QV Investors Inc. Has $13.09 Million Stake in Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL)

QV Investors Inc. decreased its position in Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL - Free Report) by 25.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 230,904 shares of the company's stock after selling 79,360 shares during the period. Unilever comprises 1.3% of QV Investors Inc.'s portfolio, making the stock its 26th largest holding. QV Investors Inc.'s holdings in Unilever were worth $13,092,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in UL. Aprio Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Unilever by 18.8% in the fourth quarter. Aprio Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,775 shares of the company's stock valued at $498,000 after purchasing an additional 1,388 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NC boosted its holdings in shares of Unilever by 4.0% in the 4th quarter. Franklin Street Advisors Inc. NC now owns 5,327 shares of the company's stock valued at $302,000 after purchasing an additional 204 shares during the last quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Unilever by 217.0% in the 4th quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 2,729 shares of the company's stock worth $155,000 after purchasing an additional 1,868 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its position in Unilever by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 110,947 shares of the company's stock worth $6,291,000 after purchasing an additional 419 shares during the period. Finally, Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Unilever by 218.9% in the 4th quarter. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,456 shares of the company's stock worth $650,000 after acquiring an additional 7,864 shares during the period. 9.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Unilever Trading Down 0.1 %

UL stock traded down $0.07 on Monday, hitting $55.06. 1,850,759 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,170,423. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $58.13 and a 200-day moving average of $60.35. The stock has a market cap of $136.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.58, a P/E/G ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 0.49. Unilever PLC has a 1-year low of $46.46 and a 1-year high of $65.87.

Unilever Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 8th were issued a dividend of $0.4755 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. This represents a $1.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.45%. This is a positive change from Unilever's previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. Unilever's payout ratio is currently 56.63%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Erste Group Bank reissued a "hold" rating on shares of Unilever in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Royal Bank of Canada cut Unilever from a "sector perform" rating to an "underperform" rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Unilever from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Unilever has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $61.75.

Unilever Company 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.