Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Given Average Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

Shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) have earned a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from the fourteen ratings firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $86.62.

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on UNM. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $91.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a "neutral" rating and set a $79.00 price objective (up from $74.00) on shares of Unum Group in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Unum Group from $76.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Raymond James raised shares of Unum Group from a "market perform" rating to a "strong-buy" rating and set a $108.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. Finally, Piper Sandler raised their target price on Unum Group from $82.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th.

Unum Group Stock Performance

NYSE UNM traded up $0.93 on Friday, reaching $81.81. The stock had a trading volume of 715,824 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,283,989. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.29 and a quick ratio of 0.28. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $76.40 and a two-hundred day moving average of $69.91. Unum Group has a 1-year low of $48.38 and a 1-year high of $83.96. The company has a market cap of $14.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.74.

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Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $2.03 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%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Unum Group will post 9.14 EPS for the current year.

Unum Group announced that its Board of Directors 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 purchase up to 7.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually an indication that the company's board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Unum Group Announces Dividend

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 2.05%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 24th. Unum Group's dividend payout ratio is 17.74%.

Insider Activity

In related news, 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 transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 980,637 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $80,402,427.63. The trade was a 4.85 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Lisa G. Iglesias sold 7,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was 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 directly owns 31,284 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,588,751. The trade was a 18.28 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.93% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Unum Group

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of UNM. 111 Capital purchased a new stake in Unum Group during the fourth quarter valued at about $219,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in Unum Group by 13.9% in the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 39,826 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $2,909,000 after acquiring an additional 4,859 shares during the last quarter. Total Wealth Planning & Management Inc. bought a new position in Unum Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $2,189,000. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Unum Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $4,166,000. Finally, Sculati Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Unum Group by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Sculati Wealth Management LLC now owns 38,901 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $2,841,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.57% 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.