Aflac's 0.08% Gain on 378th-Ranked $280M Volume as Hold Rating Stands Amid $100M Buyback and Dividend Hike

Aflac (AFL) edged up 0.08% on August 15, 2025, with a trading volume of $0.28 billion, ranking 378th among U.S. stocks. The insurer maintains a consensus "Hold" rating from 13 analysts, with two sell ratings, eight holds, and three buys, and an average 12-month price target of $108.23. The board recently authorized a $100 million share repurchase program and a $0.58 quarterly dividend, signaling confidence in valuation. Institutional investors, including Norges Bank, increased holdings in Q2, while insiders reduced stakes through recent sales.

Second-quarter earnings surpassed estimates, with $1.78 per share compared to $1.71 expected. Revenue fell 19% year-over-year to $4.16 billion, though margins remained robust at 15.32%. Analysts adjusted price targets, with Raymond James cutting its estimate to $110 from $115 while maintaining an "outperform" rating, and Morgan Stanley raising its target to $105. The stock’s 52-week range spans $96.95 to $115.50, with a P/E ratio of 23.95 and a 2.2% dividend yield.

A backtest of a strategy buying the top 500 volume-driven stocks and holding for one day from 2022 to 2025 yielded a 31.52% total return over 365 days, averaging 0.98% daily. This reflects short-term momentum capture but underscores market volatility and timing risks inherent in such approaches.