Unilever PLC $UL Shares Sold by HighTower Advisors LLC

Key Points

• HighTower Advisors reduced its Unilever stake by 5.9% in the second quarter, selling 25,527 shares and retaining 410,103 shares valued at approximately $24.7 million.
• Analyst sentiment is mixed but centers on a “Hold” consensus, with an average price target of $65.55. Recent reports included upgrades from “sell” to “hold,” alongside a reiterated buy rating and an underperform rating.
• Unilever’s latest quarterly results fell short of expectations, reporting $0.59 in EPS versus the $1.84 consensus and revenue of $14.62 billion compared with estimates of $14.80 billion; shares recently opened at $63.54.

HighTower Advisors LLC trimmed its position in shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL - Free Report) by 5.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 410,103 shares of the company's stock after selling 25,527 shares during the quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC's holdings in Unilever were worth $24,655,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Elyxium Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Unilever in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in Unilever in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Palisade Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Unilever in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Bard Associates Inc. purchased a new position in Unilever in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Finally, Whipplewood Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Unilever in the 1st quarter worth approximately $29,000. 9.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UL has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Weiss Ratings upgraded Unilever from a "sell (d)" rating to a "hold (c-)" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Zacks Research upgraded Unilever from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. TD Cowen reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Unilever in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reissued an "underperform" rating on shares of Unilever in a report on Monday, July 6th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Unilever has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $65.55.

Unilever Price Performance

UL stock opened at $63.54 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $63.05 and a two-hundred day moving average of $61.33. Unilever PLC has a 52-week low of $54.75 and a 52-week high of $74.97.

Unilever (NYSE:UL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The company reported $0.59 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.84 by ($1.25). The firm had revenue of $14.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.80 billion. Sell-side analysts forecast that Unilever PLC will post 3.53 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Unilever

Unilever PLC is a global consumer goods company that develops, markets and sells products across beauty and wellbeing, personal care, home care and foods. Its portfolio includes well-known brands such as Dove, Vaseline, Axe, TRESemmé, Sunsilk, Hellmann's, Knorr, Cif, Domestos and OMO or Persil, depending on the market.

The company serves consumers in markets around the world, with products distributed through retail stores, e-commerce platforms and other channels. Its offerings include skin and hair care, deodorants, oral care, household cleaning products, dressings, condiments, soups and cooking products.

Unilever was created in 1929 through the combination of Margarine Unie, a Dutch margarine producer, and Lever Brothers, a British soap maker.

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