FourThought Financial Partners LLC Acquires New Stake in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

FourThought Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 4,667 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $341,000.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of UNM. Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its stake in shares of Unum Group by 26.4% in the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 766 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $56,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares during the period. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Unum Group by 28.8% in the fourth quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 800 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $58,000 after acquiring an additional 179 shares during the period. CIBC Asset Management Inc boosted its stake in shares of Unum Group by 3.4% in the third quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 5,551 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $330,000 after acquiring an additional 180 shares during the period. Brooklyn Investment Group boosted its stake in shares of Unum Group by 3.1% in the third quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 6,592 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $392,000 after acquiring an additional 197 shares during the period. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Unum Group by 0.6% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 35,169 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $2,568,000 after acquiring an additional 202 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.57% of the company’s stock.

Unum Group Trading Up 2.2 %

Shares of UNM stock opened at $76.43 on Wednesday. Unum Group has a 1 year low of $48.38 and a 1 year high of $79.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.29 and a quick ratio of 0.28. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $74.38 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $67.26. The company has a market cap of $13.96 billion, a PE ratio of 8.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.80.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $2.03 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate 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 authorized a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, February 18th that allows the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the financial services provider to repurchase up to 7.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are usually an indication that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Unum Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 24th were issued a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 24th. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.20%. Unum Group’s payout ratio is 17.74%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently commented on UNM shares. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on Unum Group in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. They set an “outperform” rating and a $91.00 price target for the company. Barclays increased their price target on Unum Group from $76.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on Unum Group from $91.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Unum Group from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on Unum Group from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Five equities 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, Unum Group presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $81.17.

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.