Manning & Napier Advisors LLC Decreases Holdings in Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL)

Manning & Napier Advisors LLC reduced its position in Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL - Free Report) by 2.8% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 181,685 shares of the company's stock after selling 5,157 shares during the period. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC's holdings in Unilever were worth $10,819,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Absher Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Unilever by 6.5% in the first quarter. Absher Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,218 shares of the company's stock worth $311,000 after purchasing an additional 320 shares during the last quarter. Stonegate Investment Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Unilever by 69.7% in the 1st quarter. Stonegate Investment Group LLC now owns 14,282 shares of the company's stock worth $850,000 after purchasing an additional 5,867 shares during the period. PFG Investments LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Unilever by 7.1% in the first quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 11,286 shares of the company's stock worth $672,000 after buying an additional 753 shares during the last quarter. Meriwether Wealth & Planning LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Unilever by 13.8% in the first quarter. Meriwether Wealth & Planning LLC now owns 17,676 shares of the company's stock worth $1,053,000 after buying an additional 2,148 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Abundance Wealth Counselors grew its position in Unilever by 15.0% during the first quarter. Abundance Wealth Counselors now owns 25,183 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,470,000 after buying an additional 3,287 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 9.67% of the company's stock.

Unilever Stock Performance

Shares of UL stock opened at $61.17 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $62.98 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $59.54. Unilever PLC has a 52-week low of $54.32 and a 52-week high of $65.87. The firm has a market capitalization of $150.14 billion, a PE ratio of 17.53, a PEG ratio of 3.41 and a beta of 0.43.

Unilever Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 16th were paid a $0.5151 dividend. This represents a $2.06 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.37%. This is an increase from Unilever's previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 16th. Unilever's dividend payout ratio is presently 59.03%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Unilever from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 6th. BNP Paribas upgraded Unilever to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 29th. BNP Paribas Exane assumed coverage on Unilever in a research report on Thursday, May 29th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $73.00 price target for the company. Finally, UBS Group raised Unilever from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $70.67.

Unilever Company Profile

Unilever PLC operates as a fast-moving consumer goods company in the Asia Pacific, Africa, the Americas, and Europe. It operates through five segments: Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care, Nutrition, and Ice Cream. The Beauty & Wellbeing segment engages in the sale of hair care products, such as shampoo, conditioner, and styling; skin care products including face, hand, and body moisturizer; and prestige beauty and health & wellbeing products consist of the vitamins, minerals, and supplements.

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