Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Shares Sold by Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio

Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio cut its holdings in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) by 9.6% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 82,746 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 8,781 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio’s holdings in Unum Group were worth $4,440,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Quadrature Capital Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Unum Group during the 1st quarter worth about $1,130,000. Boone Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 10.8% in the 4th quarter. Boone Capital Management LLC now owns 961,661 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $43,486,000 after buying an additional 94,096 shares in the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH boosted its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 3.6% in the 4th quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 950,914 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $43,000,000 after buying an additional 33,454 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP grew its position in shares of Unum Group by 43.0% in the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 973,480 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $44,021,000 after buying an additional 292,917 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Unum Group during the 4th quarter worth $590,489,000. 86.57% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Christopher W. Pyne sold 4,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.47, for a total transaction of $236,115.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 56,262 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,952,067.14. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, Director Timothy F. Keaney sold 8,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.61, for a total value of $420,880.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 37,505 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,973,138.05. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Christopher W. Pyne sold 4,500 shares of Unum Group stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.47, for a total value of $236,115.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 56,262 shares in the company, valued at $2,952,067.14. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.93% of the company’s stock.

Unum Group Trading Up 6.0 %

Shares of Unum Group stock opened at $57.55 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. The firm has a market cap of $10.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 0.81. Unum Group has a 52-week low of $41.75 and a 52-week high of $58.17. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $51.77 and its 200-day simple moving average is $50.88.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 30th. The financial services provider reported $2.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.02 by $0.14. Unum Group had a return on equity of 15.80% and a net margin of 10.40%. The business had revenue of $3.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.23 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.06 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Unum Group will post 8.25 earnings per share for the current year.

Unum Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 26th will be issued a dividend of $0.42 per share. This is a positive change from Unum Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 26th. Unum Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 24.96%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Unum Group from $64.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 11th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on Unum Group from $63.00 to $64.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 10th. Evercore ISI increased their price objective on Unum Group from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a report on Wednesday, June 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Unum Group from $64.00 to $65.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Piper Sandler initiated coverage on shares of Unum Group in a research note on Thursday, July 11th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $57.00 price target for the company. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $60.56.

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.