Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Stock Holdings Boosted by Cetera Investment Advisers

Key Points

• Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in Unum Group by 69.1%, owning 62,495 shares valued at approximately $5.09 million as of the latest SEC filing.
• Despite a revenue increase of 4% year-over-year, Unum Group missed earnings expectations with an EPS of $2.07, below the anticipated $2.23.
• Unum Group announced a quarterly dividend hike from $0.42 to $0.46, representing a yield of 2.6%, with a low payout ratio of 22.01%.

Cetera Investment Advisers grew its holdings in shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Free Report) by 69.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 62,495 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 25,528 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers' holdings in Unum Group were worth $5,091,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. purchased a new position in shares of Unum Group during the fourth quarter worth approximately $113,962,000. Zurich Insurance Group Ltd FI acquired a new stake in Unum Group in the fourth quarter valued at $105,199,000. Freestone Grove Partners LP acquired a new position in Unum Group during the fourth quarter worth about $65,096,000. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. purchased a new stake in Unum Group during the fourth quarter worth $59,561,000. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its position in Unum Group by 228.6% during the first quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 1,033,700 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $84,205,000 after purchasing an additional 719,152 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.57% of the company's stock.

Unum Group Stock Up 0.4%

UNM traded up $0.27 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $70.00. 1,659,634 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,444,180. Unum Group has a fifty-two week low of $51.80 and a fifty-two week high of $84.48. The company has a market cap of $11.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.37, a PEG ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 0.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 0.30 and a quick ratio of 0.30. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $79.71 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $78.54.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.07 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.23 by ($0.16). Unum Group had a net margin of 11.77% and a return on equity of 13.44%. The business had revenue of $3.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.35 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.16 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that Unum Group will post 9.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Unum Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 25th will be paid a dividend of $0.46 per share. 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.6%. Unum Group's payout ratio is currently 22.01%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently commented on UNM. UBS Group set a $87.00 price target on shares of Unum Group and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $95.00 target price (down from $100.00) on shares of Unum Group in a research note on Thursday. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Unum Group from $83.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday, July 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Unum Group from $87.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Finally, Evercore ISI decreased their target price on shares of Unum Group from $100.00 to $96.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $91.62.

Insider Transactions at Unum Group

In other Unum Group news, EVP Elizabeth Claire Ahmed sold 10,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.00, for a total transaction of $800,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 51,170 shares in the company, valued at $4,093,600. The trade was a 16.35% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.93% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.