Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL - Get Free Report)'s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $65.87 and last traded at $65.69, with a volume of 443450 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $65.24.
UL has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Bank of America raised shares of Unilever from an "underperform" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price target for the company from $47.00 to $72.00 in a research note on Thursday, August 22nd. StockNews.com cut Unilever from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday. UBS Group upgraded Unilever to a "strong sell" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Redburn Atlantic raised shares of Unilever from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, June 7th. Finally, TD Cowen assumed coverage on shares of Unilever in a research report on Tuesday, July 23rd. They set a "buy" rating and a $67.00 target price on the stock. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $61.75.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on UL
The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $62.68 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $56.15.
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 9th were given a $0.4773 dividend. This represents a $1.91 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.91%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 9th. This is an increase from Unilever's previous quarterly dividend of $0.46.
Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Centaurus Financial Inc. lifted its position in shares of Unilever by 34.6% during the 2nd quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 8,538 shares of the company's stock worth $469,000 after purchasing an additional 2,194 shares during the last quarter. Prio Wealth Limited Partnership acquired a new position in Unilever in the second quarter valued at approximately $8,030,000. Sanctuary Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Unilever in the second quarter valued at approximately $5,417,000. Clearbridge Investments LLC lifted its position in shares of Unilever by 598.7% during the 2nd quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 1,301,239 shares of the company's stock worth $71,555,000 after buying an additional 1,114,992 shares during the last quarter. Finally, New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Unilever in the 2nd quarter valued at $389,000. 9.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
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.
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