Ethic Inc. Sells 6,705 Shares of Unilever PLC $UL

Ethic Inc. lowered its stake in shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) by 6.2% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 100,715 shares of the company’s stock after selling 6,705 shares during the quarter. Ethic Inc.’s holdings in Unilever were worth $6,136,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group increased its position in Unilever by 2.7% during the second quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group now owns 7,314 shares of the company’s stock worth $447,000 after acquiring an additional 194 shares during the period. Exencial Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Unilever by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. Exencial Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 62,807 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,842,000 after buying an additional 592 shares during the period. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. increased its holdings in Unilever by 5.5% in the 2nd quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 8,976 shares of the company’s stock valued at $549,000 after buying an additional 464 shares during the period. Klingman & Associates LLC bought a new stake in Unilever in the 2nd quarter valued at $288,000. Finally, Phoenix Financial Ltd. bought a new stake in Unilever in the 2nd quarter valued at $332,000. Institutional investors own 9.67% of the company’s stock.

Unilever Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:UL opened at $62.10 on Thursday. Unilever PLC has a 52 week low of $54.32 and a 52 week high of $65.66. The company’s fifty day moving average is $61.57 and its 200-day moving average is $61.72. The company has a market capitalization of $152.36 billion, a PE ratio of 17.79, a P/E/G ratio of 4.70 and a beta of 0.40.

Unilever Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 15th were paid a $0.5175 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 15th. This represents a $2.07 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.3%. This is a boost from Unilever’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. Unilever’s dividend payout ratio is presently 59.31%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. CICC Research assumed coverage on shares of Unilever in a report on Thursday, August 21st. They issued an “outperform” rating on the stock. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Unilever in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued an “underperform” rating on shares of Unilever in a report on Sunday, August 3rd. Finally, Zacks Research lowered shares of Unilever from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, October 16th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $73.00.

Unilever 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.