Core Insights - Nearly 75% of American workers experience stress and anxiety when covering for coworkers on paid or extended leave, highlighting the significant impact of employee absences on those remaining at work [1][2] - About 50% of workers report experiencing burnout when covering for employees whose leave extends beyond nine weeks, indicating a correlation between prolonged absences and employee well-being [1][2] Group 1: Employee Impact - 73% of workers reported experiencing stress and anxiety while covering for a coworker [2] - 42% of workers experienced burnout when covering for a coworker whose leave period extended beyond nine weeks [2] - The studies indicate that employee perspectives on work-life balance and mental health have shifted post-pandemic, necessitating a reevaluation of workplace environments [3] Group 2: Employer Response - 48% of employers have observed an increase in employee leaves over the past year [2] - 94% of employers have taken action to support employees covering for coworkers on leave, yet only 74% of employees feel that their employers have provided any support [2] - Effective communication and recognition are essential for employers to support employees maintaining business continuity during coworker absences [2][3] Group 3: Industry Trends - The coordinated studies by Aflac and Prudential aim to foster dialogue on managing work and time away effectively as more states and employers adopt paid leave as a benefit [3] - The findings suggest that as paid leave becomes more common, understanding its impact on workforce bandwidth, costs, and productivity is crucial for employers [3]

Core Viewpoint - Aflac (AFL) has received a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) upgrade, indicating a positive outlook on its earnings potential, which is expected to positively influence its stock price [1][2]. Earnings Estimates and Revisions - Aflac is projected to earn $6.75 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2024, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 8.4% [5]. - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Aflac has risen by 4.6%, indicating a trend of increasing earnings estimates [5]. Impact of Institutional Investors - Changes in earnings estimates are closely correlated with stock price movements, largely due to institutional investors who adjust their valuations based on these estimates [3]. - An increase in earnings estimates typically leads to higher fair value calculations for stocks, prompting institutional buying or selling, which drives stock price changes [3]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system categorizes stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [4]. - Aflac's upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 places it in the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [7].

Core Points - Aflac is renewing its commitment to support families facing pediatric cancer and blood disorders through its Bridge to Brighter program during Childhood Cancer and Sickle Cell Awareness Month [1][3] - Since 1995, Aflac has raised nearly $184 million for pediatric cancer and blood disorder initiatives, with significant contributions from its employees and independent sales force [1][4] - Aflac's philanthropic efforts include support for the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Hospital of Atlanta, recognized as one of the top pediatric oncology programs in the U.S. [1][3] Company Initiatives - Aflac launched new resources for Childhood Cancer and Sickle Cell Awareness Month, including a dedicated webpage and various support materials [2][3] - The company provides a comforting robotic companion, My Special Aflac Duck, free of charge for children aged 3 and up diagnosed with cancer or sickle cell disease [3][4] - Aflac is offering $15,000 in grants to fund Child Life Specialist programs across the country to support the psychosocial needs of pediatric patients and their siblings [4] Community Engagement - Aflac's resources include a digital toolkit for community support, social media materials, and inspiring messages from notable sports figures [3] - The company encourages donations to support the Aflac Cancer Campaign and its initiatives [3][4] - Aflac's commitment to corporate social responsibility is highlighted by its recognition in various ethical and sustainability indices [5][6]

Company Performance - Aflac (AFL) has shown a year-to-date performance increase of approximately 31.6%, outperforming the Finance sector's average return of 15.4% [2] - Aflac currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a favorable outlook based on earnings estimate revisions [1][2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Aflac's full-year earnings has increased by 4.6% over the past quarter, reflecting improved analyst sentiment [2] Industry Comparison - Aflac is part of the Insurance - Accident and Health industry, which has seen an average gain of about 29.7% year-to-date, indicating that Aflac is performing better than its industry peers [3] - Another notable stock, Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG), has achieved a year-to-date return of 32.2% and belongs to the Insurance - Brokerage industry, which has increased by 35.9% year-to-date [2][3] - The Insurance - Accident and Health industry is currently ranked 58 in the Zacks Industry Rank, while the Insurance - Brokerage industry is ranked 9 [3]

Core Viewpoint - Aflac's recent earnings report shows strong performance with adjusted earnings per share beating estimates and a notable increase in investment income, despite a slight decline in overall revenues [2][3]. Financial Performance - Aflac reported Q2 2024 adjusted earnings per share of $1.83, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 15.1% and increasing 15.8% year over year [2]. - Revenues decreased from $5.2 billion to $5.1 billion year over year, but still surpassed the consensus mark by 17.4% [2]. - Adjusted net investment income rose 15.8% year over year to $1 billion [3]. - Total net benefits and claims decreased 8.4% year over year to $1.9 billion [3]. - Total acquisition and operating expenses fell 4.1% year over year to $1.2 billion [3]. Segment Performance - **Aflac Japan**: Adjusted revenues decreased 9.7% year over year to $2.4 billion, with total net earned premiums dropping 16.9% to $1.7 billion [4]. Adjusted net investment income increased 13.8% to $725 million [4]. - **Aflac U.S.**: Adjusted revenues increased 1.3% year over year to $1.7 billion, while total net earned premiums climbed 2.1% to $1.5 billion [5]. Adjusted net investment income rose 7.4% to $218 million [5]. Financial Position - As of June 30, 2024, Aflac had total cash and cash equivalents of $6.1 billion, up from $4.3 billion at the end of 2023 [7]. - Total assets decreased to $120.2 billion from $126.7 billion at the end of 2023 [7]. - Total shareholders' equity increased to $26 billion from $22 million at the end of 2023 [7]. - Adjusted book value per share rose 12.1% year over year to $52.26 [7]. Capital Deployment - Aflac repurchased 9.3 million shares worth $800 million in Q2 2024, with 59.2 million shares remaining for buyback [8]. - Management announced a dividend of 50 cents per share for Q3 2024, payable on September 2, 2024 [8]. Outlook - Aflac anticipates improved sales in its Japan business for 2024, focusing on third-sector products and younger customers [9]. - The company expects the benefit ratio in Aflac Japan to remain between 66-68% and in Aflac U.S. between 45-47% for 2024 [9]. - Expense ratios for Aflac Japan and U.S. are projected to stay within 19-21% and 38-40%, respectively [9].

Group 1: Momentum Investing Overview - Momentum investing involves following a stock's recent trend, with the aim of buying high and selling higher, capitalizing on established price movements [1] - The Zacks Momentum Style Score helps identify effective metrics for assessing momentum in stocks, addressing the challenges investors face in defining momentum [1] Group 2: Aflac's Momentum Style Score - Aflac (AFL) currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B, indicating potential for solid momentum [2] - The Zacks Rank for Aflac is 2 (Buy), with research showing that stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) and 2 (Buy) with Style Scores of A or B tend to outperform the market in the following month [2] Group 3: Aflac's Price Performance - Aflac shares have increased by 2.46% over the past week, outperforming the Zacks Insurance - Accident and Health industry, which rose by 2.31% [3] - Over the past month, Aflac's price change is 14.1%, significantly higher than the industry's 4.42% [3] - In the last quarter, Aflac shares rose by 23.14%, and over the past year, they gained 45.73%, while the S&P 500 increased by 5.71% and 27.74%, respectively [4] Group 4: Trading Volume and Earnings Outlook - Aflac's average 20-day trading volume is 2,354,504 shares, indicating a bullish sign with rising stock prices on above-average volume [4] - In terms of earnings estimates, 7 estimates for Aflac have been revised upwards in the past two months, raising the consensus estimate from $6.46 to $6.73 [5] - For the next fiscal year, 7 estimates have also moved upwards, with no downward revisions during the same period [5] Group 5: Conclusion - Aflac is positioned as a 2 (Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of B, making it a potential candidate for near-term investment [6][7]

Core Insights - Aflac is launching its annual college football campaign featuring the Aflac Duck alongside coaches Nick Saban and Deion Sanders, focusing on how Aflac assists with expenses not covered by health insurance [1][4][5] Company Overview - Aflac is the leading provider of supplemental health insurance in the U.S. and has been providing financial protection for over 68 years [7][8] - The company is recognized for its commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability, being included in various ethical and sustainability indices [8] Marketing Strategy - The new campaign includes two commercials titled "Name, Injury, Likeness" and "Gone Fishing," aimed at educating consumers about the financial gap left by health insurance [3][6] - Aflac has secured NIL deals with Saban and Sanders to enhance brand visibility and engagement with college football fans [4][5] Partnership and Sponsorship - Aflac is deepening its partnership with the University of Colorado, becoming the "Official Coaches Headset Partner" and providing custom headsets for the coaching staff [5] - The commercials will debut on major platforms, including ESPN GameDay and ABC, to maximize reach [6]

Core Insights - Aflac Incorporated (AFL) is experiencing growth driven by a strong U.S. business, product launches, and upgrades, along with expanding cash reserves [1] Financial Performance - Aflac currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) and has seen its stock price increase by 44.2% over the past year, outperforming the industry growth of 37.1% [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Aflac's 2024 earnings is $6.73 per share, reflecting an 8% increase from the previous year, with a 2025 estimate of $7.06 per share, indicating a 4.8% growth from 2024 [3] - The earnings estimate for 2024 has been revised upward by 4.5% in the last 30 days [4] - Aflac has outperformed earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 8.24% [5] - The return on equity for Aflac is 16.2%, slightly above the industry average of 16.1%, indicating effective use of shareholders' funds [6] Business Growth Drivers - Aflac's revenue growth is supported by strong sales in its U.S. segment, strategic growth investments, high persistency rates, and improved productivity [7] - The company is actively launching new products and upgrading existing ones to meet customer needs, including a partnership with SKYGEN for dental and vision benefits management and collaboration with Empathy for grief support services [7] - Aflac is integrating digital solutions into its offerings, enhancing operational efficiencies and shifting towards digital sales channels, which is expected to support profit margins [8] Financial Stability - Aflac's cash and cash equivalents increased by 40.7% from the end of 2023, with $1.1 billion generated in operating cash flows in the first half of 2024 [8] - The company's leverage ratio stands at 22.2%, lower than the industry average of 22.5%, indicating a solid financial position [8]

Core Viewpoint - Aflac (NYSE:AFL) has demonstrated strong performance with a total return exceeding 27% since the last buy rating, driven by a growing number of cancer cases globally and a robust financial position that has allowed the company to navigate challenges effectively [2][4]. Financial Performance - Aflac reported Q2 earnings with earnings per share at $1.89, surpassing expectations by $0.29, and reflecting a 15.8% increase from the previous year [5]. - Revenue for the quarter was $5.1 billion, exceeding expectations by $830 million, although it showed a slight year-over-year decrease of 0.6% [5]. - Aflac Japan generated $3.2 billion in revenue for 2023, while Aflac US contributed $1.5 billion, with both segments experiencing increased sales volumes [5]. - Total net earned premiums decreased by 6.6% to $6.7 billion, but this was offset by a 7.9% increase in net investment income, leading to total revenues of $10.57 billion, up from $9.97 billion [6]. - Net earnings increased by 28.8% due to a decrease in benefits and claims, with total benefits and expenses down by 6.2% to $6.38 billion [6]. Investment Portfolio - Aflac's portfolio includes debt investments in middle-market loans and commercial real estate, which have been beneficial in the current high interest rate environment [7][9]. - The loan portfolio has a net book value of approximately $4.4 billion with a yield of 11.05%, focusing on companies with EBITDA below $50 million [9]. - The commercial real estate portfolio has a net book value of $7.2 billion with a yield of 7.7%, diversified across various property types, primarily multifamily properties [12]. Dividend Growth - Aflac has increased its dividend for over 41 consecutive years, with a current yield of 1.8% and a low payout ratio of 28%, indicating strong support for future dividend increases [4][15]. - The dividend has shown a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.77% over the last three years and 10% over the past decade, making it an attractive option for income-focused investors [15][17]. Market Outlook - The company is well-positioned to benefit from a prolonged high interest rate environment, which supports its income generation from debt investments [11]. - However, potential interest rate cuts could impact net investment income, and the portfolio's exposure to below-investment-grade borrowers may increase vulnerability to defaults [18][19]. - Despite these challenges, Aflac's strong financials and dividend growth potential make it a compelling investment opportunity [20].

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on following a stock's recent price trends, aiming to capitalize on established price movements for profitable trades [1] Company Overview: Aflac (AFL) - Aflac currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating strong potential for outperformance in the market [2][6] - The stock has shown a 1.99% increase over the past week, contrasting with a 0.47% decline in the Zacks Insurance - Accident and Health industry during the same period [3] - Over the past month, Aflac's shares have risen by 8.38%, significantly outperforming the industry's 0.85% [3] Long-term Performance - Aflac's shares have increased by 15.4% over the past quarter and 32.03% over the last year, while the S&P 500 has only moved 2.74% and 21.26%, respectively [4] - The average 20-day trading volume for Aflac is 2,433,990 shares, indicating a bullish trend as the stock rises with above-average volume [4] Earnings Outlook - In the past two months, 7 earnings estimates for Aflac have been revised upwards, with no downward revisions, leading to an increase in the consensus estimate from $6.46 to $6.73 [5] - For the next fiscal year, 7 estimates have also moved upwards without any declines, suggesting a positive earnings outlook [5]