Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Upgraded to “Buy” at StockNews.com

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) was upgraded by stock analysts at StockNews.com from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday.

UNM has been the subject of several other reports. Evercore ISI raised Unum Group from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $67.00 to $84.00 in a report on Thursday, November 14th. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on Unum Group from $70.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Barclays lifted their price objective on Unum Group from $76.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, January 6th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Unum Group from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on Unum Group from $91.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Unum Group has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $80.33.

Unum Group Stock Performance

UNM opened at $75.44 on Friday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $74.21 and a 200 day simple moving average of $65.87. The company has a market capitalization of $13.78 billion, a PE ratio of 7.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 0.80. Unum Group has a 1 year low of $48.11 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.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $2.03 earnings per share (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%. Research analysts expect that Unum Group will post 9.12 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Unum Group

In related news, EVP Timothy Gerald Arnold sold 10,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.92, for a total transaction of $769,200.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 54,827 shares in the company, valued at $4,217,292.84. The trade was a 15.43 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Lisa G. Iglesias sold 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.61, for a total value of $363,050.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 35,840 shares in the company, valued at $2,602,342.40. This represents a 12.24 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 83,865 shares of company stock valued at $6,315,082. Corporate insiders own 0.93% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Unum Group

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co grew its position in Unum Group by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 150,145 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $10,966,000 after acquiring an additional 707 shares during the last quarter. Capital Square LLC bought a new stake in shares of Unum Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $250,000. Farringdon Capital Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Unum Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $202,000. Marshall Wace LLP grew its position in shares of Unum Group by 54.2% in the 4th quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 200,664 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $14,654,000 after buying an additional 70,557 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Zacks Investment Management grew its position in shares of Unum Group by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Zacks Investment Management now owns 74,377 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $5,432,000 after buying an additional 995 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.57% of the company’s stock.

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.