Sterling Capital Management LLC Grows Stock Position in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

Sterling Capital Management LLC grew its position in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Free Report) by 15.7% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 27,466 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 3,724 shares during the period. Sterling Capital Management LLC's holdings in Unum Group were worth $2,006,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Unum Group by 8.4% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,497,586 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,496,939,000 after buying an additional 1,596,078 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Unum Group in the fourth quarter worth $1,003,918,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,552,252 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $405,481,000 after purchasing an additional 51,744 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in Unum Group by 23.3% during the fourth quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,462,917 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $106,837,000 after purchasing an additional 276,655 shares during the period. Finally, Allianz Asset Management GmbH boosted its holdings in 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 valued at $92,383,000 after purchasing an additional 392,191 shares during the last quarter. 86.57% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other Unum Group news, EVP Lisa G. Iglesias sold 7,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.75, for a total transaction of $579,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now 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 sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 50,000 shares of the business'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 transaction 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. This trade represents a 4.85 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.93% of the company's stock.

Unum Group Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of UNM stock traded up $0.17 on Friday, hitting $75.85. 1,131,954 shares of the stock traded hands, 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 stock has a market capitalization of $13.37 billion, a PE ratio of 8.01, a PEG ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.46. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $77.75 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $73.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a current ratio of 0.29.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) last announced 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%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Unum Group will post 9.14 EPS for the current year.

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

Unum Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 25th will be paid a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.21%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 25th. Unum Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17.74%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently commented on UNM shares. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Unum Group from $97.00 to $95.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 10th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their target price on shares of Unum Group from $103.00 to $102.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Raymond James raised shares of Unum Group from a "market perform" rating to a "strong-buy" rating and set a $108.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Unum Group from $75.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, Piper Sandler raised their target price on Unum Group from $87.00 to $92.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $88.36.

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.