Woodline Partners LP Has $41.89 Million Stock Position in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

Woodline Partners LP lessened its stake in shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Free Report) by 21.9% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 573,590 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 160,935 shares during the period. Woodline Partners LP owned 0.31% of Unum Group worth $41,889,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Barrett & Company Inc. increased its stake in Unum Group by 300.0% during the 4th quarter. Barrett & Company Inc. now owns 396 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 297 shares during the period. Kestra Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Unum Group in the 4th quarter valued at $38,000. Millstone Evans Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Unum Group in the 4th quarter valued at $45,000. Duncker Streett & Co. Inc. bought a new position in shares of Unum Group in the 4th quarter valued at $58,000. Finally, V Square Quantitative Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Unum Group by 36.5% in the 4th quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 958 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $70,000 after purchasing an additional 256 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.57% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Unum Group

In other Unum Group news, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 50,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $81.99, for a total value of $4,099,500.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 980,637 shares in the company, valued at approximately $80,402,427.63. The trade was a 4.85% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Elizabeth Claire Ahmed sold 10,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.00, for a total value of $800,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, 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 position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 67,000 shares of company stock worth $5,478,750. Insiders own 0.92% of the company's stock.

Unum Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNM traded up $0.27 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $79.90. 693,326 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,320,293. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.29 and a quick ratio of 0.28. Unum Group has a twelve month low of $48.38 and a twelve month high of $84.48. The company has a market cap of $13.93 billion, a PE ratio of 8.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.38. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $78.72 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $76.31.

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

Unum Group announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, February 18th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the financial services provider to reacquire up to 7.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are often an indication that the company's board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 25th were given a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, April 25th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.10%. Unum Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 19.79%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on UNM. Wall Street Zen lowered Unum Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Unum Group from $76.00 to $83.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Monday, May 19th. Barclays lifted their price target on Unum Group from $85.00 to $89.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price target on Unum Group from $103.00 to $102.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Unum Group from $95.00 to $97.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Unum Group currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $88.29.

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.