Savant Capital LLC Raises Stake in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

Savant Capital LLC raised its position in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) by 1.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 46,344 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 476 shares during the quarter. Savant Capital LLC’s holdings in Unum Group were worth $3,385,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Barrett & Company Inc. lifted its stake in Unum Group by 300.0% in the fourth quarter. Barrett & Company Inc. now owns 396 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 297 shares during the last quarter. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in Unum Group in the third quarter worth approximately $31,000. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. purchased a new position in Unum Group in the third quarter worth approximately $37,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC lifted its stake in Unum Group by 38.2% in the third quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 702 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 194 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quarry LP raised its holdings in Unum Group by 4,794.7% during the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 930 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $55,000 after purchasing an additional 911 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.57% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Hanley Ronald P. O sold 14,299 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.10, for a total value of $1,030,957.90. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 38,819 shares in the company, valued at $2,798,849.90. The trade was a 26.92 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 58,865 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.39, for a total transaction of $4,437,832.35. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,007,003 shares in the company, valued at $75,917,956.17. This represents a 5.52 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 98,164 shares of company stock worth $7,346,040. Corporate insiders own 0.93% of the company’s stock.

Unum Group Stock Performance

Shares of UNM opened at $75.24 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a current ratio of 0.29. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.94, a P/E/G ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 0.80. The company’s fifty day moving average is $74.21 and its two-hundred day moving average is $65.80. Unum Group has a 1 year low of $47.65 and a 1 year high of $79.43.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last issued its 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 return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 13.81%. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Unum Group will post 9.12 earnings per share for the current year.

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 24th will be given a dividend of $0.42 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 24th. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.23%. Unum Group’s payout ratio is currently 17.74%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have weighed in on UNM shares. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $74.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $76.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, January 6th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. StockNews.com cut shares of Unum Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, Piper Sandler lifted their target price on shares of Unum Group from $82.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Unum Group presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $79.45.

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.