에 대한 최신 뉴스 Aflac (NYSE:AFL) 주식

Aflac

Aflac Inc offers supplemental health insurance and life insurance in United States and Japan. In addition to its cancer policies, the company has broadened its product offerings to include accident, dental and vision, disability, and long-term-care insurance. It markets its products through independent distributors, selling majority of its policies directly to consumers at their places of work and also reaches out to its customers out of their worksite through digital mediums. The company has two reportable business segments; Aflac Japan which generates the majority of the revenue, and Aflac U.S.

Aflac Inc

First Trust Active Factor Large Cap ETF

AMND FRN IGC 100 ETF

Air France-KLM

JP Morgan analyst Jimmy Bhullar maintains Aflac (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFL#NYSE">AFL</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $85 to $90.

News

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

JP Morgan Maintains Neutral on Aflac, Raises Price Target to $90

Piper Sandler analyst John Barnidge maintains Aflac (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFL#NYSE">AFL</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $114 to $122.

Piper Sandler Maintains Overweight on Aflac, Raises Price Target to $122

Aflac (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFL#NYSE">AFL</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 3.28% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 14.63%. Currently, Aflac has a market capitalization of $62.61 billion. 
Buying $100 In AFL: If an investor had bought $100 of AFL stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $386.96 today based on a price of $111.80 for AFL at the time of writing.
<h3>Aflac's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727796667_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Trading Ideas

Here's How Much $100 Invested In Aflac 10 Years Ago Would Be Worth Today

Across the recent three months, 12 analysts have shared their insights on Aflac (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFL#NYSE">AFL</a>), expressing a variety of opinions spanning from bullish to bearish.
The table below offers a condensed view of their recent ratings, showcasing the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">7</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
In the assessment of 12-month price targets, analysts unveil insights for Aflac, presenting an average target of $97.58, a high estimate of $115.00, and a low estimate of $83.00. Surpassing the previous average price target of $88.82, the current average has increased by 9.86%.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727355643_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Interpreting Analyst Ratings: A Closer Look</h2>
The standing of Aflac among financial experts is revealed through an in-depth exploration of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Thomas Gallagher</td>
<td>Evercore ISI Group</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Underperform</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$84.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alex Scott</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
<td>$96.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joshua Shanker</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$115.00</td>
<td>$108.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nigel Dally</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$98.00</td>
<td>$91.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brian Meredith</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$109.00</td>
<td>$84.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Elyse Greenspan</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$81.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mark Hughes</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$82.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joshua Shanker</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$108.00</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Ward</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$93.00</td>
<td>$84.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joshua Shanker</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Suneet Kamath</td>
<td>Jefferies</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$84.00</td>
<td>$83.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jimmy Bhullar</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$83.00</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to Aflac. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Providing a comprehensive analysis, analysts offer qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of Aflac compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts set price targets as an estimate of a stock's future value. Comparing the current and prior price targets provides insight into how analysts' expectations have changed over time. This information can be valuable for investors seeking to understand consensus views on the stock's potential future performance.</li>
</ul>
Navigating through these analyst evaluations alongside other financial indicators can contribute to a holistic understanding of Aflac's market standing. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AFL/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Aflac analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Discovering Aflac: A Closer Look</h2>
Aflac Inc offers supplemental health insurance and life insurance in United States and Japan. In addition to its cancer policies, the company has broadened its product offerings to include accident, dental and vision, disability, and long-term-care insurance. It markets its products through independent distributors, selling majority of its policies directly to consumers at their places of work and also reaches out to its customers out of their worksite through digital mediums. The company has two reportable business segments; Aflac Japan which generates the majority of the revenue, and Aflac U.S.
<h3>Unraveling the Financial Story of Aflac</h3>
Market Capitalization: Surpassing industry standards, the company's market capitalization asserts its dominance in terms of size, suggesting a robust market position.
Revenue Growth: Aflac's revenue growth over a period of 3 months has faced challenges. As of 30 June, 2024, the company experienced a revenue decline of approximately -0.31%. This indicates a decrease in the company's top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company trails behind with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Financials sector.
Net Margin: Aflac's net margin surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 34.03% net margin, the company effectively manages costs and achieves strong profitability.
Return on Equity (ROE): Aflac's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional ROE, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable ROE of 7.08%, the company showcases efficient use of equity capital and strong financial health.
Return on Assets (ROA): Aflac's ROA surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 1.43% ROA, the company effectively utilizes its assets for optimal returns.
Debt Management: The company maintains a balanced debt approach with a debt-to-equity ratio below industry norms, standing at 0.29.
<h2>The Basics of Analyst Ratings</h2>
Experts in banking and financial systems, analysts specialize in reporting for specific stocks or defined sectors. Their comprehensive research involves attending company conference calls and meetings, analyzing financial statements, and engaging with insiders to generate what are known as analyst ratings for stocks. Typically, analysts assess and rate each stock once per quarter.
Analysts may supplement their ratings with predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, offering investors a more comprehensive outlook. However, investors should be mindful that analysts, like any human, can have subjective perspectives influencing their forecasts.
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This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Expert Ratings For Aflac

Evercore ISI Group analyst Thomas Gallagher maintains Aflac (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFL#NYSE">AFL</a>) with a Underperform and raises the price target from $84 to $90.

Evercore ISI Group Maintains Underperform on Aflac, Raises Price Target to $90

Shares of Manulife Financial Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mfc#NYSE">MFC</a>) closed at $28.87 on Thursday, near its 52-week high of $28.89. A strong-performing Asia business, expanding Wealth and Asset Management business and a solid capital position are driving the stock price higher.
The company is one of the three dominant life insurers within its domestic Canadian market and possesses rapidly growing operations in the United States and several Asian countries. Earnings grew 4.9% in the last five years, better than the industry average of 4.6%.
Shares have rallied 30.6% year to date, outperforming the industry&#39;s increase of 19%, the Finance sector&#39;s increase of 13.7% and the S&amp;P 500 composite&#39;s rise of 17.7%.
<h2>MFC Outperforms Industry, Sector, S&amp;P 500 YTD</h2>
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/d1/78668.jpg?v=2085214265" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
MFC shares are trading well above the 50-day moving average, indicating a bullish trend.
<h2>MFC&#39;s Return on Equity</h2>
Manulife&#39;s return on equity (ROE) for the trailing 12 months is 16.2%, better than the industry average of 15.5%. This reflects Manulife&#39;s efficiency in utilizing shareholders&#39; funds. It expects to generate a ROE of more than 18% by 2027.
<h2>Optimistic Growth Outlook</h2>
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2024 and 2025 earnings per share is pegged at $2.72 and $2.86, respectively, suggesting an increase of 5.8% and 5.2% year over year. The long-term earnings growth rate is currently pegged at 10%. Manulife expects core EPS growth of 10-12% over the medium term.&nbsp;
<h2>Factors Favoring MFC</h2>
Manulife&#39;s Asia business continues to be a major contributor to earnings. Asia has been the fastest-growing insurance segment, supported by strong volume growth and attractive margins. This market appears attractive, given its changing demographics. MFC now expects core earnings from Asia to contribute 50% to overall earnings by 2027.
As part of its strategic priorities, Manulife is also investing in high ROE and growth segments in North America.&nbsp; The company&#39;s highest potential businesses, including operations in Asia, Global WAM, Canada group benefits and behavioral insurance products, currently contribute two-thirds to core earnings. The insurer now looks to increase it to 75% and thus is expediting growth in these highest potential businesses.
In tandem with the wave of digitalization going on, MFC is digitalizing and automating workflows through GenAI and advanced analytics.&nbsp; Accelerated digitalization should help it achieve an expense efficiency ratio of less than 45% in the medium term.
Manulife has been strengthening its balance sheet by improving liquidity and leverage. It targets a leverage ratio of 25%. Notably, its free cash flow conversion has remained more than 100% over the last many quarters, reflecting its solid earnings.
The life insurer, banking on consistent cash flow, hiked dividends at a six-year CAGR of 10% and targets a 35-45% dividend payout over the medium term.
<h2>Concerns Regarding MFC</h2>
Despite the upside potential, there are a few factors that investors should keep an eye on.
Manulife targeted an expense efficiency ratio of less than 50% or $1 billion in cost savings and avoidance.&nbsp; It is on track to deliver an efficiency ratio of less than 45% in the future. However, its net margin has been contracting over the last six quarters.
Manulife draws a substantial portion of its earnings from the international market, which makes its profitability vulnerable to foreign exchange losses. In an attempt to lower its forex exposure, the company has started incurring hedging costs.
Though the leverage has been gradually improving, times interest earned has been declining.
The return on invested capital in the trailing 12 months was 0.66%, comparing unfavorably with the industry average of 0.68%, reflecting the insurer&#39;s inefficiency in utilizing funds to generate income.
<h2>MFC Shares Expensive&nbsp;</h2>
MFC shares are trading at a price-to-earnings multiple of 10.23, higher than the industry average of 8.40.
Shares of other insurers like Sun Life Financial&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/slf#NYSE">SLF</a>) and Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/afl#NYSE">AFL</a>) are trading at a multiple higher than the industry average.
<h2>Parting Thoughts</h2>
MFC&#39;s focus on building a high-growth, high-return and high cash generation company, wealth distribution to shareholders and ROE expansion instills confidence in this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) insurer.
However, given the stock&#39;s premium valuation, it will be wise for new investors to wait for a better entry point.
Investors who already hold MFC stock should retain it, given its growth prospects.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2339314/mfc-stock-near-52-week-high-should-you-buy-or-wait-for-a-pullback?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|rank_focused-2339314">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Asia

Earnings

Large Cap

Dividends

Markets

MFC Stock Near 52-Week High: Should You Buy or Wait for a Pullback?

Launched on 01/07/2014, the First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/rdvy#NASDAQ">RDVY</a>) is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to provide a broad exposure to the Large Cap Value segment of the US equity market.
The fund is sponsored by First Trust Advisors. It has amassed assets over $11.71 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs attempting to match the Large Cap Value segment of the US equity market.
<h2>Why Large Cap Value</h2>
Companies that fall in the large cap category tend to have a market capitalization above $10 billion. They tend to be stable companies with predictable cash flows and are usually less volatile than mid and small cap companies.
Carrying lower than average price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios, value stocks also have lower than average sales and earnings growth rates. Looking at their long-term performance, value stocks have outperformed growth stocks in almost all markets. They are however likely to underperform growth stocks in strong bull markets.
<h2>Costs</h2>
Expense ratios are an important factor in the return of an ETF and in the long term, cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts, other things remaining the same.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.49%, putting it on par with most peer products in the space.
It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.83%.
<h2>Sector Exposure and Top Holdings</h2>
Even though ETFs offer diversified exposure which minimizes single stock risk, it is still important to look into a fund&#39;s holdings before investing. Luckily, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Financials sector--about 42% of the portfolio. Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary round out the top three.
Looking at individual holdings, D.r. Horton, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dhi#NYSE">DHI</a>) accounts for about 2.41% of total assets, followed by Mueller Industries, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mli#NYSE">MLI</a>) and Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/afl#NYSE">AFL</a>).
The top 10 holdings account for about 22.38% of total assets under management.
<h2>Performance and Risk</h2>
RDVY seeks to match the performance of the NASDAQ US Rising Dividend Achievers Index before fees and expenses. The NASDAQ US Rising Dividend Achievers Index is designed to provide access to a diversified portfolio of companies with a history of paying dividends.
The ETF has added roughly 12.45% so far this year and was up about 23.75% in the last one year (as of 09/17/2024). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $43.44 and $58.75.
The ETF has a beta of 1.11 and standard deviation of 19.70% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 51 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.
<h2>Alternatives</h2>
First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Because of this, RDVY is a great option for investors seeking exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Value segment of the market. There are other additional ETFs in the space that investors could consider as well.
The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (ARCA:SCHD) and the Vanguard Value ETF (ARCA:VTV) track a similar index. While Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has $60.60 billion in assets, Vanguard Value ETF has $126.51 billion. SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% and VTV charges 0.04%.
<h2>Bottom-Line</h2>
Passively managed ETFs are becoming increasingly popular with institutional as well as retail investors due to their low cost, transparency, flexibility and tax efficiency. They are excellent vehicles for long term investors.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2336911/should-first-trust-rising-dividend-achievers-etf-rdvy-be-on-your-investing-radar?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-style_box_etf-2336911">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Equities

Mid Cap

Sector ETFs

ETFs

RDVY

SCHD

Should First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF Be on Your Investing Radar?

Aflac (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFL#NYSE">AFL</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 3.17% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 13.95%. Currently, Aflac has a market capitalization of $60.23 billion. 
Buying $1000 In AFL: If an investor had bought $1000 of AFL stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $3,653.38 today based on a price of $107.54 for AFL at the time of writing.
<h3>Aflac's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726167759_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

$1000 Invested In Aflac 10 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

Offerings

AFLAC Files For Debt Shelf; Size Not Disclosed

Barclays analyst Alex Scott initiates coverage on Aflac (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFL#NYSE">AFL</a>) with a Underweight rating and announces Price Target of $96.

Initiation

Barclays Initiates Coverage On Aflac with Underweight Rating, Announces Price Target of $96

Providing a diverse range of perspectives from bullish to bearish, 12 analysts have published ratings on Aflac (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFL#NYSE">AFL</a>) in the last three months.
Summarizing their recent assessments, the table below illustrates the evolving sentiments in the past 30 days and compares them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">8</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">3</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts provide deeper insights through their assessments of 12-month price targets, revealing an average target of $97.33, a high estimate of $115.00, and a low estimate of $83.00. This upward trend is evident, with the current average reflecting a 8.96% increase from the previous average price target of $89.33.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725454878_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Exploring Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Overview</h2>
A clear picture of Aflac's perception among financial experts is painted with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Joshua Shanker</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$115.00</td>
<td>$108.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nigel Dally</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$98.00</td>
<td>$91.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brian Meredith</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$109.00</td>
<td>$84.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Elyse Greenspan</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$81.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mark Hughes</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$82.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joshua Shanker</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$108.00</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Ward</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$93.00</td>
<td>$84.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joshua Shanker</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Suneet Kamath</td>
<td>Jefferies</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$84.00</td>
<td>$83.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jimmy Bhullar</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$83.00</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Suneet Kamath</td>
<td>Jefferies</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$83.00</td>
<td>$84.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>John Barnidge</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts frequently update their recommendations based on evolving market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to Aflac. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Delving into assessments, analysts assign qualitative values, from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings communicate expectations for the relative performance of Aflac compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts gauge the dynamics of price targets, providing estimates for the future value of Aflac's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
For valuable insights into Aflac's market performance, consider these analyst evaluations alongside crucial financial indicators. Stay well-informed and make prudent decisions using our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AFL/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Aflac analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Delving into Aflac's Background</h2>
Aflac Inc offers supplemental health insurance and life insurance in United States and Japan. In addition to its cancer policies, the company has broadened its product offerings to include accident, dental and vision, disability, and long-term-care insurance. It markets its products through independent distributors, selling majority of its policies directly to consumers at their places of work and also reaches out to its customers out of their worksite through digital mediums. The company has two reportable business segments; Aflac Japan which generates the majority of the revenue, and Aflac U.S.
<h3>Breaking Down Aflac's Financial Performance</h3>
Market Capitalization Highlights: Above the industry average, the company's market capitalization signifies a significant scale, indicating strong confidence and market prominence.
Negative Revenue Trend: Examining Aflac's financials over 3 months reveals challenges. As of 30 June, 2024, the company experienced a decline of approximately -0.31% in revenue growth, reflecting a decrease in top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company trails behind with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Financials sector.
Net Margin: Aflac's net margin excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 34.03%. This signifies efficient cost management and strong financial health.
Return on Equity (ROE): Aflac's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional ROE, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable ROE of 7.08%, the company showcases efficient use of equity capital and strong financial health.
Return on Assets (ROA): Aflac's ROA surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 1.43% ROA, the company effectively utilizes its assets for optimal returns.
Debt Management: The company maintains a balanced debt approach with a debt-to-equity ratio below industry norms, standing at 0.29.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: What Are They?</h2>
Analysts work in banking and financial systems and typically specialize in reporting for stocks or defined sectors. Analysts may attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter.
Analysts may enhance their evaluations by incorporating forecasts for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, delivering additional guidance to investors. It is vital to acknowledge that, although experts in stocks and sectors, analysts are human and express their opinions when providing insights.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Expert Outlook: Aflac Through The Eyes Of 12 Analysts

B of A Securities analyst Joshua Shanker maintains Aflac (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFL#NYSE">AFL</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $108 to $115.

B of A Securities Maintains Buy on Aflac, Raises Price Target to $115

Aflac's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFL#NYSE">AFL</a>) short percent of float has fallen 12.41% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 14.13 million shares sold short, which is 2.54% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 5.38 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Aflac Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725024613_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Aflac has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Aflac's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Aflac's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 2.54%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Looking Into Aflac's Recent Short Interest

How much a stock&#39;s price changes over time is a significant driver for most investors. Not only can price performance impact your portfolio, but it can help you compare investment results across sectors and industries as well.
Another factor that can influence investors is FOMO, or the fear of missing out, especially with tech giants and popular consumer-facing stocks.
What if you&#39;d invested in Aflac (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/afl#NYSE">AFL</a>) ten years ago? It may not have been easy to hold on to AFL for all that time, but if you did, how much would your investment be worth today?
<h2>Aflac&#39;s Business In-Depth</h2>
With that in mind, let&#39;s take a look at Aflac&#39;s main business drivers.
Aflac Incorporated was formed in 1973 under the laws of the state of Georgia. The company is a general business holding company and oversees the operations of its subsidiaries by providing management services and making capital available.
Its principal business is voluntary supplemental and life insurance, which is marketed and administered through American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac) in the United States (Aflac U.S.) and, effective Apr 1, 2018, through Aflac Life Insurance Japan Ltd. in Japan (Aflac Japan). Aflac primarily operates in these two countries. The majority of the company&#39;s policies are individually underwritten and marketed through independent agents.
Aflac Japan (60.1% of the adjusted revenues in 2023) offers supplemental insurance products including cancer plans, general medical indemnity plans, medical/sickness riders, care plans, living benefit life plans, ordinary life insurance plans and annuities.
At 2023-end, 80% of the company&#39;s total assets were attributable to Aflac Japan. The firm founded Aflac Re Bermuda Ltd. in 2022 to reinsure some products issued by Aflac Life Insurance Japan.
Aflac U.S. (37.3%) markets and administers group products through Continental American Insurance Company (CAIC). The segment offers products including accident, critical illness, cancer, short-term disability,&nbsp;long-term care and disability, as well as term and whole life insurance in the domestic market. This unit also provides dental, vision, hospital indemnity and other products.
The remaining portion in adjusted revenues is contributed by the Corporate and Other (2.6%).
<h2>Bottom Line</h2>
Anyone can invest, but building a successful investment portfolio takes a combination of a few things: research, patience, and a little bit of risk. So, if you had invested in Aflac a decade ago, you&#39;re probably feeling pretty good about your investment today.
A $1000 investment made in August 2014 would be worth $3,554.21, or a gain of 255.42%, as of August 29, 2024, according to our calculations. This return excludes dividends but includes price appreciation.
Compare this to the S&amp;P 500&#39;s rally of 180.07% and gold&#39;s return of 86.90% over the same time frame.
Analysts are forecasting more upside for AFL too.
Multiple product launches and the build-out of a virtual sales channel will keep driving Aflac&#39;s U.S. unit sales in the future. Expense-saving initiatives will aid the bottom line in the future. The expense ratio is expected to witness a massive improvement in the coming days. Aflac&#39;s results will be supported by lower benefits and claims. It has a world-class investment platform. It beat Q2 earnings estimates on strong investment income. AFL has a strong balance sheet with a favorable solvency position. It returns wealth to investors via share buybacks and dividend payments. Its shares have outperformed the industry in the past year.&nbsp;However, softness still persists in the Japan segment, evident from its declining premiums. The dipping free cash flows reflect weakness in its operations. Also, the stock has a stretched valuation.
The stock is up 14.10% over the past four weeks, and no earnings estimate has gone lower in the past two months, compared to 7 higher, for fiscal 2024. The consensus estimate has moved up as well.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2328734/here-s-how-much-a-1000-investment-in-aflac-made-10-years-ago-would-be-worth-today?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-tale_of_the_tape|investing_$1000-2328734">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Buybacks

Here's How Much a $1000 Investment in Aflac Made 10 Years Ago Would Be Worth Today

Aflac (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFL#NYSE">AFL</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 2.38% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 13.2%. Currently, Aflac has a market capitalization of $58.69 billion. 
Buying $1000 In AFL: If an investor had bought $1000 of AFL stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $3,467.46 today based on a price of $104.80 for AFL at the time of writing.
<h3>Aflac's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1724268617_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

If You Invested $1000 In This Stock 10 Years Ago, You Would Have $3,500 Today

Morgan Stanley analyst Nigel Dally maintains Aflac (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFL#NYSE">AFL</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $91 to $98.

Morgan Stanley Maintains Equal-Weight on Aflac, Raises Price Target to $98

Shares of&nbsp;Employers Holdings, Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/eig#NYSE">EIG</a>) have declined 5.8% since it reported second-quarter 2024 results on Jul 31, after the closing bell. The better-than-expected earnings were aided by growth in premiums written, policies in force and higher yields on fixed maturity securities. However, the positives were partially offset by increased overall expenses.
EIG reported second-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $1.10, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.9%. However, the bottom line fell 6% year over year.
Total revenues grew 0.8% year over year to $217 million. But the top line missed the consensus mark by 3%.
<div class="chart_embed">
<h3>Employers Holdings Inc Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise</h3>
<img alt="Employers Holdings Inc Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/charts/a7/1723643799.png" style="border-style:solid; border-width:1px; height:310px; width:600px" title="" />
Employers Holdings Inc price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Employers Holdings Inc Quote
</div>
<h3>Q2 Key Updates</h3>
Gross premiums written of $207.9 million advanced 5% year over year in the quarter under review on the back of new business growth and higher renewal rates, partly offset by decreased final audit premiums. Net premiums written of $206.1 million increased 5% year over year.
Net premiums earned by Employers Holdings amounted to $187.8 million, which improved 6% year over year but lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.6%.
Net investment income climbed 0.4% year over year to $26.9 million in the second quarter due to increased yields on fixed-maturity securities. However, the decline in invested balances of fixed-maturity securities partially offset the growth. As such, the metric missed the consensus mark by only 0.1%.
Total expenses of $177 million inched up 3.3% year over year. Losses and loss adjustment expenses recorded a 20% year-over-year rise due to growth in earned premiums and increased current accident year loss and loss adjustment expense ratio. Commission expenses grew 14% year over year.
EIG reported a pre-tax income of $40 million in the quarter under review, which fell 8.7% year over year.
Policies in force were at a record level of 128,522, which increased 3% year over year.
The combined ratio increased 380 basis points (bps) year over year to 94.2% but came lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 95.5%. Underwriting and general and administrative expense ratio improved 400 bps year over year to 22%.
<h3>Financial Update (as of Jun 30, 2024)</h3>
Employers Holdings exited the second quarter with investments, cash and cash equivalents of $2.47 billion, which fell from the 2023-end level of $2.5 billion.
Total assets of $3.6 billion remained flat from 2023 end.
Total stockholders&#39; equity improved from the 2023-end level of $1.01 billion to $1.02 billion.
Adjusted book value per share was $48.89, which rose from $45.41 a year ago.
<h3>Capital Deployment Update</h3>
Employers Holdings bought back shares worth $19.2 million in the second quarter. It had a leftover capacity of $44.4 million under its repurchase authorization as of Jul 31, 2024.
Management announced a quarterly&nbsp;dividend of 30 cents for the third quarter, which will be paid on Aug 28, 2024, to shareholders as of Aug 14.
<h3>Zacks Rank &amp; Key Picks</h3>
EIG currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Investors interested in the broader&nbsp;Finance space may look at some better-ranked players like Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/afl#NYSE">AFL</a>), Brown &amp; Brown, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bro#NYSE">BRO</a>) and&nbsp;Marsh &amp; McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mmc#NYSE">MMC</a>), each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Aflac&#39;s current-year earnings is pegged at $6.73 per share, which indicates 8% year-over-year growth. It witnessed seven upward estimate revisions in the past 30 days against no downward movements. AFL beat earnings estimates in three of the past four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 8.2%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Brown &amp; Brown&#39;s 2024 earnings indicates 30.6% year-over-year growth. During the past month, BRO has witnessed five upward estimate revisions against none in the opposite direction. It beat earnings estimates in each of the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 9.8%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Marsh &amp; McLennan&#39;s current-year earnings suggests a 9.4% year-over-year jump. During the past month, MMC has witnessed seven upward estimate revisions against none in the opposite direction. The consensus mark for current-year revenues indicates 6.7% growth from a year ago.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2322186/employers-holdings-eig-drops-5-8-despite-q2-earnings-beat?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|earnings_article-2322186">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Earnings Beats

Small Cap

Management

Employers Holdings Drops 5.8% Despite Q2 Earnings Beat

UBS analyst Brian Meredith maintains Aflac (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFL#NYSE">AFL</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $84 to $109.

UBS Maintains Neutral on Aflac, Raises Price Target to $109

On CNBC's &#8220;Mad Money Lightning Round,&#8221; Jim Cramer recommended buying Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>). &#8220;I think that the company is doing well. I think that the government is not crazy about their posture, because they <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40317579/whats-going-on-with-applied-materials-stock">do so much business in China,&#8221; he added.</a>
When asked about Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AFL#NYSE">AFL</a>), he said, &#8220;It's not my fave, not my fave. I do like Chubb Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CB#NYSE">CB</a>) in the insurance business. But that's really about it.&#8221;
&#8220;We're going to steer clear of Albemarle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>),&#8221; Cramer said.
When asked about Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ELV#NYSE">ELV</a>), he said, &#8220;UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) is still the cream of the crop.&#8221;
Snap (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNAP#NYSE">SNAP</a>) is &#8220;really not, it's not investable,&#8221; he said. &#8220;They seem like an irrelevant company.&#8221;
The "Mad Money" host said Main Street Capital Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAIN#NYSE">MAIN</a>) is a &#8220;business development company. I have never trusted business development companies,&#8221;
Cramer said Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBA#NYSE">ABBA</a>) is an "incredibly cheap stock, alright. They're going to report a great number, and then there's always going to be something that people don't like, and then they sell it down."
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>Aflac shares fell 0.1% to settle at $101.19 on Monday.</li>
<li>Elevance Health shares fell 1.2% to close at $525.85.</li>
<li>Albemarle shares fell 6.9% to close at $76.00.</li>
<li>Snap shares fell 0.3% to close at $9.02.</li>
<li>Applied Materials shares gained 1% to settle at $193.09 on Monday.</li>
<li>Main Street Capital shares fell 0.5% to close at $48.35 on Monday.</li>
<li>Alibaba shares gained 1.2% to close at $80.91.</li>
</ul>
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/08/40312763/1-7m-bet-on-standard-biotools-check-out-these-3-stocks-under-5-insiders-are-aggressively">$1.7M Bet On Standard BioTools? Check Out These 3 Stocks Under $5 Insiders Are Aggressively Buying</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Long Ideas

Media

ABBA

AMAT

streetTRACKS Dow Jones U.S. Large Cap Value Index Fund

MAIN

SNAP

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AFLAC (AFL) Receives a Buy from Piper Sandler

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Press Releases

U.S. adults say logistics and "feeling healthy" among reasons they duck out of routine wellness visits and screenings

Aflac named a 2024 CIO 100 award honoree

Insurance

Health care advocate and YouTube star "Doctor Mike" Varshavski joins Aflac on their Wellness Matters campaign, urging young people to develop better health habits

AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Aflac Incorporated and Its Subsidiaries

Pro Football Hall of Famer and UGA Alum Champ Bailey visits patients at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

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