Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Shares Sold by Swiss National Bank

Swiss National Bank reduced its position in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Free Report) by 1.9% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 369,600 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 7,100 shares during the period. Swiss National Bank owned 0.20% of Unum Group worth $21,969,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its stake in Unum Group by 361.5% in the 2nd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 503 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 394 shares in the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC acquired a new stake in Unum Group in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in Unum Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. 1620 Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Unum Group in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. acquired a new stake in Unum Group during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $37,000. 86.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Unum Group

In other news, CAO Walter Lynn Rice, Jr. sold 1,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $69.56, for a total transaction of $104,340.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 8,361 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $581,591.16. The trade was a 15.21 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Lisa G. Iglesias sold 5,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.61, for a total transaction of $363,050.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 35,840 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,602,342.40. The trade was a 12.24 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 165,709 shares of company stock valued at $10,956,914 over the last 90 days. 0.93% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Unum Group Price Performance

NYSE UNM traded up $0.40 on Friday, hitting $75.83. The company had a trading volume of 1,758,071 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,254,533. The company has a market capitalization of $13.85 billion, a PE ratio of 8.21, a PEG ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 0.76. The company's fifty day moving average price is $63.45 and its 200-day moving average price is $56.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.28 and a quick ratio of 0.28. Unum Group has a 12-month low of $41.97 and a 12-month high of $76.31.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.13 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.10 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $3.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.26 billion. Unum Group had a net margin of 13.76% and a return on equity of 15.21%. The firm's revenue was up 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.94 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Unum Group will post 8.53 earnings per share for the current year.

Unum Group declared that its board has approved a share buyback plan on Tuesday, July 30th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the financial services provider to reacquire up to 10% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically a sign that the company's board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 25th were issued a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.22%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 25th. Unum Group's payout ratio is 18.18%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have commented on the stock. Evercore ISI upgraded shares of Unum Group from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $67.00 to $84.00 in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $69.00 to $71.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $54.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, UBS Group raised shares of Unum Group to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $67.73.

About Unum Group

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.