Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) Shares Purchased by Vontobel Holding Ltd.

Vontobel Holding Ltd. boosted its position in Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) by 29.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 17,104 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,848 shares during the quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd.’s holdings in Unilever were worth $1,111,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC increased its stake in Unilever by 4.1% in the second quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,193 shares of the company’s stock valued at $231,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares during the last quarter. O Brien Greene & Co. Inc grew its position in shares of Unilever by 2.7% during the second quarter. O Brien Greene & Co. Inc now owns 6,653 shares of the company’s stock worth $366,000 after acquiring an additional 174 shares during the last quarter. Crewe Advisors LLC grew its position in Unilever by 17.3% in the 2nd quarter. Crewe Advisors LLC now owns 1,186 shares of the company’s stock valued at $65,000 after buying an additional 175 shares during the last quarter. Bailard Inc. grew its position in Unilever by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. Bailard Inc. now owns 15,014 shares of the company’s stock valued at $826,000 after buying an additional 179 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Gallacher Capital Management LLC grew its position in Unilever by 2.5% in the 2nd quarter. Gallacher Capital Management LLC now owns 7,575 shares of the company’s stock valued at $417,000 after buying an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. 9.67% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on UL shares. UBS Group upgraded shares of Unilever to a “strong sell” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 30th. Bank of America raised Unilever from an “underperform” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their target price for the company from $47.00 to $72.00 in a report on Thursday, August 22nd. TD Cowen initiated coverage on Unilever in a report on Tuesday, July 23rd. They issued a “buy” rating and a $67.00 target price for the company. Finally, StockNews.com raised Unilever from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, October 4th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $61.75.

Unilever Price Performance

Unilever stock opened at $62.95 on Monday. Unilever PLC has a one year low of $46.16 and a one year high of $65.87. The business has a fifty day moving average of $63.71 and a two-hundred day moving average of $57.80.

Unilever Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 9th were paid a dividend of $0.4773 per share. This represents a $1.91 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.03%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 9th. This is an increase from Unilever’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46.

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.