Russell Investments Group Ltd. Boosts Stock Holdings in Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL)

Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its position in Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) by 65.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 231,683 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 91,836 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd.’s holdings in Unilever were worth $11,232,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Headlands Technologies LLC lifted its position in shares of Unilever by 456.7% during the fourth quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC now owns 37,431 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,815,000 after acquiring an additional 30,707 shares in the last quarter. Callan Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Unilever during the fourth quarter worth $225,000. Evolution Advisers Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Unilever during the fourth quarter worth $34,000. Meritage Portfolio Management increased its holdings in shares of Unilever by 0.4% in the fourth quarter. Meritage Portfolio Management now owns 75,306 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,651,000 after purchasing an additional 271 shares during the period. Finally, Disciplined Equity Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Unilever in the fourth quarter worth $73,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 9.67% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley cut shares of Unilever from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $52.00 to $48.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 27th. StockNews.com raised shares of Unilever from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 1st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $48.00.

Unilever Stock Up 0.2 %

Unilever stock opened at $52.13 on Monday. Unilever PLC has a fifty-two week low of $46.16 and a fifty-two week high of $55.69. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $49.21 and its 200-day moving average price is $48.69.

Unilever Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 7th. Investors of record on Friday, May 17th will be paid a $0.4556 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 16th. This represents a $1.82 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.50%.

Unilever 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.