Retirement Systems of Alabama Has $28.61 Million Stake in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

Retirement Systems of Alabama trimmed its holdings in shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Free Report) by 6.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 481,316 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 30,504 shares during the period. Retirement Systems of Alabama owned about 0.26% of Unum Group worth $28,609,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNM. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Unum Group by 20.1% during the 2nd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 28,765 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,470,000 after acquiring an additional 4,823 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. acquired a new stake in Unum Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $219,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in Unum Group by 173.9% during the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 4,861 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $261,000 after buying an additional 3,086 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates lifted its stake in Unum Group by 10.9% during the second quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 194,978 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $9,965,000 after buying an additional 19,128 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nisa Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 1.2% in the second quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 41,807 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $2,137,000 after buying an additional 500 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.57% of the company's stock.

Unum Group Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of Unum Group stock traded up $0.23 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $73.83. 851,362 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,251,010. The company has a market cap of $13.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 0.79. Unum Group has a 52 week low of $43.26 and a 52 week high of $77.63. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $69.03 and its 200 day simple moving average is $59.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a current ratio of 0.28.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.13 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.10 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $3.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.26 billion. Unum Group had a return on equity of 15.21% and a net margin of 13.76%. The business's revenue was up 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.94 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that Unum Group will post 8.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 25th were given a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.28%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 25th. Unum Group's dividend payout ratio is 18.18%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Unum Group from $65.00 to $63.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 3rd. Barclays raised their target price on Unum Group from $72.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Bank of America lifted their price target on Unum Group from $54.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, October 10th. Evercore ISI raised Unum Group from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $67.00 to $84.00 in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Unum Group from $69.00 to $71.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Unum Group presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $70.64.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 58,865 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.39, for a total transaction of $4,437,832.35. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,007,003 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $75,917,956.17. The trade was a 5.52 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Christopher W. Pyne sold 3,250 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.02, for a total transaction of $227,565.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 50,762 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,554,355.24. The trade was a 6.02 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 107,914 shares of company stock valued at $7,998,745. 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.