Epoch Investment Partners Inc. Cuts Holdings in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

Epoch Investment Partners Inc. lowered its position in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 7.0% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 7,936 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 594 shares during the period. Epoch Investment Partners Inc.’s holdings in Aflac were worth $709,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Clearbridge Investments LLC acquired a new stake in Aflac in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $484,000. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Aflac by 13.9% in the 4th quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 100,019 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $8,252,000 after acquiring an additional 12,190 shares during the period. SageView Advisory Group LLC purchased a new stake in Aflac in the 4th quarter worth $253,000. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE raised its position in Aflac by 13.4% during the fourth quarter. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE now owns 3,040 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $251,000 after acquiring an additional 360 shares during the period. Finally, Hilltop Holdings Inc. purchased a new position in Aflac during the fourth quarter valued at $469,000. 67.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

AFL has been the subject of a number of research reports. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Aflac from $84.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 23rd. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Aflac from $91.00 to $98.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, August 19th. Bank of America lifted their price target on Aflac from $108.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. Truist Financial increased their price objective on Aflac from $82.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Aflac from $81.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, August 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Aflac has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $92.50.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Thomas J. Kenny sold 2,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.94, for a total transaction of $197,880.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 18,158 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,796,552.52. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.90% of the company’s stock.

Aflac Price Performance

Aflac stock opened at $110.00 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.10, a quick ratio of 0.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $103.21 and a 200 day moving average price of $92.22. Aflac Incorporated has a 12-month low of $74.89 and a 12-month high of $111.14. The stock has a market cap of $62.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.14, a PEG ratio of 2.53 and a beta of 0.95.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The financial services provider reported $1.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.60 by $0.23. Aflac had a net margin of 28.35% and a return on equity of 16.22%. The business had revenue of $5.14 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.10 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.58 EPS. The business’s revenue was down .7% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.75 earnings per share for the current year.

Aflac Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 2nd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 21st were paid a $0.50 dividend. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.82%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 21st. Aflac’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.08%.

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.