Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Given Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) have been assigned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twelve brokerages that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and seven have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $66.09.

A number of brokerages have weighed in on UNM. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Unum Group from $65.00 to $63.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 3rd. UBS Group upgraded shares of Unum Group to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Citigroup boosted their price target on Unum Group from $62.00 to $69.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Unum Group from $69.00 to $71.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, October 10th. Finally, Evercore ISI lifted their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $59.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th.

Unum Group Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of UNM stock opened at $69.42 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a current ratio of 0.28. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $60.26 and a 200 day moving average price of $55.23. Unum Group has a fifty-two week low of $41.86 and a fifty-two week high of $70.40.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.10 by $0.03. Unum Group had a net margin of 13.76% and a return on equity of 15.21%. The company had revenue of $3.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.26 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.94 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Unum Group will post 8.52 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 25th will be issued a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 25th. Unum Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 18.18%.

Unum Group declared that its board has authorized a share buyback program on Tuesday, July 30th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to purchase up to 10% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often an indication that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Timothy Gerald Arnold sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.11, for a total value of $541,100.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 64,821 shares in the company, valued at $3,507,464.31. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, EVP Timothy Gerald Arnold sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.11, for a total value of $541,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 64,821 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,507,464.31. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CAO Walter Lynn Rice, Jr. sold 1,500 shares of Unum Group stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $69.56, for a total value of $104,340.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 8,361 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $581,591.16. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 87,545 shares of company stock worth $4,921,174 in the last 90 days. 0.93% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Unum Group

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNM. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its position in Unum Group by 361.5% during the second quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 503 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 394 shares in the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Unum Group during the second quarter valued at $26,000. 1620 Investment Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Unum Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $29,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in Unum Group during the 3rd quarter worth about $31,000. Finally, Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. acquired a new position in Unum Group in the 3rd quarter valued at about $37,000. 86.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Unum Group

Unum Group, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial protection benefit solutions primarily in the United States, the United Kingdom, Poland, and internationally. It operates through Unum US, Unum International, Colonial Life, and Closed Block segment. The company offers group long-term and short-term disability, group life, and accidental death and dismemberment products; supplemental and voluntary products, such as individual disability, voluntary benefits, and dental and vision products; and accident, sickness, disability, life, and cancer and critical illness products.