Principal Securities Inc. Grows Stock Holdings in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

Principal Securities Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) by 27.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,553 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after buying an additional 337 shares during the quarter. Principal Securities Inc.’s holdings in Unum Group were worth $113,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its stake in Unum Group by 26.4% during the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 766 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $56,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 28.8% during the fourth quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 800 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $58,000 after purchasing an additional 179 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc lifted its stake in 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 valued at $330,000 after buying an additional 180 shares during the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group boosted its stake in Unum Group by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 6,592 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $392,000 after purchasing an additional 197 shares during the period. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in Unum Group by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 35,169 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $2,568,000 after buying an additional 202 shares in the last quarter. 86.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Unum Group Stock Up 2.2 %

Shares of UNM opened at $76.43 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $74.38 and a 200-day simple moving average of $67.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a current ratio of 0.29. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.07, a P/E/G ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.80. Unum Group has a 52 week low of $48.38 and a 52 week high of $79.43.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $2.03 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.14 by ($0.11). Unum Group had a net margin of 13.81% and a return on equity of 14.91%. On average, equities research analysts expect 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 share buyback plan on Tuesday, February 18th that allows the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the financial services provider to purchase up to 7.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually an indication that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Unum Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 24th were given a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 24th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.20%. Unum Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17.74%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently commented on UNM shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $79.00 price objective (up previously from $74.00) on shares of Unum Group in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on Unum Group from $91.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on Unum Group in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They set an “outperform” rating and a $91.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Evercore ISI raised shares of 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 research note on Thursday, November 14th. 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.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price 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.