Dark Forest Capital Management LP Makes New Investment in Kemper Corporation $KMPR

Key Points

• Dark Forest Capital Management LP has invested approximately $4.80 million in Kemper Corporation, acquiring 71,786 shares, which represents about 0.11% ownership of the company.
• Analysts have varied opinions on Kemper, with ratings ranging from a "strong sell" by Zacks Research to a "buy" rating from Cowen, and an average target price set at $72.75.
• Kemper Corporation announced a quarterly dividend of $0.32 per share and initiated a share repurchase plan allowing the purchase of up to $500 million in outstanding shares, indicating confidence in the company's valuation.

Dark Forest Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in Kemper Corporation (NYSE:KMPR - Free Report) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 71,786 shares of the insurance provider's stock, valued at approximately $4,799,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP owned 0.11% of Kemper as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. CX Institutional purchased a new stake in Kemper during the first quarter worth $38,000. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its holdings in Kemper by 104.4% during the first quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 650 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $43,000 after buying an additional 332 shares during the period. CENTRAL TRUST Co purchased a new stake in Kemper during the first quarter worth $44,000. Bayforest Capital Ltd purchased a new stake in Kemper during the first quarter worth $44,000. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC lifted its holdings in Kemper by 197.5% during the fourth quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 717 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $48,000 after buying an additional 476 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.23% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Alberto J. Paracchini bought 500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 10th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $61.71 per share, for a total transaction of $30,855.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director owned 10,323 shares in the company, valued at approximately $637,032.33. This trade represents a 5.09% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Jason N. Gorevic bought 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 7th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $49.14 per share, with a total value of $98,280.00. Following the purchase, the director owned 22,072 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,084,618.08. This represents a 9.96% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have bought 8,000 shares of company stock valued at $432,845. 0.76% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Kemper Stock Performance

Kemper stock traded down $0.22 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $53.95. 1,012,246 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 809,893. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.38 billion, a PE ratio of 10.16 and a beta of 1.30. Kemper Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $45.02 and a fifty-two week high of $73.01. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $57.72 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $61.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.21 and a current ratio of 0.21.

Kemper (NYSE:KMPR - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 5th. The insurance provider reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.52 by ($0.22). The business had revenue of $1.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.23 billion. Kemper had a net margin of 7.18% and a return on equity of 14.39%. Kemper's revenue was up 8.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.42 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Kemper Corporation will post 6.03 earnings per share for the current year.

Kemper announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase plan on Tuesday, August 5th that allows the company to repurchase $500.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the insurance provider to repurchase up to 12.8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically a sign that the company's board believes its shares are undervalued.

Kemper Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 18th were given a dividend of $0.32 per share. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 18th. Kemper's payout ratio is presently 24.11%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

KMPR has been the subject of several analyst reports. Piper Sandler reiterated an "underweight" rating and set a $50.00 price objective (down previously from $75.00) on shares of Kemper in a report on Wednesday, August 6th. Zacks Research upgraded Kemper to a "strong sell" rating in a report on Monday, August 11th. Wall Street Zen lowered Kemper from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, August 9th. Cowen reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Kemper in a report on Thursday, August 7th. Finally, JMP Securities decreased their price objective on Kemper from $85.00 to $75.00 and set a "market outperform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $72.75.

Kemper Profile

Kemper Corporation, a diversified insurance holding company, engages in the provision of insurance products to individuals and businesses in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Specialty Property & Casualty Insurance, Preferred Property & Casualty Insurance, and Life & Health Insurance.