Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Cut to Hold at StockNews.com

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) was downgraded by stock analysts at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report released on Thursday.

UNM has been the topic of several other reports. Piper Sandler increased their price objective on Unum Group from $82.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Unum Group from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. UBS Group raised shares of Unum Group to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Unum Group from $74.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price target on Unum Group from $70.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $79.45.

Unum Group Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of Unum Group stock opened at $76.97 on Thursday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $74.23 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $65.16. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.05 billion, a PE ratio of 8.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 0.80. Unum Group has a 52-week low of $46.64 and a 52-week high of $79.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a current ratio of 0.28.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last announced 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 return on equity of 15.21% and a net margin of 13.76%. On average, analysts anticipate that Unum Group will post 8.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Hanley Ronald P. O sold 14,299 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.10, for a total value of $1,030,957.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 38,819 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,798,849.90. This represents a 26.92 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Timothy Gerald Arnold sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.92, for a total value of $769,200.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 54,827 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,217,292.84. This represents a 15.43 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 98,164 shares of company stock valued at $7,346,040. 0.93% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNM. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its position in shares of Unum Group by 9.5% during the second quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 36,132 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,847,000 after acquiring an additional 3,143 shares during the last quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Unum Group in the 2nd quarter worth $1,141,000. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of Unum Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $513,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in shares of Unum Group by 22.9% during the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 7,213 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $429,000 after purchasing an additional 1,346 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Diversified Trust Co bought a new stake in shares of Unum Group in the third quarter worth about $211,000. 86.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.