Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Price Target Increased to $52.00 by Analysts at Morgan Stanley

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) had its price objective hoisted by analysts at Morgan Stanley from $50.00 to $52.00 in a research note issued to investors on Monday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an "equal weight" rating on the financial services provider's stock. Morgan Stanley's price target indicates a potential upside of 4.10% from the company's current price.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Unum Group from $47.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. StockNews.com raised Unum Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Unum Group from $64.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Unum Group from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 2nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $56.38.

Unum Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UNM traded down $0.35 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $49.95. 974,228 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,445,274. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 0.27 and a quick ratio of 0.27. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $50.77 and its 200-day moving average price is $47.53. The firm has a market cap of $9.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.70, a PEG ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 0.87. Unum Group has a twelve month low of $39.71 and a twelve month high of $54.57.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.86 by ($0.07). The business had revenue of $3.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.14 billion. Unum Group had a return on equity of 16.03% and a net margin of 10.36%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.43 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Unum Group will post 8.18 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Unum Group

In other news, CFO Steven Andrew Zabel sold 10,000 shares of the company's 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 transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 122,246 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,241,880.76. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, CFO Steven Andrew Zabel sold 10,000 shares of the company's 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 transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 122,246 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,241,880.76. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 50,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.15, for a total transaction of $2,457,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,076,753 shares in the company, valued at $52,922,409.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 81,000 shares of company stock valued at $4,018,100. 0.77% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Unum Group

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated bought a new stake in Unum Group in the third quarter worth $25,000. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in Unum Group in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Bangor Savings Bank boosted its holdings in Unum Group by 100.0% in the third quarter. Bangor Savings Bank now owns 664 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 332 shares in the last quarter. Neo Ivy Capital Management bought a new stake in Unum Group in the third quarter worth $36,000. Finally, Arlington Trust Co LLC bought a new stake in Unum Group in the third quarter worth $38,000. 86.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Unum Group Company 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.