Why Do Analysts Give Aflac Incorporated (AFL) a Sell Rating Despite Its Consistent Dividend Growth?

We recently compiled a list of the 20 Worst Dividend Aristocrat Stocks According to Analysts. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) stands against the other dividend aristocrat stocks.

Dividend aristocrats are companies that have raised their dividend payouts for at least 25 consecutive years. Achieving and maintaining a dividend streak this long is a tough nut to crack. That is why, among the approximately 6,000 stocks listed on the NYSE and NASDAQ, only around 67 companies have earned the distinction of being called dividend aristocrats. This strong dividend growth track records imply that these companies were financially stable enough to sustain their payouts during two significant financial crises: the Great Financial Crisis of 2008 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides this, these companies have also shown strong performance relative to the broader market over the years. The Dividend Aristocrat Index has outperformed the wider market with lower volatility since its inception in 2005. Recently we covered the list of the 25 Best Dividend Aristocrats to Buy according to Wall Street analysts.

Analysts have closely observed the performance of dividend aristocrats in the past and in recent times. In a January 2019 blog post titled ‘Dividend Growth Strategies and Downside Protection’, Phillip Brzenk, global head of multi-asset indexes, analyzed how dividend growth strategies perform, particularly in times when the market experiences declines. He said that since the end of 1989, there have been six calendar years when the broader market posted negative performance. Interestingly, in each of these years, the Dividend Aristocrats outperformed the broader equity benchmark by an average of 13.28%. Moreover, they managed to achieve a positive total return in three of those challenging years. He further said, the aristocrats outperformed the market in 53% of instances, with an average outperformance of 0.16%, when their performance was observed on a monthly basis.

As mentioned above, dividend growth stocks have performed better than the overall market. Since its inception in 2005 up until September 2023, the dividend aristocrats index achieved a total return of 10.35%, surpassing the broader market's return of 9.54% during the same timeframe. Additionally, the dividend aristocrats exhibited lower volatility, at 15.35%, compared to the market’s 16.31%. This indicates that the prices of these stocks are more stable and less prone to frequent changes, demonstrating their relative resilience.

That said, analysts are now turning their attention to different aspects of dividend investing. For taxable investors, dividends can be less favorable compared to share repurchases. Additionally, focusing on dividends limits diversification since around 60% of U.S. stocks and 40% of international stocks do not pay dividends. As a result, portfolios that emphasize dividends are significantly less diversified than those that do not consider dividends in their design. Less-diversified portfolios tend to be less efficient due to a higher potential range of returns without any corresponding increase in expected returns, assuming the exposure to common factors remains constant. Moreover, emphasizing dividends often leads to an overinvestment in U.S. equities, causing a home-country bias and further reducing diversification.

According to this analysis, dividends are a tax-efficient method for returning capital to shareholders. However, investors continue to favor these equities due to their solid performance and the reliable income they offer. Although dividend aristocrats are strong companies with consistent dividend growth, some are less favored by analysts due to factors like industry challenges, macroeconomic conditions, and specific business issues.

Our Methodology:

For our list, we scanned a list of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, companies that have raised their dividends for 25 consecutive years or more. We then ranked these stocks according to their average analyst ratings from Yahoo Finance, where a higher score signifies the worst rating. The "Recommendation Rating" is a way to assess stocks. It uses a scale from 1 to 5, with each number indicating a different recommendation:

1. Strong Buy

2. Buy

3. Hold

4. Underperform

5. Sell

From this ranking, we selected the stocks with scores of 3 or more.

A nurse talking on the phone with a client while assisting them in filling out paperwork for a medical insurance policy, demonstrating the company's dedication to customer service.

Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL)

Average Analyst Rating Score: 4

Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) is a Georgia-based insurance company that provides supplemental insurance services to its consumers. In the first quarter of 2024, the company reported revenue of $5.4 billion, up 13.2% from the same period last year. Its net earnings for the period came in at $1.9 billion, growing from $1.2 billion in the prior-year period. Although the company's business is showing strong signs, analysts have raised concerns about its operations in Japan.

Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) does the majority of its business in Japan, and the complex macroeconomic environment has heightened the importance of interest rate-related risks. According to the company's 10K report, Aflac Japan's Solvency Margin Ratio (SMR) is highly sensitive to interest rate changes, which may require adopting a more cautious strategy. Its net earned premiums in Japan for the first quarter were $1.8 billion, down 16.3% from the same period last year. This drop was mainly due to reinsurance transactions from the prior year and limited pay policies reaching paid-up status. Its total adjusted revenues in the country also declined by 11.4% to $2.5 billion. Last month, Truist Financial maintained a Hold rating on the stock with an $82 price target. Overall, analysts have a consensus Sell rating on AFL with an $86.2 price target, which reflects a downside potential of 1%. Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) is among the worst dividend aristocrats on our list.

Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.30%, as of June 14. The company holds a 42-year track record of consistent dividend growth.

With a collective stake value of over $302.8 million, 24 hedge funds owned positions in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) in Q1 2024, down from 28 in the previous quarter, according to Insider Monkey's database. Among these hedge funds, Ariel Investments was the company's leading stakeholder in Q1.

Overall AFL ranks 3rd on our list of the worst dividend aristocrat stocks to buy. You can visit 20 Worst Dividend Aristocrat Stocks According to Analysts to see the other dividend aristocrat stocks that are on hedge funds’ radar. While we acknowledge the potential of AFL as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is as promising as AFL but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

 

READ NEXT: Michael Burry Is Selling These Stocks and Jim Cramer is Recommending These Stocks.

 

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.