XML Financial LLC Lowers Stake in Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL)

XML Financial LLC cut its stake in Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) by 4.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 130,825 shares of the company’s stock after selling 6,591 shares during the period. XML Financial LLC’s holdings in Unilever were worth $7,418,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in UL. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV raised its position in Unilever by 7.0% in the 3rd quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 2,781 shares of the company’s stock worth $181,000 after purchasing an additional 181 shares during the period. Timber Creek Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Unilever by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Timber Creek Capital Management LLC now owns 39,530 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,568,000 after acquiring an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. Alhambra Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in Unilever by 4.2% during the 4th quarter. Alhambra Investment Management LLC now owns 4,586 shares of the company’s stock valued at $260,000 after purchasing an additional 186 shares during the period. Good Life Advisors LLC raised its position in Unilever by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter. Good Life Advisors LLC now owns 4,536 shares of the company’s stock valued at $295,000 after purchasing an additional 196 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fiduciary Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in Unilever by 4.3% in the 3rd quarter. Fiduciary Financial Group LLC now owns 4,875 shares of the company’s stock worth $307,000 after buying an additional 201 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 9.67% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Unilever from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 9th. Erste Group Bank reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Unilever in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered shares of Unilever from a “sector perform” rating to an “underperform” rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Unilever from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $61.75.

Unilever Stock Performance

UL opened at $56.95 on Wednesday. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $57.57 and its 200 day moving average is $60.36. Unilever PLC has a fifty-two week low of $46.46 and a fifty-two week high of $65.87.

Unilever Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 8th were issued a dividend of $0.4755 per share. This is a positive change from Unilever’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. This represents a $1.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 8th.

Unilever Company 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.