Japan Post Holdings Sells Aflac Shares Worth $6.24 Million
Japan Post Holdings sold 53,000 shares of Aflac on June 12, 2026, in a planned transaction.
Key Points
- Japan Post Holdings sold 53,000 shares of Aflac at an average price of $117.74 each, totaling about $6.24 million.
- Aflac has a market cap of $59.53 billion, with shares trading near $117.38, a P/E ratio of 13.37, and a beta of 0.61.
- Piper Sandler maintained a 'buy' rating on Aflac with a $130 target, while analysts hold a consensus 'hold' rating.
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Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd. sold 53,000 shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL) on June 12, 2026. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.74 each, amounting to approximately $6.24 million in total value. This transaction was part of a planned sale.
Other Institutional Activity in Aflac
Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd. wasn't the only fund adjusting its position in Aflac. BlackRock, Inc. trimmed its holdings by 572,535 shares, ending with 36,205,291 shares valued at around $3.97 billion. State Street Corp reduced its stake by 162,131 shares, holding 23,600,470 shares worth about $2.59 billion. Meanwhile, Geode Capital Management, LLC increased its position by 248,274 shares, bringing its total to 10,717,264 shares, valued at approximately $1.17 billion.
Aflac Incorporated Stock Up 0.7%
Shares of Aflac (NYSE:AFL) traded near $117.38. The company boasts a market cap of about $59.53 billion and has a P/E ratio of 13.37. Aflac's stock has experienced a 52-week range from a low of $96.95 to a high of $119.81. The stock's 50-day moving average is $114.79, while the 200-day moving average is $111.29. Aflac has a beta of 0.61, indicating lower volatility compared to the overall market.
$AFL stock price
Daily closing prices, year to date. Not investment advice.
Recent Earnings
Aflac reported revenue of $18.11 billion, with a year-over-year growth rate of 27.9%. The company's net margin stands at 25.6%, and its return on equity is 16.5%. Earnings per share (EPS) is $8.75. The next earnings announcement is scheduled for August 6, 2026.
Earnings drift grade
Outlook vs expectations on the last report — not price action.
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Forward outlook
2 target raises vs 2 cuts.
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EPS & revenue
EPS missed estimates by 4.4%. Revenue beat estimates by 1.1%.
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Profit surprise
Operating income beat by 13 percent.
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Pre-earnings setup
Bar was low, analysts cautious going in.
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Analyst signal
2 target raises, 2 target cuts.
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Earnings quality
Gross margin up 43.4 points. Operating margin up 24.2 points.
Earnings Call Summary
Aflac Japan delivered strong sales growth of 25.5 percent in the quarter, driven by new medical and cancer insurance products, though underlying earned premiums still declined 1.3 percent due to lapses of paid-up policies. In the United States, net earned premiums grew 3.5 percent with solid persistency of 79.3 percent. Management noted that Japan would need about 80 billion yen in annual sales to reach flat earned premium growth, versus 74 billion achieved in 2025.
Guidance Aflac expects Japan benefit ratio between 60 percent and 63 percent for the full year, roughly in line with first quarter results. For the United States, they forecast a benefit ratio of 42 percent to 52 percent. The company plans to continue share buybacks and dividend increases, returning $1.3 billion to shareholders in the first quarter alone.
Neutral report. Results and guidance were close to expectations, with limited evidence of a reset either way.
Dividend
Aflac pays an annual dividend rate of $2.44, yielding 2.09%. The dividend payout ratio is 26.86%, indicating a sustainable distribution to shareholders.
Insider Buying and Selling at Aflac Incorporated
Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd. executed several planned sales of Aflac shares. On June 12, 2026, the company sold 53,000 shares at $117.74 each. Other recent transactions include the sale of 48,500 shares on June 11 at $117.20, and 26,500 shares on June 10 at $117.00.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
On May 26, 2026, Piper Sandler maintained its 'buy' rating on Aflac with a price target of $130. Morgan Stanley also maintained a 'hold' rating with a target of $125 on May 21. Overall, analysts have a consensus 'hold' rating on Aflac, with a mean target price of $112.43, based on 14 opinions.
About Aflac Incorporated
Aflac Incorporated provides supplemental health and life insurance products through its subsidiaries. The company operates in two main segments: Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. In Japan, it offers cancer, medical, and life insurance products, while in the U.S., it provides accident, disability, and critical illness insurance, among others. Headquartered in Columbus, Georgia, Aflac was founded in 1955 and is led by CEO Daniel Paul Amos. The company employs approximately 12,716 people.
Bottom Line
Japan Post Holdings' recent sale of Aflac shares was part of a planned strategy, reflecting ongoing adjustments in institutional portfolios. Investors keep a close eye on Aflac due to its stable dividend and solid financial performance. As always, remember that insider transactions are often planned well in advance and may not indicate current sentiment.
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