Bailard Inc. Makes New Investment in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

Bailard Inc. purchased a new stake in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 13,196 shares of the financial services provider's stock, valued at approximately $1,075,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Brighton Jones LLC bought a new position in Unum Group during the fourth quarter worth $247,000. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. boosted its stake in Unum Group by 3.6% during the fourth quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 9,226 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $674,000 after acquiring an additional 324 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC boosted its stake in Unum Group by 5.6% during the fourth quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 43,802 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $3,199,000 after acquiring an additional 2,311 shares in the last quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Unum Group by 4.0% during the fourth quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 29,957 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $2,188,000 after acquiring an additional 1,162 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. boosted its stake in Unum Group by 18.6% during the fourth quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 5,486 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $401,000 after acquiring an additional 860 shares in the last quarter. 86.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Unum Group Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of UNM stock traded up $0.08 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $81.09. 739,647 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,330,089. The company has a current ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 0.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. Unum Group has a 1 year low of $51.80 and a 1 year high of $84.48. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $80.36 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $78.18. The stock has a market cap of $14.14 billion, a PE ratio of 9.55, a PEG ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 0.41.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) last announced its 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 net margin of 12.31% and a return on equity of 14.17%. The business had revenue of $3.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.34 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.12 EPS. The company's quarterly revenue was down 3.4% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that Unum Group will post 9.14 EPS for the current year.

Unum Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 25th will be paid a $0.46 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 25th. This is an increase from Unum Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.27%. Unum Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 19.79%.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Elizabeth Claire Ahmed sold 10,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.00, for a total transaction of $800,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 51,170 shares in the company, valued at $4,093,600. This trade represents a 16.35% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.92% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have weighed in on UNM shares. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $97.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $88.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, July 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Unum Group from $87.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Barclays set a $96.00 target price on shares of Unum Group and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, July 7th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $103.00 to $102.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Unum Group has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $90.14.

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.