Invesco Ltd. Grows Holdings in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

Invesco Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Free Report) by 9.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 891,334 shares of the financial services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 78,833 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. owned about 0.49% of Unum Group worth $65,094,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Barrett & Company Inc. grew its holdings in Unum Group by 300.0% during the fourth 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 period. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Unum Group in the 4th quarter worth about $38,000. Millstone Evans Group LLC acquired a new stake in Unum Group during the fourth quarter worth approximately $45,000. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 26.4% during the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 766 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $56,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. grew its stake in Unum Group by 28.8% during the fourth quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 800 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $58,000 after buying an additional 179 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.57% of the company's stock.

Unum Group Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of UNM stock traded up $0.17 on Friday, hitting $75.85. The company had a trading volume of 1,131,954 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,298,564. Unum Group has a twelve month low of $48.38 and a twelve month high of $84.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a current ratio of 0.29. The firm has a market cap of $13.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.01, a P/E/G ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.46. The stock's 50-day moving average is $77.75 and its two-hundred day moving average is $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 (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates 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, equities research analysts anticipate that Unum Group will post 9.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared 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 dividend yield of 2.21%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 25th. Unum Group's payout ratio is 17.74%.

Unum Group declared that its board has initiated a share repurchase plan on Tuesday, February 18th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to buy up to 7.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are generally a sign that the company's board believes its shares are undervalued.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on UNM shares. Piper Sandler lifted their price target on Unum Group from $87.00 to $92.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Unum Group from $97.00 to $95.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 10th. StockNews.com cut shares of Unum Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, March 7th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price target on shares of Unum Group from $103.00 to $102.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $80.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. 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 company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $88.36.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 50,000 shares of Unum Group stock in a transaction 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 completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now 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 transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Lisa G. Iglesias sold 7,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.75, for a total transaction of $579,250.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 31,284 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,588,751. The trade was a 18.28 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.93% of the company's stock.

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.