StockNews.com Downgrades Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) to Hold

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) was downgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday.

Other research analysts have also issued reports about the company. Barclays raised their price objective 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 raised their price objective 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. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on Unum Group in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $91.00 price objective on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on Unum Group from $91.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Finally, Evercore ISI raised Unum Group from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $67.00 to $84.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $81.17.

Unum Group Trading Up 2.2 %

Shares of UNM opened at $76.43 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.80. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $74.38 and its 200 day simple moving average is $67.26. Unum Group has a twelve month low of $48.38 and a twelve month high of $79.43.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $2.03 earnings per share 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 forecast that Unum Group will post 9.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Unum Group declared that its board has approved a share buyback program on Tuesday, February 18th that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the financial services provider to repurchase up to 7.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are typically a sign that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Unum Group

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Barrett & Company Inc. boosted its stake in Unum Group by 300.0% in the fourth quarter. Barrett & Company Inc. now owns 396 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 297 shares during the period. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Unum Group in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new position in Unum Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Millstone Evans Group LLC acquired a new position in Unum Group in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $45,000. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its stake in Unum Group by 26.4% in the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 766 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $56,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares during the period. 86.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.