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UNM Outperforms Industry, Trades at a Premium: Should You Buy the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-07-14 17:41
Core Insights - Unum Group (UNM) shares have increased by 9.6% year to date, outperforming the Finance sector and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite, which grew by 8.4% and 5.9% respectively [1] - The company's market capitalization stands at $14.07 billion, with an average trading volume of 1.25 million shares over the last three months [1] Valuation Metrics - Unum Group's shares are trading at a forward price-to-book value of 1.25X, which is lower than the industry average of 1.83X, the Finance sector's 4.26X, and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite's 8.42X [3] - The company has a Value Score of A, indicating it is considered affordable compared to its peers [3] Growth Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Unum Group's 2025 revenues is $13.2 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 2.8% [8] - Expected earnings per share for 2026 indicate a growth of 9.1%, while revenues are projected to increase by 3.5% from 2025 estimates [8] - Long-term earnings growth is anticipated at 7.2%, surpassing the industry average of 6% [8] Analyst Sentiment - The average price target for UNM shares is $94.43, suggesting a potential upside of 17.4% from the last closing price [9] - However, analysts have recently lowered their earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 by 0.3% and 0.1% respectively over the past 60 days [12] Dividend Performance - Unum Group raised its dividend by 10% in May 2025, marking the 16th increase in 15 years, with a projected payout of $300–$330 million and a payout ratio of approximately 19.4% [12] - The dividend yield stands at 2.1%, slightly above the industry average, making it attractive for income-focused investors [12] Operational Performance - Premium income rose by 3.5% year over year to $2.7 billion in Q1 2025, driven by growth in core segments and the recapture of a previously ceded individual disability block [15] - The company projects sales growth of 5–10%, premium growth of 4%-7%, and a 6–10% increase in after-tax adjusted operating EPS for 2025 [15] - Unum U.S. and Colonial Life segments have shown consistent growth in operating income, with Colonial Life's adjusted operating income up 1.8% to $115.7 million in Q1 2025 [16] Financial Stability - Unum Group maintains a solid capital position, enhancing its financial flexibility and supporting prudent capital outlay [17] - The company has faced challenges such as rising expenses, declining premiums in the Closed Block segment, and muted growth in investment income due to past low-rate investments [18]
GL Stock Trading at a Discount to Industry at 8.22X: Time to Hold?
ZACKS· 2025-07-10 15:11
Core Insights - Globe Life Inc. (GL) shares are trading at a discount compared to the Zacks Accident and Health Insurance industry, with a forward price-to-earnings multiple of 8.22X, lower than the industry average of 12.27X, the Finance sector's 16.72X, and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite's 22.52X [1] - Globe Life has a market capitalization of $9.7 billion and an average trading volume of 0.6 million shares over the last three months [1] - The company has shown solid upward momentum, with shares closing at $117.60, above the 200-day simple moving average of $116.79 [3] - Globe Life's shares have surged 41.5% over the past year, outperforming the industry growth of 24.2%, the Finance sector's 18.8%, and the Zacks S&P 500 composite's 10.1% [4][7] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects a 9.8% year-over-year increase in earnings per share for 2025, with revenues expected to reach $6.04 billion, reflecting a 4.6% improvement [5] - The average target price for Globe Life shares is $145, suggesting a potential upside of 19.7% from the last closing price [9] Financial Performance - Globe Life's trailing 12-month return on equity is 21.4%, exceeding the industry average of 15.5% [11] - The return on invested capital (ROIC) for the trailing 12 months is 12.7%, better than the industry average of 7.6%, indicating effective fund utilization [12] - Earnings have grown by 13.3% over the past five years, outperforming the industry average of 5.5% [8] Growth Drivers - Globe Life is experiencing revenue growth driven by premium increases in its Life Insurance and Health Insurance segments, as well as net investment income [13] - The American Income and Liberty National divisions are expected to contribute significantly to future top-line growth, with net life and health sales projected to grow in the mid-teens for Liberty National [14] - The company maintains a strong liquidity position and has targeted a consolidated Company Action Level RBC ratio of 300% to 320% for 2025, supporting its financial strength [16] Shareholder Value - Globe Life has consistently increased its dividend over the past eight years, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7% [17] - The company's strong capital position allows for enhanced shareholder value through share buybacks and dividend payouts [16] Conclusion - Globe Life's combination of higher life and health sales, improved invested assets, increased productivity, strong liquidity, and effective capital deployment makes it an attractive investment opportunity [18] - The company holds a favorable VGM Score of B, indicating strong value, growth, and momentum compared to peers [18] - Higher return on capital, favorable growth estimates, and attractive valuations are expected to benefit the insurer in the long term [19]
UNM Stock Trading at a Discount to Industry at 1.23X: Time to Hold?
ZACKS· 2025-06-13 14:56
Core Insights - Unum Group (UNM) shares are trading at a discount compared to the Zacks Accident and Health Insurance industry, with a forward price-to-book value of 1.23X, lower than the industry average of 1.82X, the Finance sector's 4.16X, and the Zacks S&P 500 Composite's 8.1X [1] - The company has a market capitalization of $13.93 billion and an average trading volume of 1.4 million shares over the last three months [1] Performance Comparison - Unum Group shares have surged 63.5% in the past year, outperforming the industry growth of 27.1%, the Finance sector's 20.4%, and the Zacks S&P 500 composite's 10.8% [3] Technical Analysis - Shares closed at $79.25, near a 52-week high of $84.48, indicating strong investor confidence and potential for further price appreciation [5] - The stock is trading above the 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages of $78.88 and $72.31, respectively, suggesting solid upward momentum [5] Growth Projections - For 2025, Unum U.S. expects sales growth of 5-10% and an adjusted operating return on equity (ROE) of 23-25% [8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Unum Group's 2025 revenues is $13.24 billion, reflecting a year-over-year improvement of 2.7% [10] - Long-term earnings growth is expected at 7.2%, outperforming the industry average of 6% [11] Analyst Sentiment - The average price target for UNM is $92.43 per share, suggesting a potential upside of 17.5% from the last closing price [12] - Recent analyst sentiment has shown some bearish trends, with three of eight analysts lowering estimates for 2025 and two for 2026 [16] Revenue and Premium Growth - Premiums are expected to grow due to healthy in-force block growth and higher sales, with projected sales growth of 5-10% and premium growth of 4-7% in 2025 [17][19] - Unum Group's operational excellence in its two largest segments, Unum U.S. and Colonial Life, is expected to drive growth [18] Dividend History - Unum Group has consistently increased shareholder value through dividend hikes, with a 15% increase effective in Q3 2024, marking the 15th hike in the last 14 years [20] - The dividend yield stands at 2.12%, making it attractive for yield-seeking investors [20] Conclusion - Favorable sales trends, strong persistency, and a solid capital position are expected to benefit Unum Group in the long term, making it a wise investment choice [21]