Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund Purchases Shares of 9,248 Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund purchased a new stake in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 9,248 shares of the financial services provider's stock, valued at approximately $675,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of UNM. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Unum Group by 151.7% in the 3rd quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 509,702 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $30,297,000 after purchasing an additional 307,175 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 50.0% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 469,342 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $29,554,000 after acquiring an additional 156,380 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 5,844.0% during the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 101,048 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $6,006,000 after acquiring an additional 99,348 shares during the period. Algert Global LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 69.5% during the 3rd quarter. Algert Global LLC now owns 236,264 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $14,044,000 after acquiring an additional 96,916 shares during the period. Finally, Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Unum Group during the 3rd quarter worth about $5,021,000. 86.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective 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. Piper Sandler lifted their price target on shares of Unum Group from $82.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Unum Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Unum Group presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $81.17.

Unum Group Price Performance

UNM traded down $0.78 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $74.01. The company had a trading volume of 581,921 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,110,686. 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 company has a market capitalization of $13.52 billion, a PE ratio of 7.81, a P/E/G ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.80. Unum Group has a twelve month low of $48.38 and a twelve month high of $79.43. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $74.28 and its 200-day simple moving average is $66.61.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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%. Equities research analysts predict that Unum Group will post 9.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Unum Group Dividend Announcement

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

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

Insider Buying and Selling at Unum Group

In other news, EVP Timothy Gerald Arnold sold 10,000 shares of Unum Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.92, for a total transaction of $769,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 54,827 shares in the company, valued at $4,217,292.84. The trade was a 15.43 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 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.