Blue Trust Inc. Decreases Stock Holdings in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

Blue Trust Inc. lessened its position in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Free Report) by 68.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 3,618 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 7,830 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc.'s holdings in Unum Group were worth $264,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Barrett & Company Inc. lifted its position in Unum Group by 300.0% in the 4th quarter. Barrett & Company Inc. now owns 396 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 297 shares in the last quarter. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in shares of Unum Group in the third quarter worth $31,000. Quarry LP lifted its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 4,794.7% during the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 930 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $55,000 after purchasing an additional 911 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 26.4% during the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 766 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $56,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Live Oak Investment Partners purchased a new stake in shares of Unum Group during the third quarter valued at $58,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.57% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other Unum Group news, EVP Timothy Gerald Arnold sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.92, for a total value of $769,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 54,827 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,217,292.84. This represents a 15.43 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.93% of the company's stock.

Unum Group Stock Performance

NYSE:UNM traded down $0.72 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $74.07. 1,204,077 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,129,832. The company has a quick ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 0.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $74.28 and its 200-day moving average price is $66.61. The firm has a market cap of $13.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.80. Unum Group has a one year low of $48.38 and a one year high of $79.43.

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

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

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 24th were given a dividend of $0.42 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 24th. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.27%. Unum Group's payout ratio is 17.74%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have issued reports on UNM. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Unum Group from $81.00 to $91.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday. BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on shares of Unum Group in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They set an "outperform" rating and a $91.00 price objective on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on shares of Unum Group from $91.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on shares of Unum Group from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Unum Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Unum Group has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $81.17.

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.