Sabal Trust CO Has $36.91 Million Stock Position in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

Sabal Trust CO lessened its position in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) by 5.9% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 356,809 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 22,285 shares during the period. Aflac makes up approximately 2.1% of Sabal Trust CO’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest holding. Sabal Trust CO’s holdings in Aflac were worth $36,908,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of AFL. Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Aflac during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $34,000. BankPlus Trust Department acquired a new stake in shares of Aflac in the fourth quarter valued at $34,000. Raelipskie Partnership acquired a new position in shares of Aflac during the third quarter worth approximately $38,000. Covestor Ltd increased its stake in shares of Aflac by 41.8% in the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 363 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 107 shares during the period. Finally, Kennebec Savings Bank acquired a new position in Aflac in the third quarter valued at approximately $45,000. 67.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Aflac Trading Up 2.6 %

Shares of AFL opened at $106.77 on Wednesday. Aflac Incorporated has a 1 year low of $78.62 and a 1 year high of $115.50. 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 50 day simple moving average of $104.19 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $107.47. The firm has a market cap of $59.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.99.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $1.56 earnings per share (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, equities analysts expect that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Aflac Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 19th will be issued a $0.58 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 19th. This is a positive change from Aflac’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.17%. Aflac’s dividend payout ratio is currently 24.17%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

AFL has been the topic of several research analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on shares of Aflac in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. They set a “market perform” rating and a $111.00 target price on the stock. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Aflac from $98.00 to $95.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 7th. StockNews.com raised shares of Aflac from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Aflac from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their target price on Aflac from $107.00 to $104.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $102.86.

Insider Buying and Selling at Aflac

In other news, EVP Audrey B. Tillman sold 24,744 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.40, for a total value of $2,558,529.60. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 222,618 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $23,018,701.20. The trade was a 10.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.80% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.