Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) Receives Average Rating of “Hold” from Analysts

Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) has been assigned a consensus rating of “Hold” from the nine brokerages that are covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $65.55.

Several research analysts have recently commented on UL shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a “buy” rating on shares of Unilever in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Weiss Ratings downgraded Unilever from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. UBS Group restated a “sell” rating on shares of Unilever in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed an “underperform” rating on shares of Unilever in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, Zacks Research lowered shares of Unilever from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 16th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Unilever

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UL. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its position in shares of Unilever by 9.3% in the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 34,665,544 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,054,973,000 after buying an additional 2,935,227 shares during the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Unilever by 4.4% in the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 22,537,917 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,336,048,000 after acquiring an additional 959,269 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its stake in Unilever by 1.6% in the third quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 5,773,638 shares of the company’s stock valued at $342,261,000 after acquiring an additional 91,049 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Unilever by 3.5% during the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,001,060 shares of the company’s stock worth $237,183,000 after purchasing an additional 133,776 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. increased its position in shares of Unilever by 0.5% during the third quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 3,293,210 shares of the company’s stock worth $195,221,000 after purchasing an additional 17,763 shares in the last quarter. 9.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Unilever Stock Up 0.5%

NYSE:UL opened at $67.31 on Tuesday. Unilever has a fifty-two week low of $61.11 and a fifty-two week high of $73.87. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $65.54 and a 200 day moving average price of $67.64.

About Unilever

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.