LSV Asset Management Purchases 4,016 Shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

Key Points

• LSV Asset Management increased its stake in Unum Group by 0.1%, acquiring an additional 4,016 shares, resulting in a total holding of 2,740,656 shares valued at approximately $223.25 million.
• Unum Group recently raised its quarterly dividend from $0.42 to $0.46 per share, providing a yield of 2.6% and a payout ratio of 22.01%.
• Multiple analysts have increased their price targets for Unum Group, with JPMorgan Chase raising their target from $87.00 to $96.00, indicating positive sentiment in the market.

LSV Asset Management increased its stake in shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Free Report) by 0.1% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 2,740,656 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 4,016 shares during the quarter. LSV Asset Management owned about 1.57% of Unum Group worth $223,254,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. lifted its stake in Unum Group by 28.3% in the first quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 3,802 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $310,000 after buying an additional 838 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP bought a new position in Unum Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $240,000. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in Unum Group by 88.4% during the first quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 17,302 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $1,409,000 after purchasing an additional 8,120 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its stake in Unum Group by 202.1% in the first quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 945,271 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $77,512,000 after purchasing an additional 632,358 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Zurich Insurance Group Ltd FI acquired a new stake in Unum Group in the fourth quarter worth $105,199,000. Institutional investors own 86.57% of the company's stock.

Unum Group Stock Up 0.4%

Shares of Unum Group stock traded up $0.27 on Monday, reaching $70.00. 1,659,634 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,444,180. Unum Group has a one year low of $51.80 and a one year high of $84.48. The company has a current ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 0.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The company has a 50-day moving average of $79.71 and a 200 day moving average of $78.54. The company has a market capitalization of $11.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.37, a PEG ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 0.40.

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

Unum Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 15th. Stockholders 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 represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.6%. This is a boost from Unum Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. Unum Group's dividend payout ratio is 22.01%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Elizabeth Claire Ahmed sold 10,000 shares of the business'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 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 sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.93% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have weighed in on UNM shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Unum Group from $87.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. Piper Sandler lifted their price objective on Unum Group from $88.00 to $92.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, July 3rd. UBS Group set a $87.00 target price on Unum Group and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $100.00 price target on shares of Unum Group and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Unum Group from $83.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday, July 14th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $91.62.

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.