Handelsbanken Fonder AB decreased its position in Aetna Inc. (NYSE:AET) by 83.1% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 37,732 shares of the company’s stock after selling 185,000 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder AB’s holdings in Aetna were worth $5,729,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. FTB Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Aetna by 11.0% in the first quarter. FTB Advisors Inc. now owns 977 shares of the company’s stock worth $125,000 after buying an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Aetna during the first quarter worth $133,000. Horan Capital Management bought a new stake in shares of Aetna during the first quarter worth $157,000. Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America increased its stake in shares of Aetna by 0.7% in the first quarter. Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America now owns 1,353 shares of the company’s stock worth $173,000 after buying an additional 9 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tompkins Financial Corp bought a new stake in shares of Aetna during the first quarter worth $187,000. 91.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Shares of Aetna Inc. (NYSE:AET) opened at 156.31 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $151.67 and a 200 day moving average price of $135.46. The firm has a market capitalization of $51.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 47.67 and a beta of 0.54. Aetna Inc. has a one year low of $104.59 and a one year high of $156.49.
Aetna (NYSE:AET) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The company reported $2.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.36 by $0.35. The business had revenue of $15.17 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.39 billion. Aetna had a return on equity of 17.75% and a net margin of 1.84%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.30 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Aetna Inc. will post $8.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 28th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 13th will be issued a $0.50 dividend. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.28%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 11th. Aetna’s dividend payout ratio is currently 62.31%.
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AET has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Stifel Nicolaus reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 price objective (up previously from $130.00) on shares of Aetna in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Zacks Investment Research raised Aetna from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $143.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $145.00 price objective on shares of Aetna in a research report on Monday, April 24th. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 price objective on shares of Aetna in a research report on Friday, May 12th. Finally, Cleveland Research raised Aetna from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have given a buy rating to the company. The stock has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $152.84.
In related news, EVP Margaret M. Mccarthy sold 27,028 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $149.23, for a total value of $4,033,388.44. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 33,563 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,008,606.49. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Chairman Mark T. Bertolini sold 103,547 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $140.79, for a total value of $14,578,382.13. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 659,888 shares in the company, valued at approximately $92,905,631.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.90% of the company’s stock.
Aetna Company Profile
Aetna Inc is a diversified healthcare benefits company. The Company operates through three segments: Health Care, Group Insurance and Large Case Pensions. It offers a range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, medical management capabilities, Medicaid healthcare management services, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, workers’ compensation administrative services and health information technology (HIT) products and services.
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