Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) Receives Average Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from Analysts

Key Points

• Unilever PLC has received an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from ten brokerages, with price targets averaging $73.00.
• The company recently increased its quarterly dividend to $0.5175, reflecting a 3.4% yield, up from the previous dividend of $0.52.
• Significant institutional investment activity includes a 33.2% increase in holdings from the Bank of New York Mellon Corp in the first quarter.

Shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL - Get Free Report) have earned an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the ten brokerages that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have given a hold recommendation, three have given a buy recommendation and three have issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $73.00.

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. 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 set an "outperform" rating and a $73.00 price target on the stock. Zacks Research upgraded Unilever from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 17th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated an "underperform" rating on shares of Unilever in a research report on Sunday, August 3rd. Finally, CICC Research assumed coverage on Unilever in a research report on Thursday, August 21st. They set an "outperform" rating on the stock.

Unilever Trading Up 0.1%

Shares of UL stock opened at $60.54 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $148.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.35, a P/E/G ratio of 3.63 and a beta of 0.40. The business's 50 day moving average is $61.63 and its two-hundred day moving average is $61.60. Unilever has a 12-month low of $54.32 and a 12-month high of $65.87.

Unilever Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 15th were given a $0.5175 dividend. This represents a $2.07 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.4%. This is a boost from Unilever's previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 15th. Unilever's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 59.31%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Unilever

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its position in shares of Unilever by 33.2% in the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 934,804 shares of the company's stock valued at $55,668,000 after acquiring an additional 232,945 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position in shares of Unilever by 13.9% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 28,100,442 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,673,381,000 after acquiring an additional 3,421,054 shares in the last quarter. Stonegate Investment Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Unilever by 69.7% in the first quarter. Stonegate Investment Group LLC now owns 14,282 shares of the company's stock valued at $850,000 after acquiring an additional 5,867 shares in the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Unilever by 65.1% in the first quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 232,096 shares of the company's stock valued at $13,821,000 after acquiring an additional 91,511 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Banco Santander S.A. lifted its position in shares of Unilever by 70.6% in the first quarter. Banco Santander S.A. now owns 15,030 shares of the company's stock valued at $895,000 after acquiring an additional 6,220 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 9.67% of the company's stock.

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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