IFG Advisory LLC Grows Stock Holdings in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

IFG Advisory LLC raised its position in shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) by 21.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 114,443 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after buying an additional 20,475 shares during the quarter. IFG Advisory LLC’s holdings in Unum Group were worth $5,175,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. MBM Wealth Consultants LLC lifted its position in shares of Unum Group by 3.9% during the third quarter. MBM Wealth Consultants LLC now owns 5,938 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $297,000 after buying an additional 223 shares during the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association increased its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 1.9% during the third quarter. United Services Automobile Association now owns 12,530 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $616,000 after acquiring an additional 239 shares in the last quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 2.5% during the second quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 9,997 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $477,000 after acquiring an additional 244 shares in the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 3.5% during the third quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 7,927 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $390,000 after acquiring an additional 266 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wedmont Private Capital increased its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 6.3% during the fourth quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 4,655 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $213,000 after acquiring an additional 274 shares in the last quarter. 86.57% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Unum Group Trading Up 1.0 %

Shares of UNM opened at $53.66 on Thursday. Unum Group has a 52-week low of $38.34 and a 52-week high of $53.82. The company has a quick ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 0.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $49.35 and its two-hundred day moving average is $47.23. The stock has a market cap of $10.28 billion, a PE ratio of 8.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 0.86.

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

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 26th were given a dividend of $0.365 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 25th. This represents a $1.46 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.72%. Unum Group’s payout ratio is 22.50%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

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

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Elizabeth Claire Ahmed sold 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total value of $250,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 55,450 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,772,500. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, EVP Elizabeth Claire Ahmed sold 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total value of $250,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 55,450 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,772,500. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CFO Steven Andrew Zabel sold 10,000 shares of the business’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 $6,241,880.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 81,000 shares of company stock valued at $4,018,100. 0.94% of the stock is currently owned by 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.