Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Receives $80.33 Consensus PT from Brokerages

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) has earned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the thirteen research firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and nine have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $81.17.

UNM has been the subject of several research reports. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Unum Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Piper Sandler lifted their price target 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. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Unum Group from $76.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Evercore ISI upgraded shares of Unum Group from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $67.00 to $84.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on shares of Unum Group in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $91.00 price target for the company.

Insider Buying and Selling at Unum Group

In other news, EVP Timothy Gerald Arnold sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.92, for a total transaction of $769,200.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 54,827 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,217,292.84. This represents a 15.43 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.93% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Unum Group

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Barrett & Company Inc. boosted its position in shares of Unum Group by 300.0% during the 4th quarter. Barrett & Company Inc. now owns 396 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 297 shares in the last quarter. Kestra Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Unum Group during the 4th quarter worth about $38,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new position in shares of Unum Group during the 3rd quarter worth about $31,000. Millstone Evans Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Unum Group during the 4th quarter worth about $45,000. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc raised its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 26.4% in the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 766 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $56,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.57% of the company’s stock.

Unum Group Trading Down 1.0 %

Shares of UNM stock opened at $74.07 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $74.28 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $66.75. The company has a quick ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 0.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The company has a market capitalization of $13.53 billion, a PE ratio of 7.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.80. Unum Group has a 12-month low of $48.38 and a 12-month high of $79.43.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last issued 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%. As a group, analysts predict that Unum Group will post 9.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 24th were given 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 2.27%. Unum Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 17.74%.

Unum Group announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share buyback plan on Tuesday, February 18th that permits the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the financial services provider to buy up to 7.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are typically a sign that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

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.