Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) Shares Sold by Salem Investment Counselors Inc.

Salem Investment Counselors Inc. cut its stake in shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) by 46.1% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 1,517 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,300 shares during the period. Salem Investment Counselors Inc.’s holdings in Unilever were worth $76,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UL. Deutsche Bank AG raised its position in shares of Unilever by 3.4% in the third quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 47,772 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,360,000 after buying an additional 1,589 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers raised its position in shares of Unilever by 3.0% in the third quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 53,913 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,663,000 after buying an additional 1,580 shares during the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Unilever in the third quarter valued at about $1,156,000. Clearbridge Investments LLC raised its position in shares of Unilever by 0.4% in the third quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 137,608 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,798,000 after buying an additional 579 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jacobi Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Unilever by 41.1% in the third quarter. Jacobi Capital Management LLC now owns 6,930 shares of the company’s stock valued at $342,000 after buying an additional 2,019 shares during the last quarter. 9.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Unilever Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of UL stock opened at $56.11 on Monday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $53.15 and a two-hundred day moving average of $50.41. Unilever PLC has a 1-year low of $46.16 and a 1-year high of $56.47.

Unilever Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 17th were paid a dividend of $0.4556 per share. This represents a $1.82 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 16th.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Argus increased their target price on shares of Unilever from $58.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 8th. Redburn Atlantic upgraded shares of Unilever from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, June 7th. Morgan Stanley cut shares of Unilever from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $52.00 to $48.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 27th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Unilever from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Unilever from an “underweight” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 23rd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $54.00.

About Unilever

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.