Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Reaches New 1-Year High at $54.38

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report)'s share price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $54.38 and last traded at $54.31, with a volume of 61095 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $53.87.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on Unum Group from $47.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Unum Group from $61.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, February 1st. StockNews.com upgraded Unum Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Unum Group from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $56.25.

Unum Group Trading Up 0.4 %

The stock has a fifty day moving average of $49.95 and a 200 day moving average of $47.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 0.27 and a current ratio of 0.27. The company has a market capitalization of $10.36 billion, a PE ratio of 8.34, a PEG ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 0.87.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.79 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.86 by ($0.07). The business had revenue of $3.15 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.14 billion. Unum Group had a net margin of 10.36% and a return on equity of 16.03%. The business's revenue was up 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.43 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Unum Group will post 8.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Unum Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 16th. Investors of record on Friday, January 26th were issued a dividend of $0.365 per share. This represents a $1.46 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.70%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 25th. Unum Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 22.50%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CFO Steven Andrew Zabel sold 10,000 shares of Unum Group stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.06, for a total value of $510,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 122,246 shares in the company, valued at $6,241,880.76. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other Unum Group news, EVP Elizabeth Claire Ahmed sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total transaction of $250,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 55,450 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,772,500. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CFO Steven Andrew Zabel sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.06, for a total value of $510,600.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 122,246 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,241,880.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 81,000 shares of company stock worth $4,018,100 over the last quarter. 0.77% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Unum Group

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in UNM. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 4.0% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 61,304 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,932,000 after purchasing an additional 2,370 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC boosted its holdings in Unum Group by 33.2% in the first quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 15,247 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $480,000 after acquiring an additional 3,799 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. acquired a new position in Unum Group in the first quarter valued at $348,000. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its holdings in Unum Group by 61.5% in the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 76,618 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $2,422,000 after acquiring an additional 29,166 shares during the last quarter. Finally, D.A. Davidson & CO. acquired a new position in Unum Group in the first quarter valued at $227,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.57% of the company's stock.

About Unum Group

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.