Value investing can be tough. It means thinking in a contrarian manner, while the investing herd stampedes in another direction. Value opportunities usually occur when something is going wrong for a company. Recognizing a headwind that is temporary or fixable, especially when it affects an otherwise healthy company, is what value investors dream of. Aflac, Inc. (NYSE: AFL) is a specialty insurer that offers disability and supplemental medical insurance products in the United States and Japan. Although famous for a talking duck mascot, this is a spectacularly run company. Aflac has raised its dividend for 33 consecutive years, making it… Read More
Value investing can be tough. It means thinking in a contrarian manner, while the investing herd stampedes in another direction. Value opportunities usually occur when something is going wrong for a company. Recognizing a headwind that is temporary or fixable, especially when it affects an otherwise healthy company, is what value investors dream of. Aflac, Inc. (NYSE: AFL) is a specialty insurer that offers disability and supplemental medical insurance products in the United States and Japan. Although famous for a talking duck mascot, this is a spectacularly run company. Aflac has raised its dividend for 33 consecutive years, making it a member of the “Dividend Aristocrats.” In each of the past 10 years, even during the financial crisis of 2008, it has achieved a 15% or better return on equity. This company controls a very specific niche in the market and is the undisputed leader in supplemental insurance products. Despite the fact that it’s headquartered here in the United States, most of Aflac’s business comes from Japan. In 2014, Japanese operations accounted for more than 70% of Aflac’s revenue. In Japan, the company is performing well, consistently adding policies and growing premium income year in and… Read More