Securian Asset Management Inc. Sells 590 Shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

Securian Asset Management Inc. lessened its holdings in shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) by 4.4% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 12,700 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 590 shares during the period. Securian Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Unum Group were worth $927,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Moran Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Unum Group by 25.9% in the 4th quarter. Moran Wealth Management LLC now owns 16,259 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,187,000 after purchasing an additional 3,349 shares during the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank raised its position in shares of Unum Group by 8.5% in the 4th quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 45,267 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $3,306,000 after purchasing an additional 3,554 shares during the last quarter. Taika Capital LP purchased a new position in shares of Unum Group in the 4th quarter worth about $369,000. Sowell Financial Services LLC raised its position in shares of Unum Group by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Sowell Financial Services LLC now owns 24,934 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,821,000 after purchasing an additional 689 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Unum Group by 7.4% in the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 30,176 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $2,204,000 after purchasing an additional 2,072 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.57% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Unum Group

In related news, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 50,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $81.99, for a total transaction of $4,099,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 980,637 shares in the company, valued at approximately $80,402,427.63. The trade was a 4.85 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Lisa G. Iglesias sold 7,000 shares of the business’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 value of $579,250.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 31,284 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,588,751. This trade represents a 18.28 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.93% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Unum Group Price Performance

NYSE UNM opened at $78.99 on Friday. Unum Group has a 52 week low of $48.38 and a 52 week high of $83.96. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.34, a PEG ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a quick ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 0.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $76.08 and a 200-day moving average price of $69.45.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $2.03 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.14 by ($0.11). Unum Group had a net margin of 13.81% and a return on equity of 14.91%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Unum Group will post 9.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Unum Group declared that its board has authorized a stock buyback program on Tuesday, February 18th that allows the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the financial services provider to repurchase up to 7.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are often a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Unum Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Investors of record on Friday, January 24th were paid a dividend of $0.42 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 24th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.13%. Unum Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17.74%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently issued reports on UNM. Raymond James raised Unum Group from a “market perform” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and set a $108.00 price target for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Unum Group from $81.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Unum Group from $95.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on Unum Group from $90.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Unum Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, March 7th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $86.62.

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.