Welch Group LLC Purchases 5,344 Shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL)

Welch Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL - Free Report) by 0.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 863,801 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 5,344 shares during the quarter. Unilever accounts for 2.2% of Welch Group LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest holding. Welch Group LLC's holdings in Unilever were worth $49,029,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of UL. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Unilever by 7.1% in the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 16,726,400 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,086,547,000 after buying an additional 1,114,177 shares during the period. Jennison Associates LLC increased its stake in shares of Unilever by 66.4% during the 4th quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 3,454,686 shares of the company's stock worth $195,881,000 after purchasing an additional 1,378,517 shares in the last quarter. Hamlin Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Unilever by 7.8% during the 4th quarter. Hamlin Capital Management LLC now owns 2,874,929 shares of the company's stock valued at $163,008,000 after buying an additional 207,549 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its holdings in Unilever by 3.7% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,812,164 shares of the company's stock worth $118,588,000 after buying an additional 63,835 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Citigroup Inc. increased its position in shares of Unilever by 493.4% in the 3rd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 1,105,064 shares of the company's stock worth $71,785,000 after purchasing an additional 918,841 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 9.67% of the company's stock.

Unilever Trading Up 1.6 %

Shares of NYSE UL traded up $0.93 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $58.18. 897,735 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,392,522. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $57.43 and a 200 day moving average of $60.39. Unilever PLC has a 1 year low of $46.46 and a 1 year high of $65.87.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UL has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada lowered shares of Unilever from a "sector perform" rating to an "underperform" rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Unilever from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of Unilever from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Thursday, January 9th. Finally, Erste Group Bank reissued a "hold" rating on shares of Unilever in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from 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.