Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) Shares Bought by Park Avenue Securities LLC

Park Avenue Securities LLC grew its position in Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL - Free Report) by 21.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 47,269 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 8,313 shares during the period. Park Avenue Securities LLC's holdings in Unilever were worth $2,680,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Unilever by 393.5% during the second quarter. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC now owns 533 shares of the company's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 425 shares in the last quarter. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in Unilever during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. increased its stake in Unilever by 202.5% during the 3rd quarter. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. now owns 605 shares of the company's stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 405 shares in the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new position in shares of Unilever in the third quarter worth $40,000. Finally, Coastline Trust Co purchased a new stake in shares of Unilever during the third quarter valued at $48,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 9.67% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on UL. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Unilever from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 9th. StockNews.com cut Unilever from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered Unilever from a "sector perform" rating to an "underperform" rating in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Erste Group Bank reissued a "hold" rating on shares of Unilever in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Unilever presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $61.75.

Unilever Stock Performance

NYSE UL traded up $0.24 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $55.68. The company's stock had a trading volume of 3,801,419 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,047,655. The company's 50-day moving average is $57.62 and its two-hundred day moving average is $60.28. Unilever PLC has a 1-year low of $46.46 and a 1-year high of $65.87.

Unilever Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 8th were given a dividend of $0.4755 per share. This is a positive change from Unilever's previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 8th. This represents a $1.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.42%.

Unilever Profile

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.