Donald Smith & CO. Inc. Has $180.49 Million Stock Position in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM)

Donald Smith & CO. Inc. trimmed its stake in shares of Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) by 15.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,471,417 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 449,593 shares during the period. Unum Group comprises about 4.3% of Donald Smith & CO. Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 3rd biggest holding. Donald Smith & CO. Inc. owned 1.35% of Unum Group worth $180,488,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of UNM. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Unum Group during the fourth quarter valued at about $1,003,918,000. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Unum Group by 8.4% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,497,586 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,496,939,000 after acquiring an additional 1,596,078 shares in the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH boosted its stake in Unum Group by 44.9% in the 4th quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 1,264,994 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $92,383,000 after purchasing an additional 392,191 shares during the period. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. grew its position in Unum Group by 151.7% during the 3rd quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 509,702 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $30,297,000 after purchasing an additional 307,175 shares in the last quarter. Finally, California Public Employees Retirement System raised its stake in Unum Group by 50.0% during the 4th quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 831,806 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $60,747,000 after purchasing an additional 277,401 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.57% of the company’s stock.

Unum Group Stock Performance

Shares of UNM opened at $82.93 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $14.66 billion, a PE ratio of 8.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.29 and a quick ratio of 0.28. Unum Group has a one year low of $48.38 and a one year high of $84.48. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $78.20 and its 200 day moving average price is $71.90.

Unum Group (NYSE:UNM) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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, analysts expect that Unum Group will post 9.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Unum Group declared that its board has approved a share repurchase program on Tuesday, February 18th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the financial services provider to repurchase up to 7.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often a sign that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Unum Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 24th were given a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 24th. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.03%. Unum Group’s dividend payout ratio is 17.74%.

Insider Transactions at Unum Group

In other news, EVP Lisa G. Iglesias sold 7,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.75, for a total transaction of $579,250.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 31,284 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,588,751. The trade was a 18.28 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Richard P. Mckenney sold 50,000 shares of Unum Group stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $81.99, for a total value of $4,099,500.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 980,637 shares in the company, valued at approximately $80,402,427.63. This trade represents a 4.85 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.93% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Barclays lifted their price target on Unum Group from $76.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, January 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Unum Group from $81.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $75.00 to $91.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Unum Group from $81.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Finally, Piper Sandler boosted their price target on shares of Unum Group from $87.00 to $92.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $87.86.

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.