Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Shares Sold by Artemis Investment Management LLP

Artemis Investment Management LLP decreased its position in shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) by 55.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 112,195 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 140,219 shares during the period. Artemis Investment Management LLP’s holdings in Unum Group were worth $5,074,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Unum Group in the second quarter valued at $25,000. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated bought a new position in shares of Unum Group in the third quarter valued at $25,000. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Unum Group in the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Huntington National Bank boosted its position in Unum Group by 1,076.4% during the 2nd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 647 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 592 shares during the period. Finally, Bangor Savings Bank boosted its position in Unum Group by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Bangor Savings Bank now owns 664 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 332 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.57% of the company’s stock.

Unum Group Trading Up 0.4 %

Unum Group stock traded up $0.23 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $53.36. 189,887 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,487,388. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $49.03 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $47.15. Unum Group has a 52 week low of $38.34 and a 52 week high of $53.56. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.22 billion, a PE ratio of 8.19, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a quick ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 0.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.79 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.86 by ($0.07). Unum Group had a return on equity of 16.03% and a net margin of 10.36%. The firm had revenue of $3.15 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.14 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.43 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Unum Group will post 8.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Unum Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 26th were given a $0.365 dividend. This represents a $1.46 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.74%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 25th. Unum Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 22.50%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have commented on UNM shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Unum Group from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and set a $55.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Unum Group from $47.00 to $52.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. StockNews.com raised Unum Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Unum Group from $61.00 to $64.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Unum Group presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $55.88.

Insider Transactions at Unum Group

In related news, EVP Elizabeth Claire Ahmed sold 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total transaction of $250,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 55,450 shares in the company, valued at $2,772,500. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, CFO Steven Andrew Zabel sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.06, for a total transaction of $510,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 122,246 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,241,880.76. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Elizabeth Claire Ahmed sold 5,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total transaction of $250,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 55,450 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,772,500. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 81,000 shares of company stock valued at $4,018,100 over the last 90 days. 0.77% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Unum Group 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.