Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Earns Outperform Rating from Analysts at BMO Capital Markets

BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) in a report issued on Thursday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The brokerage issued an outperform rating and a $91.00 target price on the financial services provider’s stock.

Several other research analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $79.00 price objective (up from $74.00) on shares of Unum Group in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on Unum Group from $91.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Evercore ISI raised Unum Group from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $67.00 to $84.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Bank of America boosted their target price on Unum Group from $54.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, October 10th. Finally, Barclays increased their price target on Unum Group from $76.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, January 6th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Unum Group currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $76.75.

Unum Group Stock Up 0.3 %

UNM opened at $75.54 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a current ratio of 0.28. Unum Group has a one year low of $46.39 and a one year high of $77.63. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $73.86 and its 200-day simple moving average is $63.41.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.13 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.10 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $3.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.26 billion. Unum Group had a return on equity of 15.21% and a net margin of 13.76%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.94 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Unum Group will post 8.54 EPS for the current year.

Unum Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 14th. Investors of record on Friday, January 24th will be paid a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.22%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 24th. Unum Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 18.18%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Elizabeth Claire Ahmed sold 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.16, for a total transaction of $320,800.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 58,741 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,768,822.56. The trade was a 7.84 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Walter Lynn Rice, Jr. sold 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $69.56, for a total value of $104,340.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 8,361 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $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. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 107,914 shares of company stock worth $7,998,745. 0.93% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Unum Group

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Unum Group in the third quarter valued at about $31,000. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. purchased a new stake in Unum Group in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $37,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC grew 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 buying an additional 194 shares during the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its position in Unum Group by 26.4% during the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 766 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $56,000 after buying an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. Finally, William B. Walkup & Associates Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Unum Group in the second quarter worth $44,000. 86.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Unum Group

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.