Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Given New $103.00 Price Target at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) had its price target hoisted by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods from $90.00 to $103.00 in a report issued on Friday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the financial services provider’s stock.

Several other research analysts also recently commented on UNM. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Unum Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, February 24th. BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on shares of Unum Group in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They set an “outperform” rating and a $91.00 target price on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on shares of Unum Group from $91.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Piper Sandler increased their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $82.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, Evercore ISI upgraded shares of Unum Group from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating and increased their target price for the stock from $67.00 to $84.00 in a 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. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $83.92.

Unum Group Trading Up 0.7 %

Unum Group stock opened at $82.27 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a current ratio of 0.29. The firm has a market cap of $15.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.80. Unum Group has a 1 year low of $48.38 and a 1 year high of $83.96. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $74.73 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $67.43.

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

Unum Group announced that its board has authorized a share repurchase plan on Tuesday, February 18th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the financial services provider to repurchase up to 7.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are often an indication that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 24th were issued a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.04%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 24th. Unum Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 17.74%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Unum Group

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Unum Group by 5,844.0% in the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 101,048 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $6,006,000 after purchasing an additional 99,348 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 21.6% in the 3rd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 34,967 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $2,078,000 after buying an additional 6,202 shares during the last quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue lifted its holdings in Unum Group by 2.6% during the third quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 19,857 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,180,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Unum Group during the third quarter valued at about $281,000. Finally, First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. increased its position in shares of Unum Group by 26.7% during the third quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. now owns 9,082 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $540,000 after buying an additional 1,913 shares during the period. 86.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.