Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Stock Position Trimmed by Boone Capital Management LLC

Boone Capital Management LLC trimmed its holdings in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Free Report) by 16.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 803,865 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 160,305 shares during the period. Unum Group accounts for approximately 19.8% of Boone Capital Management LLC's holdings, making the stock its largest holding. Boone Capital Management LLC owned approximately 0.44% of Unum Group worth $58,706,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new position in Unum Group in the third quarter valued at $58,000. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 50.0% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 469,342 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $29,554,000 after purchasing an additional 156,380 shares during the period. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its stake in shares of Unum Group by 26.4% in the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 766 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $56,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 9.4% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 7,893 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $576,000 after purchasing an additional 680 shares during the period. Finally, Everence Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Unum Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $341,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.57% of the company's stock.

Unum Group Stock Down 1.1 %

Shares of NYSE:UNM opened at $78.71 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $13.87 billion, a PE ratio of 8.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $78.45 and a 200 day simple moving average of $74.76. The company has a current ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Unum Group has a 12-month low of $48.38 and a 12-month high of $84.48.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.04 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.19 by ($0.15). The company had revenue of $3.09 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.34 billion. Unum Group had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 13.81%. The business's revenue for the quarter was down 3.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.12 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Unum Group will post 9.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Unum Group announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, February 18th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the financial services provider to buy up to 7.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally a sign that the company's board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Unum Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 16th. Investors of record on Friday, April 25th will be paid a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.13%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 25th. Unum Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 19.79%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $81.99, for a total value of $4,099,500.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 980,637 shares of the company's stock, valued at $80,402,427.63. This trade represents a 4.85 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Lisa G. Iglesias sold 7,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.75, for a total transaction of $579,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 31,284 shares in the company, valued at $2,588,751. The trade was a 18.28 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.92% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have issued reports on UNM. Raymond James upgraded shares of Unum Group from a "market perform" rating to a "strong-buy" rating and set a $108.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Unum Group from $95.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Unum Group from $95.00 to $97.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. UBS Group upped their target price on Unum Group from $75.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on Unum Group from $85.00 to $89.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $88.50.

Unum Group 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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