Unilever (NYSE:UL) Research Coverage Started at BNP Paribas Exane

BNP Paribas Exane assumed coverage on shares of Unilever (NYSE:UL) in a report published on Thursday morning, Marketbeat reports. The firm issued an outperform rating and a $73.00 target price on the stock.

UL has been the topic of a number of other research reports. UBS Group raised Unilever from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. BNP Paribas upgraded Unilever to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday. Wall Street Zen lowered Unilever from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. Finally, DZ Bank raised Unilever from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $70.67.

Unilever Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UL opened at $63.84 on Thursday. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $62.00 and its 200-day moving average price is $59.12. The firm has a market capitalization of $156.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.29, a PEG ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 0.44. Unilever has a one year low of $54.32 and a one year high of $65.87.

Unilever Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 16th will be issued a $0.5151 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 16th. This represents a $2.06 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.23%. This is an increase from Unilever’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. Unilever’s payout ratio is currently 59.03%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Unilever

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of UL. Mission Wealth Management LP grew its holdings in shares of Unilever by 1.4% in the first quarter. Mission Wealth Management LP now owns 11,497 shares of the company’s stock worth $685,000 after purchasing an additional 159 shares during the last quarter. Essex Financial Services Inc. boosted its position in Unilever by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Essex Financial Services Inc. now owns 16,246 shares of the company’s stock valued at $967,000 after buying an additional 168 shares during the period. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in Unilever by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 21,492 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,280,000 after acquiring an additional 172 shares during the last quarter. Cardinal Capital Management increased its position in shares of Unilever by 0.4% in the first quarter. Cardinal Capital Management now owns 39,953 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,379,000 after acquiring an additional 176 shares during the period. Finally, Pinion Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Unilever by 2.0% in the fourth quarter. Pinion Investment Advisors LLC now owns 9,250 shares of the company’s stock valued at $524,000 after acquiring an additional 177 shares during the period. 9.67% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.