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

Shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) have been given a consensus recommendation of “Hold” by the nine brokerages that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $65.55.

A number of research firms recently weighed in on UL. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a “buy” rating on shares of Unilever in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. UBS Group reissued a “sell” rating on shares of Unilever in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. BNP Paribas Exane set a $71.00 price objective on Unilever and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated an “underperform” rating on shares of Unilever in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, Weiss Ratings downgraded Unilever from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Unilever

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

Unilever Stock Up 0.5%

Shares of NYSE:UL opened at $67.31 on Tuesday. Unilever has a 1-year low of $61.11 and a 1-year high of $73.87. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $65.54 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $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.