Unilever PLC $UL Shares Sold by First Eagle Investment Management LLC

First Eagle Investment Management LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) by 3.4% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 677,384 shares of the company’s stock after selling 24,102 shares during the period. First Eagle Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Unilever were worth $44,301,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Palisade Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Unilever during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Asset Dedication LLC increased its stake in shares of Unilever by 108.8% during the third quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 476 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 248 shares during the period. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates purchased a new stake in shares of Unilever during the fourth quarter worth approximately $29,000. FNY Investment Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Unilever during the third quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Unilever by 141.3% during the third quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC now owns 514 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 301 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 9.67% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group restated an “underperform” rating on shares of Unilever in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Royal Bank Of Canada upgraded shares of Unilever from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered shares of Unilever from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Kepler Capital Markets lowered shares of Unilever from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. 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 research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $65.55.

Unilever Trading Down 2.0%

Shares of Unilever stock opened at $57.23 on Tuesday. Unilever PLC has a 52 week low of $54.95 and a 52 week high of $74.97. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $60.68 and its two-hundred day moving average is $65.25.

Unilever (NYSE:UL) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.75 by ($1.00). The business had revenue of $11.87 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $31.39 billion. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Unilever PLC will post 3.54 EPS for the current year.

Unilever Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 15th will be paid a $0.5449 dividend. This represents a $2.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 15th.

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.