Aflac Slides to 354th in Trading Volume Amid Insider Sales as Japan's Cancer Insurance Boom and $1.1B Shareholder Returns Offset Weakness

On September 2, 2025, Aflac (AFL) closed down 1.16% with a trading volume of $0.31 billion, ranking 354th in market activity. The stock faced pressure amid insider selling, with executives offloading $8.2 million worth of shares, signaling potential uncertainty among key stakeholders. Meanwhile, recent earnings data highlighted strong performance in Japan, where cancer insurance sales surged 53% year-over-year, driven by the Miraito product, and the U.S. segment reported $340 million in new sales with improved persistency rates. The company also returned $1.1 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends in Q2 2025.

Aflac’s capital deployment strategy remained robust, with $829 million allocated to repurchase 7.9 million shares and $312 million in dividend payments. Analysts at Morgan Stanley raised the price target to $113 from $108, reflecting confidence in the firm’s growth trajectory. However, challenges persisted, including net earned premium declines in Japan and investment income pressures in both domestic and international markets. Despite these headwinds, the company maintained strong capital ratios, with a solvency margin ratio (SMR) exceeding 900% and a regulatory ESR above 240%.

Historical earnings data showed mixed performance ahead of the upcoming Q3 2025 report. The stock gained 3.43% on the day following the Q2 2025 earnings release but declined in subsequent reports. The next earnings announcement is scheduled for November 4, 2025, with analysts forecasting EPS of $1.75. A $1,000 investment in Aflac a decade prior would have grown to $2,650, underscoring long-term shareholder returns despite recent volatility.