Company Overview - Aflac Incorporated (AFL) is valued at $57.6 billion and is a leading provider of supplemental health and life insurance products, primarily operating in the United States and Japan [1] - The company was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Columbus, Georgia, known for its iconic Aflac Duck marketing campaign [1] Earnings Expectations - Aflac is expected to announce its fiscal third-quarter earnings for 2025 on November 4, with analysts predicting a profit of $1.80 per share, down 16.7% from $2.16 per share in the same quarter last year [2] - For the full fiscal year, analysts expect an EPS of $6.91, a decrease of 4.2% from $7.21 in fiscal 2024, but a rebound is forecasted with a 6.4% increase to $7.35 in fiscal 2026 [3] Stock Performance - Aflac's stock has declined by 6.3% over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500 Index's 14.1% gains and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund's 9.6% gains during the same period [4] - On October 14, Aflac shares rose by 1.1% after Bank of America Securities analyst Joshua Shanker reaffirmed a "Buy" rating with a price target of $130 [5] Analyst Ratings - The consensus opinion on Aflac stock is cautious, with an overall "Hold" rating; out of 17 analysts, two recommend a "Strong Buy," one a "Moderate Buy," 11 a "Hold," and three a "Strong Sell" [6] - The average analyst price target for Aflac is $108.57, indicating a marginal upside from current levels [6]

Core Insights - Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) is recognized as one of the 11 cheap quarterly dividend stocks to buy currently [1] - The company specializes in supplemental health and life insurance, particularly in Japan, where it is the largest provider of cancer and medical insurance products [2] - Aflac's long-term success is attributed to product innovation, strong partnerships in Japan, and investments in technology and digital transformation in the US [3] - The company has a history of increasing its dividends for 42 consecutive years, currently offering a quarterly dividend of $0.58 per share with a dividend yield of 2.14% as of September 23 [4] Company Overview - Aflac Incorporated focuses on supplemental health and life insurance, providing cash benefits directly to policyholders for various coverage types [2] - The company is particularly strong in the Japanese market, offering "third sector" plans that cover health-related needs outside of government programs [2] Financial Performance - Aflac has demonstrated disciplined capital allocation through share repurchases and consistent dividend growth, reinforcing its financial strength [3] - The current quarterly dividend is $0.58 per share, reflecting a dividend yield of 2.14% [4]

Core Insights - Investing in dividend stocks is a strategy for building long-term wealth and generating passive income, with dividend-paying companies historically outperforming non-dividend counterparts [1][2] Dividend Stock Performance - Research indicates that over a 50-year period, dividend stocks provided an annual return of approximately 9.2%, compared to 4.3% for non-dividend stocks [2] - Companies that consistently grow their dividends achieve even higher annual returns of 10.2% with lower volatility [2] Company Summaries - **Chubb**: A major player in the global insurance market with a strong history of conservative underwriting, Chubb has increased its dividend for 32 consecutive years and maintains a 17% payout ratio, supporting its dividend growth [5][6] - **Cincinnati Financial**: This insurer has raised its dividend for over 65 consecutive years, benefiting from disciplined underwriting and a conservative balance sheet, making it a member of the Dividend Kings club [7][8] - **FactSet Research Systems**: Provides financial data and analytics with a strong subscription model, generating steady revenue and raising dividends for over 27 consecutive years [9][10] - **Aflac**: A significant player in supplemental health and life insurance, Aflac has increased dividends for over 42 years, supported by low payout ratios and strong capital generation [11][12] - **S&P Global**: Engaged in credit ratings, indexes, and data analytics, S&P Global has a history of 53 consecutive years of dividend increases, supported by high-margin, recurring revenue businesses [13][14]