Aflac 2nd-qtr earnings match expectations

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Aflac Inc (AFL.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), the world's largest seller of supplemental disability insurance, said on Wednesday that operating income rose nearly 20 percent, and warned it may have trouble meeting sales growth targets this year.

Shares fell nearly 4 percent in extended trading, after closing a fraction of a percent lower in normal trading at $60.32.

Aflac said the year got off to a slow start in the United States, adding that business fell in Japan during the second quarter.

Chief Executive Daniel Amos said "it will clearly be difficult" to meet a minimum sales target of 8 percent growth and did not rule out the current state of the U.S. economy contributing to slower future sales growth.

Operating income, which excludes investment gains or losses and a measure commonly used by analysts, rose to $487 million, or $1.01 a share. The result was in line with analyst expectations, according to Reuters Estimates.

In the year-ago period, Aflac reported operating income of $407 million, or 82 cents a share.

Net income in the quarter rose 16 percent to $483 million, or $1 a share, from $415 million, or 84 cents a share, a year earlier.

Aflac maintained its target of an increase of 14 percent to 15 percent in operating earnings, excluding the impact of foreign currency.

Revenue in the period rose about 15 percent to $4.3 billion, helped by a stronger Japanese yen to the dollar. Aflac counts Japan as significant area of its business.