Ensign Peak Advisors Inc Boosts Stake in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

Ensign Peak Advisors Inc increased its position in shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Free Report) by 14.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 75,368 shares of the financial services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 9,662 shares during the quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc's holdings in Unum Group were worth $5,504,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of UNM. Ethic Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 11.4% in the fourth quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 22,505 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,644,000 after buying an additional 2,305 shares during the last quarter. FORA Capital LLC purchased a new position in Unum Group in the 4th quarter worth $2,969,000. Deutsche Bank AG raised its stake in Unum Group by 258.5% in the 4th quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 287,218 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $20,976,000 after acquiring an additional 207,110 shares during the last quarter. Concentric Capital Strategies LP acquired a new stake in Unum Group during the 4th quarter worth about $1,717,000. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its position in Unum Group by 6.0% during the 4th quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 36,967 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $2,700,000 after acquiring an additional 2,105 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.57% of the company's stock.

Unum Group Stock Performance

NYSE UNM traded up $1.30 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $82.07. 1,308,830 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,314,821. The business's 50 day moving average is $78.56 and its 200-day moving average is $75.70. Unum Group has a 1 year low of $48.38 and a 1 year high of $84.48. The company has a market capitalization of $14.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.67, a P/E/G ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a current ratio of 0.29.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.19 by ($0.15). Unum Group had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 13.81%. The firm had revenue of $3.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.34 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.12 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was down 3.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Unum Group will post 9.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 25th will be paid a dividend of $0.42 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 25th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.05%. Unum Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 19.79%.

Unum Group announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Tuesday, February 18th that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the financial services provider to purchase up to 7.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are usually a sign that the company's board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNM has been the subject of a number of research reports. UBS Group lifted their price target on Unum Group from $75.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Unum Group from $95.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $103.00 to $102.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $81.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on shares of Unum Group from $95.00 to $102.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $88.50.

Insider Transactions at Unum Group

In other news, EVP Elizabeth Claire Ahmed sold 10,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.00, for a total value of $800,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 51,170 shares in the company, valued at $4,093,600. This trade represents a 16.35% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Lisa G. Iglesias sold 7,000 shares of Unum Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.75, for a total value of $579,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 31,284 shares in the company, valued at $2,588,751. This represents a 18.28% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 67,000 shares of company stock valued at $5,478,750 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.92% 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.