Blue Trust Inc. Has $264,000 Holdings in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

Blue Trust Inc. cut its holdings in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) by 68.4% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 3,618 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 7,830 shares during the quarter. Blue Trust Inc.’s holdings in Unum Group were worth $264,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of UNM. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 151.7% during the third quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 509,702 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $30,297,000 after acquiring an additional 307,175 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 50.0% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 469,342 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $29,554,000 after acquiring an additional 156,380 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 5,844.0% during the third quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 101,048 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $6,006,000 after acquiring an additional 99,348 shares in the last quarter. Algert Global LLC increased its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 69.5% during the third quarter. Algert Global LLC now owns 236,264 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $14,044,000 after acquiring an additional 96,916 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Unum Group during the third quarter valued at approximately $5,021,000. Institutional investors own 86.57% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages recently issued reports on UNM. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on Unum Group from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Unum Group from $74.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Truist Financial upped their price target on Unum Group from $70.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on Unum Group from $91.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets began coverage on Unum Group in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. They set an “outperform” rating and a $91.00 price target for the company. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Unum Group has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $80.33.

Unum Group Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE UNM opened at $73.98 on Wednesday. Unum Group has a one year low of $48.38 and a one year high of $79.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.29 and a quick ratio of 0.28. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $74.19 and its 200-day moving average price is $66.35. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.51 billion, a PE ratio of 7.81, a P/E/G ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 0.80.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $2.03 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.14 by ($0.11). Unum Group had a net margin of 13.81% and a return on equity of 14.91%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Unum Group will post 9.12 EPS for the current year.

Unum Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 24th were given a dividend of $0.42 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 24th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.27%. Unum Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 17.74%.

Unum Group announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase program on Tuesday, February 18th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to buy up to 7.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often a sign that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Gloria C. Larson sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.50, for a total transaction of $745,000.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 121,491 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $9,051,079.50. This represents a 7.61 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 58,865 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.39, for a total value of $4,437,832.35. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,007,003 shares in the company, valued at $75,917,956.17. This trade represents a 5.52 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 78,865 shares of company stock valued at $5,952,032 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.93% of the company’s stock.

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.