Aflac Incorporated takes top honors in the Long-Term Investment Value category for the Insurance: Life and Health Industry in Fortune's annual list of the World's Most Admired Companies, marking 21 years of appearing on the prestigious roster. The company ranks No. 2 among its peers for innovation and is in the top three overall in the Insurance: Life and Health Industry. 

"I am extremely proud of the team at Aflac for continuously innovating across all areas of the business. The work they do every day centers around our mission of caring for policyholders, providing excellent returns for our shareholders and being there when it matters most – and that work is noticed around the world," said Aflac Incorporated Chairman and CEO Dan Amos. "We are honored to be included in this prestigious list; I congratulate the Aflac team for this important achievement and for elevating our global reputation among executives and analysts in the industry." 

Since 1990, when Dan Amos became CEO, Aflac Incorporated's stock has increased from 95 cents per share to its current value, exceeding $66 per share. In his 32nd year at the helm, Amos is the second-longest tenured CEO in the Fortune 200, and since then, the company's total shareholder return – including reinvested cash dividends – exceeded 10,381% as of the end of 2021. 

"We know a key to success is the balance of purpose and profit. Just as we are dedicated to caring for our policyholders, we also are committed to providing consistent value for our shareholders and are proud to have delivered 39 consecutive years of annual increases in common stock dividends," said Aflac Incorporated President and Chief Operating Officer Frederick Crawford. "Our strategy for growing the business involves doing right by our employees, our policyholders, and through proper governance, our investors – and it's an honor for this strategy to be recognized by some of the highest caliber analysts and executives around the world."

The World's Most Admired Companies list ranks the best-regarded companies in 52 industries. To determine the companies included on this list, Fortune's partner Korn Ferry asked executives, directors and analysts to rate enterprises in their own industry on nine criteria, from investment value and quality of management and products to social responsibility, innovation and ability to attract talent. A company's score must rank in the top half of its industry survey to be listed. Learn more about this list at www.fortune.com/worlds-most-admired-companies.