Picton Mahoney Asset Management Invests $8.82 Million in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

Picton Mahoney Asset Management purchased a new position in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 120,733 shares of the financial services provider's stock, valued at approximately $8,816,000. Picton Mahoney Asset Management owned 0.07% of Unum Group at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in UNM. Allianz Asset Management GmbH boosted its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 44.9% in 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 acquiring an additional 392,191 shares during the period. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Unum Group by 151.7% in the third quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 509,702 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $30,297,000 after buying an additional 307,175 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Unum Group by 23.3% in the fourth quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,462,917 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $106,837,000 after buying an additional 276,655 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Unum Group in the fourth quarter worth $19,617,000. Finally, Proficio Capital Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Unum Group in the fourth quarter worth $11,456,000. 86.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Lisa G. Iglesias sold 7,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated 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 directly owns 31,284 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,588,751. This trade represents a 18.28 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 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 value of $4,099,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 980,637 shares in the company, valued at $80,402,427.63. The trade was a 4.85 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.93% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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Unum Group Trading Up 0.8 %

Shares of NYSE:UNM traded up $0.63 on Wednesday, reaching $81.51. 1,841,300 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,145,308. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $76.40 and its 200 day simple moving average is $69.91. Unum Group has a 52 week low of $48.38 and a 52 week high of $83.96. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.74. 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 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%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Unum Group will post 9.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Investors of record on Friday, January 24th were paid a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 24th. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.06%. Unum Group's payout ratio is presently 17.74%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Unum Group from $81.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Raymond James upgraded Unum Group from a "market perform" rating to a "strong-buy" rating and set a $108.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. StockNews.com downgraded Unum Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, March 7th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on Unum Group from $95.00 to $102.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Unum Group from $80.00 to $84.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Unum Group currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $86.62.

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.