Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) Shares Sold by Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc.

Key Points

• Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. has reduced its holdings in Unilever PLC by 47.6% in the first quarter, selling 7,875 shares and holding a total of 8,657 shares valued at approximately $516,000.
• Analysts have mixed ratings on Unilever, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy", and price targets ranging from $72.50 to $73.00 by various institutions.
• Unilever's stock opened at $58.39, with a market cap of $143.27 billion and a reported 12-month high of $65.87.

Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. reduced its position in Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL - Free Report) by 47.6% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 8,657 shares of the company's stock after selling 7,875 shares during the period. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc.'s holdings in Unilever were worth $516,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Mission Wealth Management LP lifted its holdings in shares of Unilever by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. Mission Wealth Management LP now owns 11,497 shares of the company's stock valued at $685,000 after buying an additional 159 shares during the period. Essex Financial Services Inc. increased its stake in Unilever by 1.0% in the 1st quarter. Essex Financial Services Inc. now owns 16,246 shares of the company's stock valued at $967,000 after purchasing an additional 168 shares in the last quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. increased its stake in Unilever by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 21,492 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,280,000 after purchasing an additional 172 shares in the last quarter. Cardinal Capital Management increased its stake in Unilever by 0.4% in the 1st quarter. Cardinal Capital Management now owns 39,953 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,379,000 after purchasing an additional 176 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Trust Co. of Vermont increased its stake in Unilever by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 35,729 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,128,000 after purchasing an additional 181 shares in the last quarter. 9.67% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UL has been the subject of several recent research reports. BNP Paribas raised Unilever to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 29th. BNP Paribas Exane assumed coverage on Unilever in a report on Thursday, May 29th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $73.00 price objective on the stock. UBS Group upgraded Unilever from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut Unilever from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, May 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $72.50.

Unilever Price Performance

Shares of UL opened at $58.39 on Friday. The stock's 50-day moving average is $61.64 and its two-hundred day moving average is $60.17. The stock has a market cap of $143.27 billion, a PE ratio of 16.73, a P/E/G ratio of 3.75 and a beta of 0.41. Unilever PLC has a 12 month low of $54.32 and a 12 month high of $65.87.

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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