Courtesy of Benzinga.
Shares of Aflac (NYSE: AFL) are trading lower in the after-hours following the release of the company’s Q4 earnings results. Currently, shares are lower by 1.82%, trading at $47.35; they ended the regular session lower by 0.37%, at $48.23.
Aflac reported Q4 adjusted EPS of $1.48 on revenues of $5.98 billion; the street was looking for $1.51 per share. Revenues increased 12.9% year over year.
Net earnings in the fourth quarter of 2011 included after-tax realized investment losses, net of realized investment gains, of $145 million, or $.31 per diluted share, compared with net after-tax losses of $191 million, or $.41 per diluted share, a year ago.
Commenting on the company’s fourth quarter results, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Daniel P. Amos stated: “Aflac had another strong year. Growth of operating earnings per diluted share was in line with our goal of an 8% increase before the impact of foreign currency.”
“That result was also consistent with guidance we provided when we released third quarter results. We had conveyed in the third quarter that following nine months of restrained expenditures, we planned to increase spending on IT and marketing initiatives in the fourth quarter to strengthen our business, and that’s exactly what we did. I am pleased that 2011 marked the 22nd consecutive year in which we achieved our earnings objective.”
Aflac Incorporated is a general business holding company and acts as a management company, overseeing the operations of its subsidiaries by providing management services.
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