Bridgewater Associates LP Purchases 54,880 Shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

Bridgewater Associates LP raised its position in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Free Report) by 32.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 226,149 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 54,880 shares during the period. Bridgewater Associates LP owned approximately 0.12% of Unum Group worth $13,442,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its stake in Unum Group by 361.5% during 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 bought a new stake in shares of Unum Group during the second quarter worth $26,000. 1620 Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Unum Group during the second quarter worth $29,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in Unum Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. acquired a new position in Unum Group in the 3rd quarter worth $37,000. 86.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have issued reports on UNM. Barclays boosted their price target on Unum Group from $72.00 to $74.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $66.00 price target (up from $64.00) on shares of Unum Group in a research note on Friday, September 27th. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $70.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. UBS Group upgraded shares of Unum Group to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Finally, Evercore ISI upgraded shares of Unum Group from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and lifted their price target for the company from $67.00 to $84.00 in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $67.73.

Unum Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UNM traded down $0.17 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $76.90. 459,395 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,253,639. The company has a quick ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $14.04 billion, a PE ratio of 8.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 0.76. Unum Group has a 12 month low of $42.09 and a 12 month high of $77.63. The company's 50 day moving average price is $65.48 and its 200 day moving average price is $57.32.

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

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 25th were issued a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 25th. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.18%. Unum Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 18.18%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 67,795 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.98, for a total transaction of $3,727,369.10. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,065,868 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $58,601,422.64. This trade represents a 5.98 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CAO Walter Lynn Rice, Jr. sold 1,500 shares of Unum Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $69.56, for a total transaction of $104,340.00. Following the completion of the sale, 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 ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 165,709 shares of company stock worth $10,956,914 over the last three months. 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.