Highlighted stocks include AFLAC Incorporated (...

As one of the states with the largest manufacturing industries in the country, it is no mystery as to why Georgia ranks as one of the top consumers of energy. Some interesting facts on what is the world 28th largest economy follow:1. The travel industry contributes around $20 billion a year to the state economy.2. Georgia’s bioscience industry generates 15,000 jobs.3. Over 250 bioscience companies are headquartered in the state.4. The Georgia paper industry is second only to Alabama, and it employs 26,000 workers.5. The state has the largest commercial forest in the country, which produce over $19 billion in revenue and employ more than 150,000 people.6. The food processing industry generates more than 70,000 jobs, and produces sales receipt of over $16 billion a year.7. The largest manufacturing employer is the textile-carpet industry which employs over ...

AFLAC Incorporated (AFL) is a leading underwriter of supplemental medical insurance products in the United States and Japan. In the U.S., the company markets and administers its products primarily through its subsidiary, American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus, and holds the leading share of supplemental health policies sold at the policyholders worksites.

Although it is a U.S. based-company, AFL derived nearly 71% of its $15.4 billion 2007 revenue from its Japanese operations (AFLAC Japan) and the rest from its domestic operations. We remain encouraged by the outlook for AFL's Japan operations, as sales through the new channels (Banks and Japan Post network) are expected to gather momentum this year.

After reviewing 2Q08 results, we are maintaining our FY08 and FY09 estimates and our Hold rating on the shares of AFL, with a six-month target price of $62.00 per share. The shares are currently trading at a price-to-book multiple

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