CNO Financial Group (NYSE:CNO) Insider Jeanne Linnenbringer Sells 3,919 Shares of Stock

CNO Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:CNO) insider Jeanne Linnenbringer sold 3,919 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.11, for a total value of $215,976.09. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 26,209 shares in the company, valued at $1,444,377.99. This trade represents a 13.01% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.

CNO Financial Group Trading Up 1.4%

Shares of CNO stock opened at $55.33 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $5.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.01 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a quick ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 0.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65. CNO Financial Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $38.22 and a fifty-two week high of $57.59. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $53.67 and a 200-day simple moving average of $47.68.

CNO Financial Group (NYSE:CNO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.26 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.97 by $0.29. The business had revenue of $1.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $999.45 million. CNO Financial Group had a net margin of 6.02% and a return on equity of 18.76%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.87 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that CNO Financial Group, Inc. will post 4.74 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

CNO Financial Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 24th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 10th will be issued a $0.18 dividend. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 10th. CNO Financial Group’s dividend payout ratio is 24.74%.

More CNO Financial Group News

Here are the key news stories impacting CNO Financial Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: CNO’s September 1 investor briefing highlighted growth strategies and operating momentum in its worksite and Medicare operations, potentially reinforcing the investment case and helping support the stock’s recent strength. CNO Financial Highlights Growth in Worksite and Medicare Operations
• Positive Sentiment: Management’s discussion of business strategies and growth drivers in the worksite and Medicare segments gives investors additional visibility into potential expansion areas and future earnings support. CNO Financial Group Discusses Worksite and Medicare Business Strategies and Growth Drivers Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Insiders Karen J. Detoro and Jeanne L. Linnenbringer collectively sold approximately 39,213 shares worth about $2.15 million across August 31 through September 2. The sales reduce their individual holdings and could signal profit-taking or create a modest overhang, though both sets of transactions were executed under pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plans. Karen J. Detoro SEC Form 4 Jeanne L. Linnenbringer SEC Form 4

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on CNO shares. Weiss Ratings upgraded CNO Financial Group from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b+)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their target price on CNO Financial Group from $53.00 to $57.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Evercore set a $48.00 price target on CNO Financial Group and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research report on Monday, June 1st. Capital One Financial set a $70.00 price target on CNO Financial Group in a report on Wednesday, August 26th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded CNO Financial Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, August 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $56.00.

Institutional Trading of CNO Financial Group

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Nykredit A S acquired a new stake in shares of CNO Financial Group during the second quarter worth $39,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in CNO Financial Group by 123.1% during the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,176 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 649 shares during the period. Bessemer Group Inc. boosted its stake in CNO Financial Group by 75.4% in the 1st quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 1,133 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 487 shares during the last quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in CNO Financial Group by 39.2% in the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 1,194 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 336 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc grew its holdings in CNO Financial Group by 72.0% in the 2nd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,132 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $58,000 after buying an additional 474 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.43% of the company’s stock.

About CNO Financial Group

CNO Financial Group is an Indiana?based holding company that offers a range of insurance and retirement solutions through its operating subsidiaries. Its primary business activities include life insurance, annuities, and supplemental health insurance products designed to help individuals plan for retirement and manage health?related expenses. The company serves middle?income Americans, with particular emphasis on senior customers seeking guaranteed coverage and reliable income streams.

Originally founded as Conseco in 1979, the company underwent a financial restructuring and rebranded as CNO Financial Group in 2010.