Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. Buys 30,908 Shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its position in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Free Report) by 154.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 50,915 shares of the financial services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 30,908 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd.'s holdings in Unum Group were worth $2,302,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of UNM. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated acquired a new stake in Unum Group during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Unum Group during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Bangor Savings Bank boosted its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 100.0% during 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 during the last quarter. Neo Ivy Capital Management acquired a new stake in shares of Unum Group during the third quarter worth $36,000. Finally, Arlington Trust Co LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Unum Group during the third quarter worth $38,000. 86.57% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNM has been the topic of several analyst reports. StockNews.com upgraded Unum Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Unum Group from $64.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, April 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Unum Group from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on Unum Group from $47.00 to $52.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Unum Group from $50.00 to $52.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $56.38.

Insider Buying and Selling at Unum Group

In other news, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 50,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred 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 sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other Unum Group news, CFO Steven Andrew Zabel sold 10,000 shares of the company's 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 transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 122,246 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,241,880.76. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 50,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.15, for a total value 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 approximately $52,922,409.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 81,000 shares of company stock worth $4,018,100 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.94% of the company's stock.

Unum Group Stock Up 1.1 %

Shares of NYSE UNM traded up $0.57 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $51.36. 1,256,046 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,425,880. Unum Group has a 52-week low of $40.04 and a 52-week high of $54.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.86 billion, a PE ratio of 7.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 0.87. 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 business's fifty day moving average price is $51.03 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $47.59.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.79 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.86 by ($0.07). The firm had revenue of $3.15 billion during 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 firm's revenue for the quarter was up 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.43 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that Unum Group will post 8.19 EPS for the current year.

Unum Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 26th will be paid a $0.365 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 25th. This represents a $1.46 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.84%. Unum Group's payout ratio is currently 22.50%.

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.