Park Avenue Securities LLC Has $3.08 Million Stake in Unilever PLC $UL

Park Avenue Securities LLC lowered its stake in shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) by 20.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 47,065 shares of the company’s stock after selling 12,137 shares during the period. Park Avenue Securities LLC’s holdings in Unilever were worth $3,078,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Palisade Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Unilever during the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Asset Dedication LLC lifted its position in shares of Unilever by 108.8% in the 3rd quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 476 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 248 shares during the period. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates bought a new stake in shares of Unilever in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. FNY Investment Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Unilever during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Unilever by 141.3% during the 3rd quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC now owns 514 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 301 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 9.67% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently commented on UL shares. Argus upgraded Unilever to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, March 2nd. BNP Paribas Exane set a $71.00 price target on shares of Unilever and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Unilever from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a report on Thursday, February 26th. Jefferies Financial Group restated an “underperform” rating on shares of Unilever in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered shares of Unilever from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $65.55.

Unilever Stock Performance

Unilever stock opened at $61.53 on Monday. Unilever PLC has a one year low of $61.25 and a one year high of $74.97. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $68.51 and a 200 day simple moving average of $67.80.

Unilever (NYSE:UL) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $0.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.75 by ($1.00). The business had revenue of $11.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $31.39 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Unilever PLC will post 3.27 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Unilever Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be paid a $0.5547 dividend. This represents a $2.22 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 27th.

Key Headlines Impacting Unilever

Here are the key news stories impacting Unilever this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Potential value unlock — a spin‑off or sale of Unilever’s foods arm would leave a more focused beauty & personal‑care Unilever and could create shareholder value if assets are re‑rated. Unilever in Talks to Separate Food Business and Combine It With McCormick
• Positive Sentiment: Strategic fit for foods — McCormick’s dealmaking track record (e.g., Frank’s, Cholula) suggests the combined foods business could be positioned for growth under a specialist owner. From Frank’s to Cholula, McCormick’s decade of deals sets stage for bold Unilever move
• Neutral Sentiment: Unilever confirms talks but stresses no agreement yet — active discussions and an inbound offer are underway, so timing and terms remain uncertain. Unilever confirms talks with McCormick over sale of foods business
• Neutral Sentiment: Process still fluid — reports say the deal could be structured as an all‑stock combination and could move quickly, but market reaction will hinge on swap terms and governance. Unilever in talks to combine food business with McCormick, WSJ reports
• Negative Sentiment: Execution and integration risks — combining sizeable food brands with a smaller acquirer raises operational, regulatory and cultural risks that could pressure the stock if uncertainties persist. Quotes: Analysts and experts react to Unilever’s potential food business sale to McCormick
• Negative Sentiment: Near‑term investor concern — foods is a meaningful revenue component and earlier reporting of a possible spin‑off coincided with share weakness; recent quarterly results also showed notable EPS and revenue misses, which amplify sensitivity to strategic disruption. Explainer: How important is food to Unilever?

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.