15,788 Shares in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Purchased by Capital Fund Management S.A.

Capital Fund Management S.A. purchased a new stake in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 15,788 shares of the financial services provider's stock, valued at approximately $1,153,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Unum Group during the 4th quarter worth about $1,003,918,000. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Unum Group by 8.4% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,497,586 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,496,939,000 after buying an additional 1,596,078 shares during the period. Allianz Asset Management GmbH raised its stake in shares of Unum Group by 44.9% during the fourth quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 1,264,994 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $92,383,000 after buying an additional 392,191 shares during the last quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System lifted its holdings in Unum Group by 50.0% in the fourth quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 831,806 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $60,747,000 after buying an additional 277,401 shares during the period. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in Unum Group by 23.3% during the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,462,917 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $106,837,000 after acquiring an additional 276,655 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.57% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Unum Group

In other news, EVP Lisa G. Iglesias sold 7,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.75, for a total transaction of $579,250.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 31,284 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,588,751. This represents a 18.28 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 50,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $81.99, for a total transaction of $4,099,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 980,637 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $80,402,427.63. The trade was a 4.85 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.93% of the company's stock.

Unum Group Stock Performance

Shares of UNM traded up $0.17 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $75.85. The stock had a trading volume of 1,131,954 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,298,564. Unum Group has a 12 month low of $48.38 and a 12 month high of $84.48. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.37 billion, a PE ratio of 8.01, a PEG ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.29 and a quick ratio of 0.28. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $77.75 and a 200 day moving average price of $73.24.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $2.03 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.14 by ($0.11). Unum Group had a net margin of 13.81% and a return on equity of 14.91%. Analysts anticipate that Unum Group will post 9.14 EPS for the current year.

Unum Group declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase program on Tuesday, February 18th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the financial services provider to repurchase up to 7.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are typically an indication that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued.

Unum Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 25th will be issued a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.21%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 25th. Unum Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 17.74%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently issued reports on UNM. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price target on Unum Group from $103.00 to $102.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Unum Group from $81.00 to $87.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $85.00 to $89.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, April 11th. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of Unum Group from $95.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Unum Group from $97.00 to $95.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 10th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Unum Group has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $88.36.

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.