Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Reaches New 12-Month High - What's Next?

Shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $84.48 and last traded at $83.92, with a volume of 166517 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $83.34.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have issued reports on UNM shares. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of Unum Group from $91.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Unum Group from $95.00 to $102.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. StockNews.com cut Unum Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Raymond James raised 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. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on Unum Group from $90.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $86.62.

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Unum Group Trading Down 2.4 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a current ratio of 0.29. The company has a market capitalization of $14.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.44, a PEG ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.74. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $77.78 and its 200-day simple moving average is $71.20.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $2.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.14 by ($0.11). Unum Group had a net margin of 13.81% and a return on equity of 14.91%. Research analysts predict that Unum Group will post 9.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 24th were issued a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 24th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.10%. Unum Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 17.74%.

Unum Group announced that its board has authorized a share repurchase 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 generally a sign that the company's board believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Transactions at Unum Group

In other Unum Group news, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 50,000 shares of Unum Group stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $81.99, for a total value of $4,099,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly 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 transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed 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 value of $579,250.00. Following 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 ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.93% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Unum Group

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its stake in Unum Group by 50.0% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 469,342 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $29,554,000 after purchasing an additional 156,380 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Unum Group by 44.1% during the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 16,495 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,205,000 after buying an additional 5,047 shares during the period. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Unum Group during the third quarter valued at $1,074,000. Picton Mahoney Asset Management acquired a new position in shares of Unum Group in the 4th quarter valued at $8,816,000. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in Unum Group by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,552,252 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $405,481,000 after acquiring an additional 51,744 shares during the last quarter. 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.