Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Shares Sold by Swiss National Bank

Swiss National Bank lessened its holdings in shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) by 6.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 347,100 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 22,500 shares during the period. Swiss National Bank’s holdings in Unum Group were worth $25,349,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. raised its position in shares of Unum Group by 3.6% during the 4th quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 9,226 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $674,000 after acquiring an additional 324 shares in the last quarter. Moran Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Unum Group by 25.9% during the 4th quarter. Moran Wealth Management LLC now owns 16,259 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,187,000 after acquiring an additional 3,349 shares in the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank raised its position in shares of Unum Group by 8.5% during the 4th quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 45,267 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $3,306,000 after acquiring an additional 3,554 shares in the last quarter. Taika Capital LP acquired a new stake in shares of Unum Group during the 4th quarter worth about $369,000. Finally, Sowell Financial Services LLC raised its position in shares of Unum Group by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Sowell Financial Services LLC now owns 24,934 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,821,000 after acquiring an additional 689 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.57% of the company’s stock.

Unum Group Trading Up 3.7 %

Shares of UNM stock opened at $81.72 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Unum Group has a twelve month low of $48.38 and a twelve month high of $83.96. The company has a market capitalization of $14.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.74. The business’s 50 day moving average is $76.08 and its two-hundred day moving average is $69.55.

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

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Investors of record on Friday, January 24th were paid a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 24th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.06%. Unum Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17.74%.

Unum Group announced that its board has approved a share buyback program 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 purchase up to 7.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually an indication that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have commented on the company. Raymond James raised Unum Group from a “market perform” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and set a $108.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $79.00 price target (up previously from $74.00) on shares of Unum Group in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Barclays lifted their price target on Unum Group from $76.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target 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, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on Unum Group from $95.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $86.62.

Insider Activity at Unum Group

In related news, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 50,000 shares of Unum Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $81.99, for a total value of $4,099,500.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 980,637 shares in the company, valued at $80,402,427.63. The trade was a 4.85 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Lisa G. Iglesias sold 7,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.75, for a total value of $579,250.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 31,284 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,588,751. The trade was a 18.28 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.93% of the company’s stock.

Unum Group 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.