Natixis Sells 24,972 Shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

Natixis lowered its position in shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) by 18.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 113,151 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 24,972 shares during the period. Natixis owned about 0.06% of Unum Group worth $6,072,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of UNM. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its stake in shares of Unum Group by 7.1% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,071 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $165,000 after purchasing an additional 204 shares during the period. Caprock Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Unum Group by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 8,004 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $362,000 after purchasing an additional 230 shares during the period. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Unum Group by 20.4% in the 1st quarter. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,457 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $78,000 after purchasing an additional 247 shares during the period. Bank of Nova Scotia lifted its stake in shares of Unum Group by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 9,193 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $416,000 after purchasing an additional 249 shares during the period. Finally, SummerHaven Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Unum Group by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC now owns 15,373 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $695,000 after purchasing an additional 251 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.57% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Timothy F. Keaney sold 8,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.61, for a total value of $420,880.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 37,505 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,973,138.05. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Unum Group news, EVP Christopher W. Pyne sold 4,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.47, for a total transaction of $236,115.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 56,262 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,952,067.14. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Timothy F. Keaney sold 8,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.61, for a total value of $420,880.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 37,505 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,973,138.05. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.93% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Unum Group from $58.00 to $64.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 2nd. Citigroup upped their price target on Unum Group from $62.00 to $69.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Piper Sandler began coverage on Unum Group in a research note on Thursday, July 11th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $57.00 price target on the stock. Truist Financial upped their price target on Unum Group from $57.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 2nd. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their price target on Unum Group from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 26th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Unum Group currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $60.44.

Unum Group Stock Down 0.4 %

UNM traded down $0.20 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $53.38. 1,084,267 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,260,059. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a current ratio of 0.28. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $51.71 and its 200 day moving average price is $50.61. The company has a market cap of $10.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 0.81. Unum Group has a one year low of $41.75 and a one year high of $54.66.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 30th. The financial services provider reported $2.12 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.97 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $3.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.20 billion. Unum Group had a return on equity of 16.02% and a net margin of 10.52%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.87 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Unum Group will post 8.25 EPS for the current year.

Unum Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 26th will be issued a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 26th. This is a positive change from Unum Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.15%. Unum Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 21.69%.

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.