Unum Group $UNM Stock Position Raised by Advisory Services Network LLC

Advisory Services Network LLC raised its position in shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) by 27.0% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 48,859 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after buying an additional 10,379 shares during the quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC’s holdings in Unum Group were worth $3,946,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of UNM. Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A. purchased a new position in Unum Group in the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC bought a new position in Unum Group in the 1st quarter worth approximately $30,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new position in Unum Group during the 2nd quarter valued at $30,000. Atwood & Palmer Inc. raised its position in shares of Unum Group by 100.0% during the second quarter. Atwood & Palmer Inc. now owns 400 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hantz Financial Services Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Unum Group by 1,123.4% in the second quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 575 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 528 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.57% of the company’s stock.

Unum Group Stock Performance

Unum Group stock opened at $77.50 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.11, a P/E/G ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 0.20. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $75.80 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $76.07. Unum Group has a 52-week low of $66.81 and a 52-week high of $84.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.36 and a quick ratio of 0.36.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last issued its earnings results on Monday, November 3rd. The financial services provider reported $2.09 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.15 by ($0.06). The firm had revenue of $3.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.31 billion. Unum Group had a net margin of 6.99% and a return on equity of 13.09%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.13 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Unum Group will post 9.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Unum Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 24th were issued a dividend of $0.46 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 24th. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. Unum Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 35.87%.

Unum Group announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program on Thursday, December 4th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to reacquire up to 8.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on UNM shares. Evercore ISI boosted their price target on Unum Group from $96.00 to $99.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Unum Group from $100.00 to $98.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Unum Group in a research note on Monday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Unum Group from $94.00 to $92.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 4th. Finally, Wolfe Research raised shares of Unum Group to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 16th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $94.91.

Insider Transactions at Unum Group

In other Unum Group news, EVP Steven Andrew Zabel sold 7,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.38, for a total value of $572,850.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 113,807 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,692,578.66. The trade was a 6.18% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Christopher W. Pyne sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $78.04, for a total value of $312,160.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 51,372 shares in the company, valued at $4,009,070.88. The trade was a 7.22% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 12,400 shares of company stock valued at $951,160. Corporate insiders own 0.93% of the company’s stock.

Unum Group Profile

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.