so, imagine you have a toy car, and it goes really fast. People like watching it because it's fun and makes them happy. So, if I tell you that you can have this toy car, you would be really excited, right? Because you like toy cars, and you like things that make you happy. This is like what happens when people see a company that's doing well and making lots of money. They get excited and want to buy the company's shares because they think it's going to make them more money in the future. That's what's happening with Unum Group, which is a company that sells insurance. People are excited about it because the company is doing well and making lots of money. They think it's going to keep making lots of money in the future, so they want to buy the company's shares. Read from source...

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### Benzinga:
Benzinga's article delivers valuable information, analysis and opinions on Unum Group, helping potential investors to understand the company's financial performance, growth prospects, and market position. The article also provides relevant comparisons with other stocks in the insurance industry, and useful links to related news and data. Overall, the article is informative, balanced, and engaging, serving the interests of readers who are interested in investing in Unum Group or related stocks.

bullish

### KAREN:
Bullish sentiment due to optimistic growth projections, decent earnings surprise history, favorable estimate revisions, ROE and ROIC expansion, business tailwinds, solid capital position, consistent dividend payouts and share repurchases, and hike in dividends.

### CHRIS:
The positive outlook for Unum Group is supported by a strong persistency in group lines, growth of new product lines, favorable risk results, healthy in-force block growth, and a higher sales trend.

Unum Group (UNM) is favored by investors due to its favorable sales trends and risk experience, strong persistency, an improving rate environment and a solid capital position.

Earnings have grown 9% in the past five years, better than the insurance industry average of 3.8%. UNM has a decent earnings surprise history, beating estimates in three of the last four quarters and missing in one. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for UNM's 2024 EPS indicates an increase of 9.2% from the year-ago reported number.

UNM has a favorable VGM Score of B, which helps identify stocks with the most attractive value, best growth and most promising momentum. UNM has a return on equity (ROE) of 15.6%, reflecting its efficiency in using shareholders' funds.

Business tailwinds for UNM include healthy in-force block growth, higher sales and favorable risk results. UNM's solid capital position and substantial statutory earnings and capital provide financial flexibility. UNM has hiked dividends 13 times in the last 12 years and recently increased its dividend payout ratio to around 20%.

UNM is expected to repurchase $500 million worth of shares in 2024. The insurer also expects to hike dividends by 10-15% per year over the next five-year period. UNM is poised to grow on the operational excellence of Unum U. S. and Colonial Life.

Some better-ranked stocks from the insurance industry include NMI Holdings (NMIH), Root (ROOT), and The Progressive Corporation (PGR). These companies have a strong earnings surprise history and solid growth prospects.

In summary, UNM is a solid long-term investment opportunity for investors seeking exposure to the insurance industry. The company's strong financial position, attractive growth prospects and consistent cash flow make it an appealing investment option.