Wall Street Zen Upgrades Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) to Hold

Key Points

• Wall Street Zen upgraded Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) from a "sell" rating to a "hold" in a research note published Saturday.
• Unum missed Q4 estimates with EPS of $1.92 vs. $2.11 expected and revenue slightly below consensus, while it set FY2026 guidance of 8.600–8.900 EPS versus analysts' forecast of 9.14.
• Analysts collectively give Unum an average rating of Moderate Buy with a $94.50 consensus price target; the stock trades in the mid‑$70s (opened $76.74) and has a market cap of about $12.6 billion.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) was upgraded by Wall Street Zen from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note issued on Saturday.

Several other research analysts also recently commented on UNM. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Unum Group from $92.00 to $90.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Evercore set a $103.00 target price on Unum Group in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Unum Group from $102.00 to $99.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Unum Group from $85.00 to $80.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 3rd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $115.00 target price on shares of Unum Group in a research note on Monday, January 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $94.50.

Unum Group Stock Up 0.1%

UNM stock opened at $76.74 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 0.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. Unum Group has a twelve month low of $68.28 and a twelve month high of $83.13. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $73.54 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $75.66. The company has a market cap of $12.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.06, a P/E/G ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 0.19.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The financial services provider reported $1.92 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.11 by ($0.19). Unum Group had a return on equity of 12.62% and a net margin of 5.65%.The business had revenue of $3.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.29 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.03 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. Unum Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.600-8.900 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Unum Group will post 9.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Unum Group news, EVP Christopher W. Pyne sold 4,852 shares of Unum Group stock in a transaction on Monday, March 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.47, for a total value of $351,624.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 52,268 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,787,861.96. The trade was a 8.49% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Timothy F. Keaney sold 4,500 shares of Unum Group stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.58, for a total value of $326,610.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 38,592 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,801,007.36. This represents a 10.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 21,852 shares of company stock valued at $1,590,734 over the last 90 days. 0.92% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Unum Group

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNM. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Unum Group during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. SHP Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Unum Group during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Triumph Capital Management acquired a new position in shares of Unum Group during the 3rd quarter worth $31,000. Ancora Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 385.2% during the 3rd quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 427 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 339 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nalls Sherbakoff Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Unum Group during the 4th quarter worth $39,000. 86.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Unum Group News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Unum Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: UBS raised its price target to $85 (from $81), signaling modestly improved analyst optimism and implying roughly a mid‑teens upside from current levels. Unum Group NYSE: UNM Given New $85.00 Price Target at UBS Group
• Positive Sentiment: Wells Fargo cut its target slightly to $99 (from $102) but kept an "overweight" rating — that still implies a sizeable (~29%) upside from current prices and acts as a strong bullish endorsement. Wells Fargo Lowers Price Target to $99
• Positive Sentiment: Unum announced a quarterly dividend of $0.46 per share (ex-dividend April 24; payable May 15), implying about a 2.4% yield — dividend income supports investor demand and helps underpin the share price.
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks trimmed Q1 and FY2028 EPS estimates modestly (Q1: $2.74 → $2.70; FY2028: $10.72 → $10.59) and remains at a "Hold" view, which could cap upside until clearer earnings momentum or guidance appears. Zacks Lowers Estimates for Unum

Unum Group Company Profile

Unum Group NYSE: UNM is a leading provider of employee benefits in the United States and selected international markets, specializing in disability, life, accident and critical illness insurance. Through both fully insured and self-funded arrangements, the company offers group coverage designed to protect income and mitigate financial hardship for employees and their families. Its portfolio includes short-term and long-term disability plans, group life and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) policies, as well as critical illness and hospital indemnity products.

In addition to its core product lines, Unum Group markets voluntary benefits under its Colonial Life brand, allowing employees to purchase supplemental insurance such as accident, cancer, and dental coverage directly through payroll deductions.

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