Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Stock Rating Upgraded by Wolfe Research

Key Points

• Unum Group has been upgraded to a "strong-buy" rating by Wolfe Research, signaling strong confidence in the company's future performance.
• The stock has a current market capitalization of $12.64 billion and has shown a price fluctuation with a 52-week low of $56.07 and a high of $84.48.
• Despite reporting earnings per share (EPS) of $2.07 for the last quarter, which missed analysts' expectations, revenue increased by 4.0% year-over-year to $3.36 billion.

Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Free Report) to a strong-buy rating in a research report report published on Tuesday,Zacks.com reports.

Several other brokerages have also recently commented on UNM. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on shares of Unum Group from $85.00 to $79.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 18th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $95.00 price target (down previously from $100.00) on shares of Unum Group in a report on Thursday, July 31st. Piper Sandler lifted their price target on shares of Unum Group from $88.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Unum Group from $87.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Unum Group from $105.00 to $100.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $91.14.

Unum Group Stock Performance

Shares of UNM stock traded down $0.06 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $76.19. The stock had a trading volume of 4,499,233 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,431,125. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 0.30 and a quick ratio of 0.30. Unum Group has a twelve month low of $56.50 and a twelve month high of $84.48. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $73.56 and a 200-day simple moving average of $77.33. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.98 billion, a PE ratio of 9.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 0.38.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.07 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.23 by ($0.16). The firm had revenue of $3.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.35 billion. Unum Group had a return on equity of 13.44% and a net margin of 11.77%.The firm's revenue was up 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.16 EPS. Unum Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 8.500-8.50 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Unum Group will post 9.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Unum Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 15th. Investors of record on Friday, July 25th were paid a $0.46 dividend. This is an increase from Unum Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 25th. Unum Group's payout ratio is presently 22.01%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Unum Group

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Fifth Third Bancorp grew its holdings in Unum Group by 4.0% during the first quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 3,558 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $290,000 after buying an additional 136 shares in the last quarter. Advisors Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Unum Group by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. Advisors Capital Management LLC now owns 6,308 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $514,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares during the period. NDVR Inc. grew its stake in Unum Group by 3.3% in the 2nd quarter. NDVR Inc. now owns 4,526 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $366,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares during the period. Waterfront Wealth Inc. grew its stake in Unum Group by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Waterfront Wealth Inc. now owns 29,350 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $2,370,000 after purchasing an additional 158 shares during the period. Finally, Ritholtz Wealth Management grew its stake in Unum Group by 0.4% in the 2nd quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 42,327 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $3,418,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares during the period. 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.