Aflac (NYSE:AFL) Major Shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan Sells 11,400 Shares

by · The Cerbat Gem

Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFLGet Free Report) major shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 11,400 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.50, for a total transaction of $1,316,700.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 51,302,145 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,925,397,747.50. This trade represents a 0.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Large shareholders that own at least 10% 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 Tuesday, May 26th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 18,000 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.03, for a total transaction of $2,106,540.00.
  • On Friday, May 22nd, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 31,100 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.78, for a total transaction of $3,662,958.00.
  • On Thursday, May 21st, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 30,400 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.61, for a total transaction of $3,575,344.00.
  • On Wednesday, May 20th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 31,600 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.66, for a total transaction of $3,718,056.00.
  • On Tuesday, May 19th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 50,000 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.80, for a total transaction of $5,940,000.00.
  • On Monday, May 18th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 41,700 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.45, for a total transaction of $4,939,365.00.
  • On Friday, May 15th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 23,500 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.85, for a total transaction of $2,745,975.00.
  • On Thursday, May 14th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 24,500 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.42, for a total transaction of $2,852,290.00.
  • On Wednesday, May 13th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 24,200 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.36, for a total transaction of $2,791,712.00.
  • On Tuesday, May 12th, Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan sold 24,300 shares of Aflac stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.97, for a total transaction of $2,818,071.00.

Aflac Stock Up 0.7%

Shares of NYSE:AFL traded up $0.77 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $113.40. The company had a trading volume of 408,214 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,294,948. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 0.11 and a quick ratio of 0.11. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $112.99 and its 200-day moving average price is $111.78. The stock has a market capitalization of $57.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.88, a PEG ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.62. Aflac Incorporated has a one year low of $96.95 and a one year high of $119.81.

Aflac (NYSE:AFLGet Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 29th. The financial services provider reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.80 by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $4.24 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.20 billion. Aflac had a return on equity of 13.88% and a net margin of 25.60%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 27.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.66 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Aflac Incorporated will post 7.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Aflac Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 20th will be issued a $0.61 dividend. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 20th. Aflac’s payout ratio is currently 27.70%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have commented on AFL. Barclays set a $99.00 price objective on shares of Aflac and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Thursday, April 30th. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $130.00 price objective (up from $125.00) on shares of Aflac in a report on Tuesday. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Aflac from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, May 21st. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Aflac from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (a-)” rating in a report on Friday, May 15th. Finally, Evercore raised shares of Aflac from a “strong sell” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, April 9th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $112.27.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on AFL

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Aflac

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of AFL. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Aflac by 13.4% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 57,142,072 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $6,301,056,000 after acquiring an additional 6,759,169 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Aflac during the fourth quarter valued at $420,078,000. First Trust Advisors LP lifted its holdings 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 during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Aflac by 1,184.5% in the third quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 1,264,090 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $141,199,000 after purchasing an additional 1,165,676 shares during the period. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP lifted its holdings in Aflac by 390.7% in the fourth quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 1,111,711 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $122,588,000 after purchasing an additional 885,141 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.44% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about Aflac

Here are the key news stories impacting Aflac this week:

  • Positive Sentiment: Aflac issued yen-denominated senior notes, a move that can improve capital flexibility and support balance-sheet management. Aflac Issues Yen-Denominated Senior Notes for Flexibility
  • Positive Sentiment: Some analysts still expect modest earnings growth, with DOWLING & PARTN projecting FY2026 EPS of $7.10, slightly above the current consensus estimate. Aflac analyst data
  • Neutral Sentiment: Aflac continues to support income-oriented investors with a quarterly dividend of $0.61 per share, or $2.44 annualized, implying a yield around 2.2%. Aflac dividend and stock page
  • Neutral Sentiment: Major shareholder Post Holdings Co. Ltd. Japan and EVP Steven Kent Beaver both disclosed recent stock sales, including another pre-planned sale by the large shareholder. These transactions do not change fundamentals, but they can weigh on sentiment. Aflac major shareholder sale
  • Negative Sentiment: Recent quarterly results missed EPS expectations, and several analyst reports remain cautious with a consensus rating of Hold and a target near where the stock has been trading. Aflac earnings and analyst coverage

About Aflac

(Get Free Report)

Aflac Incorporated (American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus) is a provider of supplemental insurance products designed to help policyholders manage out-of-pocket health care and living expenses. The company underwrites a range of individual and group policies that typically pay cash benefits directly to insureds when covered events occur, enabling greater financial flexibility for medical treatment, hospital stays, critical illness, and related costs. Aflac’s product mix includes supplemental health insurance, life insurance and other specialty coverages intended to complement primary medical plans.

Founded in the mid-20th century and headquartered in Columbus, Georgia, Aflac distributes its products through a combination of employer-sponsored programs, independent brokers and agents, and direct marketing.

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