StockNews.com Downgrades Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) to Hold

StockNews.com cut shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note published on Thursday morning.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently commented on the company. Evercore ISI upgraded Unum Group from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and increased their price objective for the company from $67.00 to $84.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on Unum Group in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $91.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Unum Group from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $79.00 target price (up from $74.00) on shares of Unum Group in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Unum Group from $74.00 to $81.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $79.45.

Unum Group Price Performance

NYSE:UNM traded down $0.45 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $76.50. 945,045 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,116,058. The company has a current ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $74.23 and a 200 day moving average price of $65.49. Unum Group has a 1-year low of $47.65 and a 1-year high of $79.43. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.97 billion, a PE ratio of 8.08, a PEG ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 0.80.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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 return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 13.81%. Research analysts expect that Unum Group will post 9.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 24th will be paid a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.20%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 24th. Unum Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 17.74%.

Insider Transactions at Unum Group

In other news, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 58,865 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.39, for a total transaction of $4,437,832.35. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,007,003 shares in the company, valued at $75,917,956.17. This represents a 5.52 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Timothy Gerald Arnold sold 10,000 shares of Unum Group stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.92, for a total transaction of $769,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 54,827 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,217,292.84. The trade was a 15.43 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 98,164 shares of company stock valued at $7,346,040. 0.93% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Unum Group

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Unum Group by 18.6% during the 4th quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 5,486 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $401,000 after acquiring an additional 860 shares in the last quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Unum Group by 4.0% in the 4th quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 29,957 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $2,188,000 after purchasing an additional 1,162 shares during the last quarter. Picton Mahoney Asset Management bought a new stake in Unum Group during the fourth quarter worth approximately $8,816,000. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC grew its holdings in Unum Group by 5.6% during the fourth quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 43,802 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $3,199,000 after purchasing an additional 2,311 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vestcor Inc raised its position in shares of Unum Group by 4.0% in the fourth quarter. Vestcor Inc now owns 92,314 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $6,742,000 after purchasing an additional 3,586 shares during the period. 86.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.