Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Short Interest Up 27.5% in November

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,460,000 shares, an increase of 27.5% from the October 31st total of 1,930,000 shares. Approximately 1.4% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,290,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.9 days.

Unum Group Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE UNM traded down $0.17 during trading on Friday, hitting $76.90. 459,395 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,253,639. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a current ratio of 0.28. The business’s fifty day moving average is $65.87 and its 200 day moving average is $57.49. The firm has a market capitalization of $14.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.32, a P/E/G ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 0.76. Unum Group has a fifty-two week low of $42.09 and a fifty-two week high of $77.63.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.13 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.10 by $0.03. Unum Group had a return on equity of 15.21% and a net margin of 13.76%. The firm had revenue of $3.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.26 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.94 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Unum Group will post 8.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Unum Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 25th were paid a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, October 25th. Unum Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 18.18%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have commented on UNM shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on Unum Group from $65.00 to $63.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 3rd. Bank of America upped their target price on Unum Group from $54.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, October 10th. Piper Sandler restated an “overweight” rating and set a $66.00 price target (up previously from $64.00) on shares of Unum Group in a report on Friday, September 27th. UBS Group raised shares of Unum Group to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Unum Group from $69.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $67.73.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Unum Group news, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 67,795 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.98, for a total value of $3,727,369.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,065,868 shares in the company, valued at approximately $58,601,422.64. This represents a 5.98 % 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 5,000 shares of Unum Group stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.61, for a total transaction of $363,050.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 35,840 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,602,342.40. This trade represents a 12.24 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 165,709 shares of company stock valued at $10,956,914. 0.93% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in UNM. CIBC Asset Management Inc lifted its position in Unum Group by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 5,551 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $330,000 after acquiring an additional 180 shares in the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of 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 valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 194 shares in the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group boosted its position in shares of Unum Group by 3.1% during the third quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 6,592 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $392,000 after buying an additional 197 shares during the last quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. grew its holdings in Unum Group by 2.2% during the second quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 10,126 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $518,000 after buying an additional 217 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Caprock Group LLC raised its position in Unum Group by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 12,308 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $732,000 after buying an additional 221 shares during the last quarter. 86.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.