Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) Stake Raised by Todd Asset Management LLC

Todd Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) by 18.8% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 96,299 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 15,208 shares during the quarter. Todd Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Unilever were worth $5,460,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Unilever in the third quarter worth $11,908,000. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Unilever in the third quarter valued at about $463,000. Arkadios Wealth Advisors increased its position in Unilever by 55.9% in the 3rd quarter. Arkadios Wealth Advisors now owns 6,481 shares of the company’s stock worth $421,000 after purchasing an additional 2,325 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in shares of Unilever by 16.9% during the 3rd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 110,528 shares of the company’s stock worth $7,180,000 after purchasing an additional 15,941 shares in the last quarter. Finally, J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Unilever by 3.0% during the 3rd quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 11,324 shares of the company’s stock valued at $736,000 after buying an additional 334 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 9.67% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms recently commented on UL. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Unilever from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 9th. 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. StockNews.com lowered shares of Unilever from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Erste Group Bank reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Unilever in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Finally, DZ Bank raised Unilever from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $61.75.

Unilever Trading Down 0.8 %

Shares of UL opened at $55.87 on Wednesday. Unilever PLC has a one year low of $46.46 and a one year high of $65.87. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $56.66 and its 200 day moving average price is $60.01.

Unilever Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a $0.4674 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $1.87 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.35%.

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.