Ellevest Inc. cut its stake in Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL – Get Rating) by 15.3% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,783 shares of the company's stock after selling 323 shares during the period. Ellevest Inc.'s holdings in Unilever were worth $82,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of UL. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Unilever in the fourth quarter valued at $188,685,000. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its holdings in Unilever by 16.0% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 17,225,391 shares of the company's stock valued at $784,961,000 after purchasing an additional 2,378,067 shares during the period. Equity Investment Corp purchased a new stake in Unilever during the 1st quarter worth about $59,188,000. Hamlin Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Unilever during the 2nd quarter worth about $48,274,000. Finally, River Road Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Unilever by 57.3% during the 1st quarter. River Road Asset Management LLC now owns 2,720,968 shares of the company's stock worth $123,995,000 after buying an additional 991,438 shares during the last quarter. 9.68% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have issued reports on the company. DZ Bank downgraded Unilever from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 27th. Sanford C. Bernstein raised Unilever from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, July 22nd. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Unilever in a report on Friday, September 16th. They set a "buy" rating for the company. Berenberg Bank raised Unilever from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday. Finally, Morgan Stanley began coverage on Unilever in a report on Thursday. They issued an "equal weight" rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold".

Unilever Price Performance

Unilever Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 1st. Investors of record on Friday, August 5th were given a $0.4555 dividend. This represents a $1.82 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.08%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 4th. This is a boost from Unilever's previous quarterly dividend of $0.45.

Unilever Company Profile

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Unilever PLC operates as a fast-moving consumer goods company. It operates through Beauty & Personal Care, Foods & Refreshment, and Home Care segments. The Beauty & Personal Care segment provides skin care and hair care products, deodorants, and skin cleansing products. The Foods & Refreshment segment offers ice cream, soups, bouillons, seasonings, mayonnaise, ketchups, and tea categories.

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