Nichols & Pratt Advisers LLP MA Makes New $239,000 Investment in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

Nichols & Pratt Advisers LLP MA purchased a new stake in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 3,270 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $239,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in UNM. Allianz Asset Management GmbH boosted its position in shares of Unum Group by 44.9% during the 4th quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 1,264,994 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $92,383,000 after purchasing an additional 392,191 shares during the period. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Unum Group by 151.7% during the 3rd quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 509,702 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $30,297,000 after acquiring an additional 307,175 shares during the period. Proficio Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in Unum Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $11,456,000. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its position in Unum Group by 50.0% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 469,342 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $29,554,000 after acquiring an additional 156,380 shares in the last quarter. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC increased its stake in Unum Group by 5,844.0% during the third quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 101,048 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $6,006,000 after purchasing an additional 99,348 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.57% of the company’s stock.

Unum Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNM opened at $82.27 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 0.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $74.73 and a 200 day moving average price of $67.43. Unum Group has a 52 week low of $48.38 and a 52 week high of $83.96. The company has a market cap of $15.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.69, a PEG ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.80.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $2.03 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.14 by ($0.11). Unum Group had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 13.81%. Research analysts predict that Unum Group will post 9.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Unum Group announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback plan on Tuesday, February 18th that permits the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the financial services provider to buy up to 7.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are typically a sign that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Unum Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 24th were given a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.04%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 24th. Unum Group’s payout ratio is 17.74%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently weighed in on UNM. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Unum Group from $81.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price objective on Unum Group from $90.00 to $103.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday. StockNews.com downgraded Unum Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, February 24th. Piper Sandler increased their price target on shares of Unum Group from $82.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of Unum Group from $70.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $83.92.

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.