Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Given Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) have been given an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the fifteen research firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, eight have issued a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $93.8333.

A number of research analysts have commented on UNM shares. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Unum Group from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Friday, May 29th. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Unum Group from $81.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, April 9th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Unum Group from $99.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, May 5th. Bank of America reduced their price target on shares of Unum Group from $83.00 to $77.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 14th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Unum Group from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, April 11th.

Unum Group Trading Up 0.3%

NYSE UNM opened at $87.08 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 0.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The company has a market capitalization of $13.91 billion, a PE ratio of 18.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 0.24. Unum Group has a 1-year low of $68.28 and a 1-year high of $87.81. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $79.93 and its 200-day simple moving average is $76.97.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The financial services provider reported $2.14 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.07 by $0.07. Unum Group had a net margin of 5.86% and a return on equity of 12.60%. The firm had revenue of $3.36 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.91 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.04 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 8.5% on a year-over-year basis. Unum Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.600-8.90 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Unum Group will post 8.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Unum Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 15th. Investors of record on Friday, April 24th were given a $0.46 dividend. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, April 24th. Unum Group’s payout ratio is currently 40.00%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Unum Group

In related news, EVP Christopher W. Pyne sold 4,852 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, March 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.47, for a total value of $351,624.44. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 52,268 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,787,861.96. The trade was a 8.49% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Elizabeth Claire Ahmed sold 12,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.14, for a total transaction of $961,680.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 42,587 shares in the company, valued at $3,412,922.18. This trade represents a 21.98% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders own 1.00% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Unum Group

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Unum Group during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. SHP Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Unum Group during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. MBM Wealth Consultants LLC acquired a new position in shares of Unum Group during the 1st quarter worth about $29,000. Triumph Capital Management acquired a new position in shares of Unum Group during the 3rd quarter worth about $31,000. Finally, Ancora Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Unum Group by 385.2% during the 3rd quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 427 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 339 shares during the last quarter. 86.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Unum Group

Unum Group (NYSE: UNM) is a leading provider of employee benefits in the United States and selected international markets, specializing in disability, life, accident and critical illness insurance. Through both fully insured and self-funded arrangements, the company offers group coverage designed to protect income and mitigate financial hardship for employees and their families. Its portfolio includes short-term and long-term disability plans, group life and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) policies, as well as critical illness and hospital indemnity products.

In addition to its core product lines, Unum Group markets voluntary benefits under its Colonial Life brand, allowing employees to purchase supplemental insurance such as accident, cancer, and dental coverage directly through payroll deductions.