Unum Group $UNM Shares Sold by Franklin Resources Inc.

Franklin Resources Inc. lessened its position in shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) by 5.4% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 729,635 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 41,696 shares during the quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. owned about 0.43% of Unum Group worth $58,925,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A. acquired a new stake in shares of Unum Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC purchased a new stake in Unum Group in the 1st quarter valued at $30,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in Unum Group during the 2nd quarter worth $30,000. Atwood & Palmer Inc. grew its position in Unum Group by 100.0% during the 2nd quarter. Atwood & Palmer Inc. now owns 400 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Finally, N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC purchased a new position in Unum Group during the 1st quarter worth $35,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.57% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Steven Andrew Zabel sold 7,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.38, for a total transaction of $572,850.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 113,807 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,692,578.66. This represents a 6.18% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Christopher W. Pyne sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $78.04, for a total transaction of $312,160.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 51,372 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,009,070.88. The trade was a 7.22% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders own 0.92% of the company’s stock.

Unum Group Stock Performance

Shares of UNM opened at $75.61 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $12.65 billion, a PE ratio of 9.04, a P/E/G ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 0.37. The company has a quick ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 0.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $76.40 and a 200-day simple moving average of $76.70. Unum Group has a 52-week low of $66.81 and a 52-week high of $84.48.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last posted its earnings results on Monday, November 3rd. The financial services provider reported $2.09 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.15 by ($0.06). The firm had revenue of $3.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.31 billion. Unum Group had a return on equity of 13.44% and a net margin of 11.77%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.13 earnings per share. Unum Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Unum Group will post 9.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Unum Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 14th. Investors of record on Friday, October 24th were given a dividend of $0.46 per share. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, October 24th. Unum Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 35.87%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on UNM shares. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Unum Group from $100.00 to $98.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Barclays upped their price objective on Unum Group from $92.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Unum Group in a research report on Wednesday, November 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Unum Group from $94.00 to $92.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 4th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Unum Group from $79.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $94.67.

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.