Analysts Set Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) Target Price at $65.55

Shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) have been assigned an average recommendation of “Hold” from the nine ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $65.55.

A number of research firms recently commented on UL. Zacks Research cut Unilever from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a “buy” rating on shares of Unilever in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated an “underperform” rating on shares of Unilever in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. UBS Group restated a “sell” rating on shares of Unilever in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Finally, Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Unilever from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th.

Unilever Trading Up 0.6%

Shares of UL opened at $68.78 on Tuesday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $65.61 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $67.64. Unilever has a 1-year low of $61.11 and a 1-year high of $73.87.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Unilever

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of UL. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its stake in shares of Unilever by 9.3% in the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 34,665,544 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,054,973,000 after buying an additional 2,935,227 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Unilever by 4.4% in the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 22,537,917 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,336,048,000 after acquiring an additional 959,269 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE increased its holdings in Unilever by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 5,773,638 shares of the company’s stock worth $342,261,000 after acquiring an additional 91,049 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in Unilever by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,001,060 shares of the company’s stock worth $237,183,000 after acquiring an additional 133,776 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in Unilever by 0.5% during the third quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 3,293,210 shares of the company’s stock valued at $195,221,000 after purchasing an additional 17,763 shares in the last quarter. 9.67% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Unilever Company Profile

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.