Lazard Asset Management LLC Has $159.21 Million Stake in Unilever PLC $UL

Lazard Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) by 674.2% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,794,600 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,433,625 shares during the quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Unilever were worth $159,208,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Cornerstone Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Unilever by 3.9% in the fourth quarter. Cornerstone Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,036 shares of the company’s stock valued at $264,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Unilever by 19.4% during the fourth quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 997 shares of the company’s stock worth $65,000 after buying an additional 162 shares in the last quarter. Blake Schutter Theil Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Unilever by 3.2% during the first quarter. Blake Schutter Theil Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,754 shares of the company’s stock worth $328,000 after buying an additional 180 shares in the last quarter. Invested Advisors raised its position in Unilever by 4.8% in the 4th quarter. Invested Advisors now owns 3,987 shares of the company’s stock valued at $261,000 after buying an additional 183 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cohen Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in Unilever by 2.9% in the 1st quarter. Cohen Investment Advisors LLC now owns 6,753 shares of the company’s stock valued at $385,000 after buying an additional 192 shares during the last quarter. 9.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Weiss Ratings downgraded Unilever from a “sell (d+)” rating to a “sell (d)” rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Unilever from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research report on Monday, June 29th. Royal Bank Of Canada upgraded shares of Unilever from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 21st. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed an “underperform” rating on shares of Unilever in a research report on Monday, July 6th. Finally, DZ Bank upgraded shares of Unilever from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Unilever has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $65.55.

Unilever Stock Down 0.0%

NYSE:UL opened at $60.92 on Monday. Unilever PLC has a twelve month low of $54.75 and a twelve month high of $74.97. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $59.24 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $62.29.

About Unilever

Unilever PLC is a global consumer goods company with roots dating back to the early 20th century, formed from the merger of the British firm Lever Brothers and the Dutch company Margarine Unie. The company develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of branded products in personal care, home care and foods and refreshments. Unilever’s corporate structure and listings reflect its long history in both the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, and it operates at scale across diverse consumer markets worldwide.

Unilever’s business is organized around major product categories—Beauty & Personal Care, Home Care and Foods & Refreshment—and includes numerous well-known consumer brands across those categories.