Insider Selling: Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) EVP Sells 7,000 Shares of Stock

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) EVP Lisa G. Iglesias sold 7,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.75, for a total transaction of $579,250.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 31,284 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,588,751. This represents a 18.28 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink.

Unum Group Stock Performance

Unum Group stock traded down $3.44 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $77.95. The company had a trading volume of 2,639,632 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,151,049. The company has a market capitalization of $14.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.23, a P/E/G ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.80. Unum Group has a 12-month low of $48.38 and a 12-month high of $83.96. The company’s fifty day moving average is $75.10 and its 200-day moving average is $68.02. 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 (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 predict that Unum Group will post 9.14 EPS for the current year.

Unum Group announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, February 18th that allows the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the financial services provider to repurchase up to 7.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are usually an indication that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Unum Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Investors of record on Friday, January 24th were issued a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 24th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.16%. Unum Group’s payout ratio is 17.74%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of Unum Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, February 24th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on Unum Group from $91.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Piper Sandler increased their price objective on Unum Group from $82.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Barclays lifted their target price on Unum Group from $76.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their target price on Unum Group from $90.00 to $103.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $84.83.

Institutional Trading of Unum Group

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Barrett & Company Inc. lifted its position in shares of Unum Group by 300.0% during the 4th quarter. Barrett & Company Inc. now owns 396 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 297 shares in the last quarter. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new position in Unum Group during the third quarter worth $31,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Unum Group during the fourth quarter valued at $38,000. Millstone Evans Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Unum Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $45,000. Finally, Quarry LP grew its position in shares of Unum Group by 4,794.7% in the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 930 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $55,000 after purchasing an additional 911 shares during the period. 86.57% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.