Unilever PLC (UL) - What Are Analysts Saying About This Stock?

Key Points

• Analysts have a consensus “Hold” rating on Unilever, with 9 hold, 7 buy, 2 sell and 1 strong-buy recommendations. The average 12-month price target is $68.37.
• Unilever shares opened at $63.95, down 1.7%, and remain within a 12-month range of $54.75 to $74.97.
• The company reported quarterly EPS of $0.59, missing the $1.84 consensus estimate, while revenue of $14.62 billion came in below analysts’ $14.80 billion forecast.

Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL - Get Free Report) has received an average recommendation of "Hold" from the nineteen ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, nine have given a hold recommendation, seven have assigned a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $68.37.

A number of brokerages have commented on UL. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Unilever in a research note on Wednesday, September 30th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Unilever from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 28th. Morningstar lowered shares of Unilever to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed an "underperform" rating on shares of Unilever in a report on Monday, October 12th. Finally, DZ Bank reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Unilever in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Unilever

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of UL. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Unilever by 17.1% in the 3rd quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,053 shares of the company's stock valued at $64,000 after purchasing an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Unilever by 4.4% in the 3rd quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,860 shares of the company's stock valued at $234,000 after purchasing an additional 164 shares during the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. raised its holdings in shares of Unilever by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 6,948 shares of the company's stock worth $422,000 after buying an additional 175 shares in the last quarter. Blake Schutter Theil Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Unilever by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. Blake Schutter Theil Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,754 shares of the company's stock worth $328,000 after buying an additional 180 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital Analysts LLC raised its holdings in shares of Unilever by 5.3% during the 2nd quarter. Capital Analysts LLC now owns 3,748 shares of the company's stock worth $225,000 after buying an additional 187 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 9.67% of the company's stock.

Unilever Trading Down 1.7%

Shares of Unilever stock opened at $63.95 on Thursday. Unilever has a 12-month low of $54.75 and a 12-month high of $74.97. The business's 50 day moving average is $63.29 and its 200-day moving average is $62.62.

Unilever (NYSE:UL - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The company reported $0.59 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.84 by ($1.25). The company had revenue of $14.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.80 billion. On average, equities research analysts expect that Unilever will post 3.57 EPS for the current year.

Unilever Company Profile

Unilever PLC is a global consumer goods company headquartered in London, England. It develops, markets and sells branded products used in households and personal care, with operations serving consumers across developed and emerging markets worldwide.

The company's portfolio includes beauty and wellbeing products, personal care items, home care products, and foods and refreshments. Its brands include Dove, Vaseline, Axe, TRESemmé, Cif, OMO, Persil, Knorr, Hellmann's and Ben & Jerry's, although product offerings vary by market.

Unilever was formed in 1929 through the merger of British soap maker Lever Brothers and Dutch margarine producer Margarine Unie.

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