Van ECK Associates Corp Boosts Position in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Free Report) by 22.1% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 131,933 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 23,857 shares during the quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp owned about 0.07% of Unum Group worth $9,635,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Global Retirement Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Unum Group by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 8,292 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $493,000 after acquiring an additional 224 shares during the period. Bleakley Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in Unum Group by 8.0% during the 3rd quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 6,809 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $405,000 after acquiring an additional 502 shares during the period. V Square Quantitative Management LLC boosted its holdings in Unum Group by 38.2% during the 3rd quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 702 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $42,000 after acquiring an additional 194 shares during the period. Net Worth Advisory Group purchased a new position in Unum Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $316,000. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in Unum Group by 135.5% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 11,448 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $680,000 after acquiring an additional 6,587 shares during the period. 86.57% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently commented on UNM. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a "neutral" rating and set a $79.00 target price (up from $74.00) on shares of Unum Group in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on Unum Group in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $91.00 price target on the stock. Barclays increased their price target on Unum Group from $76.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Unum Group from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Evercore ISI raised Unum Group from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and increased their price target for the company from $67.00 to $84.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Unum Group currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $81.17.

Unum Group Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE UNM traded down $0.19 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $74.75. 1,073,420 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,127,582. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.29 and a quick ratio of 0.28. Unum Group has a twelve month low of $48.38 and a twelve month high of $79.43. The company has a market cap of $13.65 billion, a PE ratio of 7.89, a P/E/G ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 0.80. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $74.25 and its 200-day simple moving average is $66.55.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $2.03 earnings per share (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%. Research analysts predict that Unum Group will post 9.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Investors of record on Friday, January 24th were paid a dividend of $0.42 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 24th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.25%. Unum Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 17.74%.

Unum Group declared that its board has initiated a share buyback plan on Tuesday, February 18th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the financial services provider to reacquire up to 7.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically an indication that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Timothy Gerald Arnold sold 10,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 27th. The stock was 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 of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,217,292.84. The trade was a 15.43 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.93% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Unum Group 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.