Should You Buy Aflac Inc (AFL) Today? Analysis, Price Targets, and 2026 Outlook.
Analysis Updated At
2026/01/28
HOLD — AFL is not a good buy right now for a beginner long-term investor who wants to enter immediately. At ~$108.6 pre-market, the stock is sitting right on a key pivot (~108.64) with weakening/neutral technicals and a statistically negative 1‑month pattern outlook (-4.24%). While options sentiment and hedge-fund activity are bullish, the latest quarter snapshot shows a sharp drop in net income/EPS, and Wall Street targets cluster close enough to the current price that the upside isn’t compelling versus nearby downside support.
Technical Analysis
Price/levels: Pre-market ~108.6 is essentially at the pivot (108.636). Near-term levels: resistance R1 ~110.35 then R2 ~111.41; support S1 ~106.92 then S2 ~105.86.
Trend/momentum: MACD histogram is negative (-0.161) but contracting (bearish momentum is fading, not yet bullish). RSI(6) ~44.6 is neutral-to-slightly weak (no oversold bounce signal). Moving averages are converging, consistent with consolidation rather than a clear uptrend.
Quant pattern note: Similar candlestick-pattern analysis suggests modest upside potential over 1 week (+1.88%) but a negative bias over 1 month (-4.24%), which reduces attractiveness for an immediate long-term entry.
Analyst Ratings and Price Target Trends
Recent trend: Price targets have been mixed with a slight downward tilt in early Jan—Barclays cut PT to $101 (Equal Weight) and BofA cut PT to $120 (kept Buy), while JPM raised to $105 (kept Neutral). Late Dec saw upgrades/raises from Raymond James (Outperform, $119) and others; however, Mizuho initiated Underperform ($104) and Evercore remains Underperform (raised to $111).
Wall Street pros: Generally favorable macro backdrop for life insurers, healthy balance sheets, and some models implying stronger earnings power into 2026+.
Wall Street cons: Concerns about limited sales growth (Japan/U.S.), spread compression, tech spending, softening cycle/valuation arguments, and credit-quality risk.
Net view: Mixed/neutral overall with a wide target band (~$101–$120) that doesn’t offer a strong margin of safety at ~$108–$109.
Wall Street analysts forecast AFL stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for AFL is 111.91 USD with a low forecast of 101 USD and a high forecast of 125 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
Wall Street analysts forecast AFL stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for AFL is 111.91 USD with a low forecast of 101 USD and a high forecast of 125 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
Current: 108.380
Current: 108.380
