Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) Shares Sold by Artemis Investment Management LLP

Artemis Investment Management LLP reduced its position in shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) by 3.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 225,448 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 7,303 shares during the period. Artemis Investment Management LLP owned 0.12% of Unum Group worth $16,464,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Unum Group during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. purchased a new position in Unum Group in the third quarter worth approximately $37,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC increased its stake in Unum Group by 38.2% during the third quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 702 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 194 shares during the last quarter. William B. Walkup & Associates Inc. purchased a new stake in Unum Group in the second quarter valued at $44,000. Finally, Quarry LP lifted its stake in shares of Unum Group by 4,794.7% in the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 930 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $55,000 after purchasing an additional 911 shares during the last quarter. 86.57% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages recently issued reports on UNM. Evercore ISI upgraded shares of Unum Group from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $67.00 to $84.00 in a report on Thursday, November 14th. Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $54.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, October 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $79.00 target price (up previously from $74.00) on shares of Unum Group in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Truist Financial upped their price target on Unum Group from $70.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Finally, UBS Group raised Unum Group to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $75.45.

Unum Group Price Performance

UNM stock opened at $75.02 on Friday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $73.60 and its two-hundred day moving average is $62.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.28 and a quick ratio of 0.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.12, a P/E/G ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 0.81. Unum Group has a 1 year low of $45.23 and a 1 year high of $77.63.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.10 by $0.03. Unum Group had a net margin of 13.76% and a return on equity of 15.21%. The company had revenue of $3.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.26 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.94 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Unum Group will post 8.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Unum Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 14th. Investors of record on Friday, January 24th will be issued a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.24%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 24th. Unum Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 18.18%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Unum Group

In other news, CAO Walter Lynn Rice, Jr. sold 1,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $69.56, for a total value of $104,340.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 8,361 shares in the company, valued at approximately $581,591.16. This represents a 15.21 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Christopher W. Pyne sold 3,250 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.02, for a total transaction of $227,565.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 50,762 shares in the company, valued at $3,554,355.24. This trade represents a 6.02 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 107,914 shares of company stock worth $7,998,745 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.93% 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.