Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) Receives Consensus Rating of "Hold" from Brokerages

Key Points

• Consensus "Hold": Twelve brokerages rate Unilever a consensus Hold (3 sell, 5 hold, 2 buy, 2 strong buy) with an average 12‑month price target of $65.55.
• Recent quarter significantly missed estimates, reporting $0.75 EPS vs. $1.75 expected and $11.87B revenue vs. $31.39B expected; the stock opened at $59.76 and sits below its 200‑day moving average of $65.51, near its 52‑week low.
• Dividend: Unilever declared a quarterly dividend of $0.5449 per share (annualized $2.18), equivalent to a 3.6% yield, with ex‑dividend date May 15 and pay date June 26.

Shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL - Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus rating of "Hold" from the twelve brokerages that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, five have issued a hold recommendation, two have assigned a buy recommendation and two have assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $65.55.

A number of research firms have weighed in on UL. Royal Bank Of Canada upgraded Unilever from an "underperform" rating to a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 21st. Argus upgraded Unilever to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Monday, March 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group restated an "underperform" rating on shares of Unilever in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. BNP Paribas Exane set a $71.00 price target on Unilever and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Kepler Capital Markets lowered Unilever from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th.

Unilever Price Performance

Shares of UL stock opened at $59.76 on Thursday. Unilever has a 52-week low of $54.95 and a 52-week high of $74.97. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $61.62 and a 200 day moving average price of $65.51.

Unilever (NYSE:UL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.75 by ($1.00). The company had revenue of $11.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $31.39 billion. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Unilever will post 3.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Unilever Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.5449 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 15th. This represents a $2.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.6%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Unilever

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UL. Elyxium Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Unilever in the fourth quarter valued at about $25,000. Financial Life Planners purchased a new position in Unilever in the first quarter valued at about $25,000. Palisade Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Unilever in the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Bard Associates Inc. acquired a new stake in Unilever in the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Asset Dedication LLC boosted its holdings in Unilever by 108.8% in the third quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 476 shares of the company's stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 248 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 9.67% of the company's stock.

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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