Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Director Hanley Ronald P. O Sells 14,299 Shares

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Director Hanley Ronald P. O sold 14,299 shares of Unum Group stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.10, for a total transaction of $1,030,957.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 38,819 shares in the company, valued at $2,798,849.90. This trade represents a 26.92 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link.

Unum Group Stock Up 1.3 %

Shares of NYSE UNM opened at $73.20 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.28, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.37 billion, a PE ratio of 7.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 0.76. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $61.92 and its 200-day moving average is $55.89. Unum Group has a 1 year low of $41.86 and a 1 year high of $73.24.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.10 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $3.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates 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 was up 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.94 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Unum Group will post 8.53 EPS for the current year.

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 15th. Investors of record on Friday, October 25th were issued a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.30%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 25th. Unum Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 18.18%.

Unum Group announced that its board has authorized a stock buyback program on Tuesday, July 30th that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the financial services provider to repurchase up to 10% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are typically an indication that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently weighed in on UNM shares. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Unum Group from $69.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, October 10th. Truist Financial boosted their price target on shares of Unum Group from $70.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Unum Group from $65.00 to $63.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 3rd. UBS Group raised shares of Unum Group to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price objective on Unum Group from $72.00 to $74.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $67.73.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Unum Group

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in UNM. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its stake in Unum Group by 361.5% in the second quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 503 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 394 shares during the period. V Square Quantitative Management LLC bought a new position in Unum Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $26,000. 1620 Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Unum Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Unum Group during the third quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. bought a new stake in Unum Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $37,000. 86.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.