Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

Key Points

• Unum Group's stock has received a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from fourteen research analysts, with eight recommending a buy and two giving a strong buy rating.
• Despite reporting earnings per share (EPS) of $2.07, which was below the consensus estimate, the company experienced a 4% increase in quarterly revenue compared to the previous year.
• Unum Group recently increased its quarterly dividend from $0.42 to $0.46 per share, representing a dividend yield of 2.4%.

Shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from the fourteen research firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $91.1429.

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on UNM shares. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Unum Group from $105.00 to $100.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Unum Group from $87.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Unum Group from $85.00 to $79.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 18th. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on Unum Group from $88.00 to $92.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 3rd. Finally, UBS Group set a $87.00 price objective on Unum Group and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th.

Unum Group Stock Performance

Shares of UNM opened at $78.22 on Thursday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $73.03 and a 200-day simple moving average of $77.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 0.30 and a current ratio of 0.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.32 billion, a PE ratio of 9.36, a PEG ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.36. Unum Group has a 1 year low of $58.66 and a 1 year high of $84.48.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.23 by ($0.16). Unum Group had a net margin of 11.77% and a return on equity of 13.44%. The company had revenue of $3.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.35 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.16 EPS. The business's quarterly revenue was up 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Unum Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 8.500-8.50 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Unum Group will post 9.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Unum Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 25th were paid a dividend of $0.46 per share. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. This is a boost from Unum Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 25th. Unum Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 22.01%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Unum Group

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Brighton Jones LLC purchased a new position in Unum Group in the fourth quarter worth $247,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its position in Unum Group by 13.9% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 39,826 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $2,909,000 after acquiring an additional 4,859 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP purchased a new position in Unum Group in the fourth quarter worth $240,000. Merit Financial Group LLC raised its position in Unum Group by 168.5% in the first quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 12,070 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $983,000 after acquiring an additional 7,574 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Unum Group in the first quarter worth $462,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.57% of the company's stock.

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.

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