Nichols & Pratt Advisers LLP MA Makes New Investment in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

Nichols & Pratt Advisers LLP MA purchased a new position in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund purchased 3,270 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $239,000.

Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in UNM. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,500,508 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $326,950,000 after acquiring an additional 55,014 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 50.0% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 469,342 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $29,554,000 after acquiring an additional 156,380 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. increased its stake in shares of Unum Group by 44.1% in the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 16,495 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,205,000 after buying an additional 5,047 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its holdings in Unum Group by 89.5% in the third quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 111,831 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $6,647,000 after buying an additional 52,813 shares during the period. Finally, Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC bought a new position in Unum Group during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,074,000. 86.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Unum Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNM opened at $82.27 on Friday. 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’s 50-day simple moving average is $74.73 and its 200 day simple moving average is $67.43. The stock has a market cap of $15.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.69, a PEG ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.80. Unum Group has a fifty-two week low of $48.38 and a fifty-two week high of $83.96.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The financial services provider reported $2.03 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.14 by ($0.11). Unum Group had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 13.81%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Unum Group will post 9.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Unum Group declared that its board has authorized a share repurchase 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 generally a sign that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Unum Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 24th were given a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.04%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 24th. Unum Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 17.74%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently commented on UNM shares. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of Unum Group from $91.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Unum Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, February 24th. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on Unum Group in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $91.00 target price for the company. Truist Financial raised their price objective on Unum Group from $70.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on shares of Unum Group from $90.00 to $103.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $83.92.

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.