UBS Group AG Raises Position in Unilever PLC $UL

Key Points

• UBS Group AG raised its stake in Unilever by 14.5% in Q4, adding 125,664 shares to hold 990,796 shares worth about $64.8 million.
• Unilever substantially missed quarterly estimates, reporting $0.75 EPS versus a $1.75 consensus and revenue of $11.87 billion versus a $31.39 billion consensus.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.5449 (annualized $2.18, ~3.7% yield) with an ex-dividend date of May 15, while analysts’ consensus rating is a Hold with an average target of $65.55.

UBS Group AG raised its holdings in shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL - Free Report) by 14.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 990,796 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 125,664 shares during the quarter. UBS Group AG's holdings in Unilever were worth $64,798,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Natixis Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Unilever by 3.1% during the third quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 1,247,467 shares of the company's stock worth $73,950,000 after purchasing an additional 37,630 shares during the last quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Unilever by 160.8% in the 4th quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 82,192 shares of the company's stock worth $5,375,000 after buying an additional 50,682 shares during the period. DAVENPORT & Co LLC raised its position in shares of Unilever by 37.3% in the 4th quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 78,400 shares of the company's stock worth $5,127,000 after buying an additional 21,313 shares during the period. Cullen Investment Group LTD. purchased a new position in shares of Unilever in the 4th quarter worth $5,003,000. Finally, HF Advisory Group LLC raised its position in shares of Unilever by 1,135.3% in the 4th quarter. HF Advisory Group LLC now owns 388,355 shares of the company's stock worth $25,398,000 after buying an additional 356,918 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 9.67% of the company's stock.

Unilever Price Performance

NYSE:UL opened at $58.68 on Tuesday. The business's 50-day moving average is $62.20 and its two-hundred day moving average is $65.65. Unilever PLC has a 12 month low of $54.95 and a 12 month high of $74.97.

Unilever (NYSE:UL - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.75 by ($1.00). The business had revenue of $11.87 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $31.39 billion. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Unilever PLC will post 3.69 EPS for the current year.

Unilever Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 15th will be given a $0.5449 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 15th. This represents a $2.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.7%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UL has been the topic of several research reports. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed an "underperform" rating on shares of Unilever in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Argus raised Unilever to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. Kepler Capital Markets lowered Unilever from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered Unilever from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada raised Unilever from an "underperform" rating to a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 21st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $65.55.

Unilever Company Profile

Unilever PLC is a global consumer goods company with roots dating back to the early 20th century, formed from the merger of the British firm Lever Brothers and the Dutch company Margarine Unie. The company develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of branded products in personal care, home care and foods and refreshments. Unilever's corporate structure and listings reflect its long history in both the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, and it operates at scale across diverse consumer markets worldwide.

Unilever's business is organized around major product categories—Beauty & Personal Care, Home Care and Foods & Refreshment—and includes numerous well-known consumer brands across those categories.

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