BMO Capital Markets Raises Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Price Target to $102.00

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) had its price target upped by stock analysts at BMO Capital Markets from $95.00 to $102.00 in a research report issued on Monday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an "outperform" rating on the financial services provider's stock. BMO Capital Markets' price objective would suggest a potential upside of 28.32% from the company's previous close.

UNM has been the topic of a number of other reports. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on Unum Group from $91.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Unum Group from $80.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on shares of Unum Group from $90.00 to $103.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $79.00 price objective (up previously from $74.00) on shares of Unum Group in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Unum Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, February 24th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $86.62.

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Unum Group Trading Down 2.2 %

Shares of UNM traded down $1.77 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $79.49. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,279,665 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,149,886. Unum Group has a 52 week low of $48.38 and a 52 week high of $83.96. The stock has a market cap of $14.52 billion, a PE ratio of 8.39, a P/E/G ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.80. The company's fifty day moving average price is $75.36 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $68.27. The company has a current ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) last posted 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 return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 13.81%. On average, analysts predict that Unum Group will post 9.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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

Insider Buying and Selling at Unum Group

In related news, EVP Lisa G. Iglesias sold 7,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.75, for a total value of $579,250.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 31,284 shares in the company, valued at $2,588,751. This represents a 18.28 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 50,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $81.99, for a total value of $4,099,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 980,637 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $80,402,427.63. This trade represents 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.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Unum Group

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of UNM. Barrett & Company Inc. raised its position in shares of Unum Group by 300.0% in the 4th quarter. Barrett & Company Inc. now owns 396 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 297 shares during the last quarter. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in Unum Group in the third quarter worth about $31,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Unum Group in the fourth quarter worth approximately $38,000. Millstone Evans Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Unum Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $45,000. Finally, Quarry LP increased its position 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 acquiring an additional 911 shares in the last quarter. 86.57% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Unum Group Company 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.