Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Now Covered by Analysts at BMO Capital Markets

BMO Capital Markets started coverage on shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) in a research report released on Thursday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The brokerage issued an outperform rating and a $91.00 price target on the financial services provider’s stock.

A number of other brokerages also recently commented on UNM. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Unum Group from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. UBS Group upgraded Unum Group to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Unum Group from $74.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Bank of America upped their price target on Unum Group from $54.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Finally, Evercore ISI raised Unum Group from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $67.00 to $84.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $76.75.

Unum Group Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of Unum Group stock opened at $75.54 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.28 and a quick ratio of 0.28. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $73.86 and its 200-day simple moving average is $63.41. The stock has a market cap of $13.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.18, a P/E/G ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 0.81. Unum Group has a 1-year low of $46.39 and a 1-year high of $77.63.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.10 by $0.03. Unum Group had a return on equity of 15.21% and a net margin of 13.76%. The company had revenue of $3.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.26 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.94 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Unum Group will post 8.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Unum Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 14th. Investors of record on Friday, January 24th will be issued a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.22%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 24th. Unum Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 18.18%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Unum Group news, CAO Walter Lynn Rice, Jr. sold 1,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $69.56, for a total transaction of $104,340.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 8,361 shares in the company, valued at $581,591.16. This represents a 15.21 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Elizabeth Claire Ahmed sold 5,000 shares of Unum Group stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.16, for a total value of $320,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 58,741 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,768,822.56. The trade was a 7.84 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 107,914 shares of company stock valued at $7,998,745 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.93% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Unum Group

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Unum Group in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. purchased a new position in Unum Group in the third quarter valued at $37,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC raised its stake in Unum Group by 38.2% in the third quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 702 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 194 shares in the last quarter. William B. Walkup & Associates Inc. purchased a new stake in Unum Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $44,000. Finally, Quarry LP boosted its position in shares of Unum Group by 4,794.7% during the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 930 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $55,000 after acquiring an additional 911 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.57% of the company’s stock.

Unum Group Company 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.