Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) Position Reduced by Advisors Asset Management Inc.

Advisors Asset Management Inc. reduced its position in shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) by 11.8% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 46,557 shares of the company’s stock after selling 6,250 shares during the period. Advisors Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Unilever were worth $3,024,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. increased its stake in Unilever by 423.8% in the 2nd quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 529 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 428 shares in the last quarter. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Unilever by 393.5% in the 2nd 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. 1620 Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Unilever in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Webster Bank N. A. grew its position in Unilever by 54.3% during the 2nd quarter. Webster Bank N. A. now owns 617 shares of the company’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 217 shares in the last quarter. Finally, E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in Unilever during the 3rd quarter valued at $35,000. 9.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Unilever Stock Up 1.7 %

Shares of UL stock opened at $58.61 on Friday. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $61.86 and its two-hundred day moving average is $59.60. Unilever PLC has a fifty-two week low of $46.46 and a fifty-two week high of $65.87.

Unilever Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 8th will be paid 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 is Friday, November 8th. This represents a $1.90 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.25%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently commented on UL shares. StockNews.com cut Unilever from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Erste Group Bank restated a “hold” rating on shares of Unilever in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. UBS Group upgraded Unilever to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 30th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded shares of Unilever from an “underperform” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price target for the stock from $47.00 to $72.00 in a report on Thursday, August 22nd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price 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.