Unilever (NYSE:UL) Coverage Initiated by Analysts at BNP Paribas Exane

BNP Paribas Exane assumed coverage on shares of Unilever (NYSE:UL - Free Report) in a report issued on Thursday morning, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The firm issued an outperform rating and a $73.00 price target on the stock.

UL has been the subject of a number of other reports. BNP Paribas upgraded Unilever to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Thursday. Wall Street Zen cut Unilever from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. DZ Bank upgraded Unilever from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Finally, UBS Group upgraded Unilever from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $70.67.

Unilever Stock Up 0.4%

Shares of UL stock traded up $0.27 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $63.84. 2,356,356 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,504,528. Unilever has a fifty-two week low of $54.15 and a fifty-two week high of $65.87. The stock has a market capitalization of $156.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.29, a P/E/G ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 0.44. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $62.00 and a 200-day moving average price of $59.10.

Unilever Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 16th will be given a $0.5151 dividend. This represents a $2.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.23%. This is a boost from Unilever's previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 16th. Unilever's dividend payout ratio is 59.03%.

Institutional Trading of Unilever

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Mission Wealth Management LP raised its position in 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 last quarter. Essex Financial Services Inc. raised its position 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 buying an additional 168 shares during the last quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. raised its position 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 buying an additional 172 shares during the last quarter. Cardinal Capital Management increased its position in shares of Unilever by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Cardinal Capital Management now owns 39,953 shares of the company's stock worth $2,379,000 after purchasing an additional 176 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Pinion Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Unilever by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Pinion Investment Advisors LLC now owns 9,250 shares of the company's stock worth $524,000 after purchasing an additional 177 shares in the last quarter. 9.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.