Brokerages Set Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Target Price at $76.75

Shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) have been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the twelve brokerages that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $79.00.

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on UNM shares. BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on shares of Unum Group in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $91.00 target price for the company. UBS Group upgraded shares of Unum Group to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on shares of Unum Group from $91.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued 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. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Unum Group from $74.00 to $81.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th.

Insider Activity at Unum Group

In related news, CAO Walter Lynn Rice, Jr. sold 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on 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 of the company’s stock, valued at $581,591.16. This trade represents a 15.21 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Christopher W. Pyne sold 3,250 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.02, for a total value of $227,565.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 50,762 shares in the company, valued at $3,554,355.24. This represents a 6.02 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 102,914 shares of company stock valued at $7,677,945 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.93% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Unum Group

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Barrett & Company Inc. grew its stake in shares of Unum Group by 300.0% in the fourth quarter. Barrett & Company Inc. now owns 396 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 297 shares during the last quarter. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in shares of Unum Group in the 3rd quarter valued at about $31,000. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Unum Group in the third quarter valued at about $37,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Unum Group during the fourth quarter worth about $38,000. Finally, V Square Quantitative Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of 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 worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 194 shares during the period. 86.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Unum Group Trading Down 1.0 %

Shares of UNM stock opened at $76.25 on Friday. Unum Group has a 12-month low of $46.39 and a 12-month high of $77.69. The company has a market capitalization of $13.92 billion, a PE ratio of 8.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 0.81. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $74.23 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $64.52. The company has a quick ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.13 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 business had revenue of $3.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.26 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.94 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that Unum Group will post 8.54 earnings per share for the current year.

Unum Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 24th will be paid a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 24th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.20%. Unum Group’s payout ratio is currently 18.18%.

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.