BTR Capital Management cut its stake in Torchmark Co. (NYSE:TMK) by 11.6% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The hedge fund owned 5,137 shares of the company’s stock after selling 675 shares during the period. BTR Capital Management’s holdings in Torchmark were worth $294,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in TMK. Janus Capital Management raised its position in Torchmark by 5.8% in the third quarter. Janus Capital Management now owns 793,588 shares of the company’s stock valued at $44,759,000 after buying an additional 43,564 shares during the last quarter. R. M. Davis raised its position in Torchmark by 192.5% in the fourth quarter. R. M. Davis now owns 102,090 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,835,000 after buying an additional 67,190 shares during the last quarter. Pensionfund DSM Netherlands acquired a new position in Torchmark during the fourth quarter valued at about $2,286,000. Churchill Management acquired a new position in Torchmark during the fourth quarter valued at about $1,484,000. Finally, Pensionfund Sabic acquired a new position in Torchmark during the fourth quarter valued at about $1,143,000.

Shares of Torchmark Co. (NYSE:TMK) opened at 54.34 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $6.70 billion and a P/E ratio of 12.90. Torchmark Co. has a 52-week low of $49.77 and a 52-week high of $63.26. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $55.26 and a 200-day moving average of $58.28.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 6th will be paid a $0.135 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, January 4th. This represents a $0.54 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.99%.

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on TMK shares. Zacks Investment Research lowered shares of Torchmark from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 6th. Wells Fargo upgraded shares of Torchmark from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 13th. Deutsche Bank lowered their target price on shares of Torchmark from $59.00 to $55.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 14th. Goldman Sachs started coverage on shares of Torchmark in a report on Tuesday, November 17th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $61.00 target price for the company. Finally, Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Torchmark from $53.00 to $51.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 27th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. Torchmark currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $57.67.

In other Torchmark news, insider Roger C. Smith sold 15,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.64, for a total value of $834,600.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 18,455 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,026,836.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, VP Arvelia Bowie sold 5,875 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.23, for a total transaction of $353,851.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here.

Torchmark Corporation is an insurance holding company. The Company’s segments include life insurance, health insurance, Medicare Part D, annuities and investment. The life insurance segment offers whole-life insurance, term life insurance and other life insurance products. The health insurance segment offers supplemental limited-benefit health insurance products primarily for cancer and accident plans. It also provides coverage under the Government’s Medicare Part D plan. The Company offers single-premium and flexible-premium deferred annuity products. The Company also invests in bonds, preferred stock, common stocks, mortgage loans, real estate, policy loans and others. Its primary subsidiaries are American Income Life Insurance Company, Liberty National Life Insurance Company, Globe Life And Accident Insurance Company, United American Insurance Company and Family Heritage Life Insurance Company of America.

12 Month Chart for NYSE:TMK

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