Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. Buys 31,759 Shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL)

Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. grew its stake in shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) by 10.4% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 337,629 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 31,759 shares during the period. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc.’s holdings in Unilever were worth $19,143,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of UL. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV boosted its position in shares of Unilever by 7.0% in the third 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 lifted its position in Unilever by 0.5% during the third quarter. Timber Creek Capital Management LLC now owns 39,530 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,568,000 after purchasing an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. Alhambra Investment Management LLC lifted its position in Unilever by 4.2% during the fourth 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 last quarter. Good Life Advisors LLC lifted its position in Unilever by 4.5% during the third 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 position in Unilever by 4.3% during the third quarter. Fiduciary Financial Group LLC now owns 4,875 shares of the company’s stock valued at $307,000 after purchasing an additional 201 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 9.67% of the company’s stock.

Unilever Trading Up 0.4 %

UL stock opened at $55.68 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $57.62 and a 200 day moving average of $60.36. Unilever PLC has a 52 week low of $46.46 and a 52 week high of $65.87.

Unilever Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 8th were given a dividend of $0.4755 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 8th. 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 3.42%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

Unilever 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.