Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Holdings Lifted by Victory Capital Management Inc.

Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its position in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) by 23.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,462,917 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 276,655 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc. owned approximately 0.80% of Unum Group worth $106,837,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of UNM. Allianz Asset Management GmbH grew its position in Unum Group by 44.9% in 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 last quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. grew its position in Unum Group by 151.7% in the 3rd quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 509,702 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $30,297,000 after purchasing an additional 307,175 shares during the last quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new position in Unum Group in the 4th quarter worth 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 worth $29,554,000 after purchasing an additional 156,380 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Algert Global LLC grew its position in Unum Group by 69.5% in the 3rd quarter. Algert Global LLC now owns 236,264 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $14,044,000 after purchasing an additional 96,916 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.57% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Unum Group

In related news, EVP Lisa G. Iglesias sold 7,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.75, for a total value of $579,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 31,284 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,588,751. This represents a 18.28 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 50,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $81.99, for a total transaction of $4,099,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 980,637 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $80,402,427.63. This trade represents a 4.85 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.93% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Unum Group Stock Up 4.4 %

UNM stock opened at $81.34 on Thursday. Unum Group has a 12 month low of $48.38 and a 12 month high of $83.96. The firm has a market cap of $14.85 billion, a PE ratio of 8.59, a P/E/G ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.80. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $75.20 and a 200 day simple moving average of $68.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.29 and a quick ratio of 0.28.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last released its 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 forecast that Unum Group will post 9.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Unum Group announced that its board has initiated a share repurchase program on Tuesday, February 18th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the financial services provider to buy up to 7.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are often an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Investors of record on Friday, January 24th were given a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 24th. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.07%. Unum Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17.74%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNM has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their target price on shares of Unum Group from $90.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $80.00 to $84.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, February 28th. Raymond James upgraded shares of Unum Group from a “market perform” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and set a $108.00 price objective for the company in a report on Wednesday. StockNews.com cut shares of Unum Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, February 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $81.00 to $91.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $86.62.

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.