Unum Group $UNM Shares Sold by Sterling Investment Counsel LLC

Sterling Investment Counsel LLC decreased its holdings in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) by 7.1% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,734 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 210 shares during the period. Sterling Investment Counsel LLC’s holdings in Unum Group were worth $221,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. raised its holdings in Unum Group by 7.0% in the 2nd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 150,251 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $12,134,000 after acquiring an additional 9,884 shares during the last quarter. Vicus Capital acquired a new stake in Unum Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $253,000. Consolidated Planning Corp increased its holdings in shares of Unum Group by 5.8% during the 2nd quarter. Consolidated Planning Corp now owns 75,090 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $6,064,000 after buying an additional 4,135 shares during the last quarter. Paradiem LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Unum Group during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $11,595,000. Finally, GC Wealth Management RIA LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Unum Group during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $271,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.57% of the company’s stock.

Unum Group Stock Performance

NYSE:UNM opened at $78.52 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 0.30 and a current ratio of 0.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.39, a PEG ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.36. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $73.00 and a 200 day moving average price of $77.23. Unum Group has a fifty-two week low of $58.66 and a fifty-two week high of $84.48.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.07 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.23 by ($0.16). The company had revenue of $3.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.35 billion. Unum Group had a return on equity of 13.44% and a net margin of 11.77%.The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.16 EPS. Unum Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 8.500-8.50 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Unum Group will post 9.14 EPS for the current year.

Unum Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 25th were given a $0.46 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 25th. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. This is a boost from Unum Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. Unum Group’s dividend payout ratio is 22.01%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on UNM. Piper Sandler raised their price target on shares of Unum Group from $88.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 3rd. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Unum Group to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 16th. Evercore ISI cut their price target on shares of Unum Group from $100.00 to $96.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods restated an “outperform” rating and set a $95.00 price target (down previously from $100.00) on shares of Unum Group in a report on Thursday, July 31st. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Unum Group from $85.00 to $79.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 18th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $91.14.

Unum Group Company Profile

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.