Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) Stock Position Decreased by Ballentine Partners LLC

Ballentine Partners LLC cut its position in shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) by 6.7% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 20,038 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,435 shares during the period. Ballentine Partners LLC’s holdings in Unilever were worth $1,136,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in UL. Sei Investments Co. raised its stake in shares of Unilever by 5.9% during the 2nd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 251,012 shares of the company’s stock worth $13,796,000 after purchasing an additional 13,927 shares in the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its holdings in shares of Unilever by 4.1% during the 2nd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 13,538 shares of the company’s stock valued at $744,000 after acquiring an additional 536 shares during the last quarter. Hancock Whitney Corp increased its holdings in shares of Unilever by 13.6% during the 2nd quarter. Hancock Whitney Corp now owns 5,055 shares of the company’s stock valued at $278,000 after acquiring an additional 606 shares during the last quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Unilever by 3,661.0% during the 2nd quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC now owns 13,201 shares of the company’s stock valued at $726,000 after acquiring an additional 12,850 shares during the last quarter. Finally, 1832 Asset Management L.P. increased its holdings in shares of Unilever by 26.1% during the 2nd quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 31,777 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,747,000 after acquiring an additional 6,586 shares during the last quarter. 9.67% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Unilever Trading Up 2.3 %

Shares of UL stock opened at $56.95 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $57.57 and a two-hundred day moving average of $60.36. Unilever PLC has a 12 month low of $46.46 and a 12 month high of $65.87.

Unilever Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 8th were given a $0.4755 dividend. 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 3.34%. This is an increase from Unilever’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.35.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UL has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada lowered Unilever from a “sector perform” rating to an “underperform” rating in a report on Monday, January 6th. Erste Group Bank reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Unilever in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. StockNews.com lowered Unilever from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein raised Unilever from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 9th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Unilever currently has an average 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.