StockNews.com Upgrades Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) to "Buy"

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Friday morning.

Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Unum Group from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $79.00 target price (up from $74.00) on shares of Unum Group in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Unum Group from $74.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. 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 research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Finally, Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $82.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Unum Group presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $80.33.

Unum Group Price Performance

Shares of UNM stock traded down $1.02 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $74.42. 1,150,117 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,087,356. The company has a market capitalization of $13.59 billion, a PE ratio of 7.86, a PEG ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 0.80. Unum Group has a 12-month low of $48.28 and a 12-month high of $79.43. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $74.19 and its 200-day simple moving average is $66.35. The company has a current ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $2.03 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%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Unum Group will post 9.12 earnings per share for the current year.

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 24th were issued a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 24th. Unum Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17.74%.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Timothy Gerald Arnold sold 10,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.92, for a total value of $769,200.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 54,827 shares in the company, valued at $4,217,292.84. The trade was a 15.43 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 58,865 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.39, for a total transaction of $4,437,832.35. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,007,003 shares in the company, valued at approximately $75,917,956.17. The trade was a 5.52 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 83,865 shares of company stock worth $6,315,082. Corporate insiders own 0.93% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Unum Group

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Unum Group by 8.4% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,497,586 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,496,939,000 after purchasing an additional 1,596,078 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Unum Group in the 4th quarter worth about $1,003,918,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted 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 purchasing an additional 51,744 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp boosted its stake in Unum Group by 33.2% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,930,349 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $140,973,000 after purchasing an additional 480,926 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP boosted its stake in Unum Group by 15.4% in the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,708,452 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $124,768,000 after purchasing an additional 227,644 shares in the last quarter. 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.