Short Interest in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Expands By 27.7%

Key Points

• Unum Group's short interest rose by 27.7% in July, totaling 2,810,000 shares as of July 31st, with a short-interest ratio of 2.1 days.
• The company reported quarterly earnings of $2.07 per share, missing analysts' expectations by $0.16, while revenue increased by 4.0% year-over-year to $3.36 billion.
• Unum Group recently increased its dividend to $0.46 per share, resulting in a 2.7% dividend yield, up from the previous $0.42 dividend.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest during the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totaling 2,810,000 shares, agrowthof27.7% from the July 15th total of 2,200,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,340,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.1 days. Approximately1.7% of the company's stock are sold short. Approximately1.7% of the company's stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 1,340,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.1 days.

Institutional Trading of Unum Group

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A. bought a new position in shares of Unum Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $28,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Unum Group during the first quarter worth approximately $30,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new position in Unum Group during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Atwood & Palmer Inc. lifted its position in shares of Unum Group by 100.0% in the second quarter. Atwood & Palmer Inc. now owns 400 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Finally, N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Unum Group in the first quarter valued at about $35,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.57% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Unum Group from $87.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. Barclays set a $96.00 target price on shares of Unum Group and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, July 7th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $105.00 to $100.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective 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. Finally, Evercore ISI decreased their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $100.00 to $96.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $91.15.

Unum Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNM traded up $0.19 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $69.35. The company had a trading volume of 224,654 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,415,503. Unum Group has a fifty-two week low of $52.71 and a fifty-two week high of $84.48. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 0.40. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $76.29 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $77.82. The company has a quick ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 0.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31.

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

Unum Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 25th were paid a dividend of $0.46 per share. This is an increase from Unum Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 25th. Unum Group's payout ratio is presently 22.01%.

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.