Stockholders' Equity and Earnings Per Common Share

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Stockholders' Equity and Earnings Per Common Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share Disclosure

Earnings Per Common Share

Net income per common share is determined as follows:

	Year Ended December 31
	2020		2019		2018
	(in millions of dollars, except share data)
Numerator
Net Income	$	793.0	$	1,100.3	$	523.4
Denominator (000s)
Weighted Average Common Shares - Basic	203,642.0		209,728.9		219,635.6
Dilution for Assumed Exercises of Stock Options and Nonvested Stock Awards	113.3		125.5		423.0
Weighted Average Common Shares - Assuming Dilution	203,755.3		209,854.4		220,058.6
Net Income Per Common Share
Basic	$	3.89	$	5.25	$	2.38
Assuming Dilution	$	3.89	$	5.24	$	2.38

We compute basic earnings per share by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. In computing earnings per share assuming dilution, we include potential common shares that are dilutive (those that reduce earnings per share). We use the treasury stock method to account for the effect of outstanding stock options, nonvested stock success units, nonvested restricted stock units, and nonvested performance share units on the computation of diluted earnings per share. Under this method, the potential common shares from stock options, nonvested stock success units, and nonvested restricted stock units will each have a dilutive effect, as individually measured, when the average market price of Unum Group common stock during the period exceeds the exercise price of the stock options and the grant price of the nonvested stock success units and nonvested restricted stock units. Potential common shares from performance based share units will have a dilutive effect as the attainment of performance conditions is progressively achieved during the vesting period. Potential common shares not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the impact would be antidilutive, approximated 1.6 million, 1.1 million, and 0.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. See Note 11 for further discussion of our stock-based compensation plans.

Stockholders' Equity Disclosure

Common Stock

During the second quarter of 2019, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $750.0 million of Unum Group's outstanding common stock through November 23, 2020, at which point the authorization expired. This authorization replaced the previous authorization of $750.0 million that was scheduled to expire on November 24, 2019. As of December 31, 2020, we did not authorize a new share repurchase program and there were no remaining amounts to be repurchased under either plan at December 31, 2020.

Common stock repurchases, which are accounted for using the cost method and classified as treasury stock until otherwise retired, were as follows:

	Year Ended December 31
	2020		2019		2018
	(in millions)
Shares Repurchased	—		12.3		8.7
Cost of Shares Repurchased (1)	$	—	$	400.4	$	350.7

(1) Includes commissions of $0.4 million and $0.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Preferred Stock

Unum Group has 25.0 million shares of preferred stock authorized with a par value of $0.10 per share. No preferred stock has been issued to date.