technology is designed to simplify workplace-benefit plan setup and improve access to Aflac’s voluntary insurance products. The initiative could improve distribution efficiency and support longer-term growth, although no immediate financial impact was disclosed. bswift launches AI-powered carrier configuration tools
• Positive Sentiment: UBS raised its price target for Aflac to $125 from $124 while maintaining a Neutral rating. The increase indicates slightly improved valuation expectations and provides some support for the stock, although UBS stopped short of issuing a bullish recommendation. UBS raises target for Aflac
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst sentiment remains divided. Barclays maintained an Underweight rating despite raising its target to $101 from $99, while the broader analyst consensus remains around Hold. This limits the impact of UBS’s target increase.
• Neutral Sentiment: Aflac’s dividend continues to provide income support. The company pays $0.61 quarterly, or $2.44 annually, representing a yield of approximately 2.2% and a payout ratio near 26%. The yield may appeal to defensive and income-oriented investors, but it is not a new catalyst.
• Negative Sentiment: Mizuho lowered its Aflac price target to $107 from $116 and downgraded the stock to Underperform. The target implies downside from recent levels and reinforces concerns following Aflac’s latest quarterly results, which slightly missed EPS expectations and showed a 1% year-over-year revenue decline.
• Negative Sentiment: Japan Post Holdings continued reducing its large Aflac position. The major shareholder sold 13,000 shares for approximately $1.46 million on October 5, following several similar Rule 10b5-1 sales. The latest transaction reduced its position by only 0.03%, so the fundamental effect is limited, but repeated selling may create a modest supply overhang. Japan Post Holdings sells Aflac shares

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Aflac in the second quarter valued at approximately $4,093,787,000. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Aflac by 27.8% in the 2nd quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 5,201,217 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $609,843,000 after buying an additional 1,132,091 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in shares of Aflac by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 4,550,855 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $499,216,000 after buying an additional 67,650 shares in the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc purchased a new position in shares of Aflac during the second quarter valued at $404,639,000. Finally, Amundi lifted its stake in Aflac by 22.6% in the first quarter. Amundi now owns 3,268,209 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $358,555,000 after acquiring an additional 603,426 shares during the period. 67.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have commented on AFL shares. Wolfe Research started coverage on shares of Aflac in a research note on Wednesday, August 19th. They set an “underperform” rating and a $103.00 price objective for the company. TD Cowen reissued a “hold” rating and issued a $110.00 target price (up from $101.00) on shares of Aflac in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. Mizuho lowered their target price on shares of Aflac from $116.00 to $107.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Piper Sandler reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $138.00 price target (up from $130.00) on shares of Aflac in a report on Monday, August 10th. Finally, UBS Group reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $125.00 price objective (up from $124.00) on shares of Aflac in a research report on Tuesday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $116.15.

About Aflac

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.