Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Shares Sold by Assetmark Inc.

Assetmark Inc. decreased its holdings in shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) by 46.5% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 638,808 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 556,004 shares during the period. Assetmark Inc.’s holdings in Unum Group were worth $37,971,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. V Square Quantitative Management LLC raised its position in 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 during the period. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. lifted its position in Unum Group by 2.2% during the 2nd quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 10,126 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $518,000 after acquiring an additional 217 shares in the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Unum Group by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 8,292 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $493,000 after acquiring an additional 224 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc. grew its position in Unum Group by 1.8% in the second quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 12,786 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $654,000 after acquiring an additional 226 shares in the last quarter. Finally, XML Financial LLC grew its position in Unum Group by 1.3% in the first quarter. XML Financial LLC now owns 19,630 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,053,000 after acquiring an additional 250 shares in the last quarter. 86.57% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In related news, CAO Walter Lynn Rice, Jr. sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $69.56, for a total value of $104,340.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 8,361 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $581,591.16. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 67,795 shares of Unum Group stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.98, for a total transaction of $3,727,369.10. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,065,868 shares in the company, valued at $58,601,422.64. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CAO Walter Lynn Rice, Jr. sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $69.56, for a total transaction of $104,340.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 8,361 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $581,591.16. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 87,545 shares of company stock valued at $4,921,174. Insiders own 0.93% of the company’s stock.

Unum Group Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of Unum Group stock opened at $69.42 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.51, a PEG ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 0.76. Unum Group has a twelve month low of $41.86 and a twelve month high of $70.40. The company has a current ratio of 0.28, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $60.26 and its 200-day simple moving average is $55.21.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.13 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.26 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.94 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Unum Group will post 8.52 earnings per share for the current year.

Unum Group declared that its board has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, July 30th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the financial services provider to repurchase up to 10% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 25th will be paid a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 25th. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.42%. Unum Group’s payout ratio is currently 18.18%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Bank of America upped their target price on shares of Unum Group from $54.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $62.00 to $69.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 23rd. UBS Group raised shares of Unum Group to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Evercore ISI upped their target price on shares of Unum Group from $59.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Unum Group from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $66.09.

Unum Group Company 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.