Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) Shares Purchased by Fox Run Management L.L.C.

Fox Run Management L.L.C. increased its holdings in Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) by 15.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 18,754 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,543 shares during the period. Fox Run Management L.L.C.’s holdings in Unilever were worth $1,063,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Unilever during the 4th quarter worth about $176,806,000. Jennison Associates LLC increased its position in shares of Unilever by 66.4% during the fourth quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 3,454,686 shares of the company’s stock valued at $195,881,000 after acquiring an additional 1,378,517 shares during the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Unilever by 7.3% in the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 17,940,963 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,017,253,000 after acquiring an additional 1,214,563 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. lifted its holdings 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 acquiring an additional 918,841 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Proficio Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Unilever during the 4th quarter worth approximately $11,895,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 9.67% of the company’s stock.

Unilever Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UL opened at $58.64 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $145.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 0.47. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $57.28 and its two-hundred day moving average is $59.49. Unilever PLC has a 1-year low of $46.46 and a 1-year high of $65.87.

Unilever Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a dividend of $0.4674 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $1.87 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.19%. Unilever’s payout ratio is 53.01%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UL has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Sanford C. Bernstein raised Unilever from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 9th. Royal Bank of Canada downgraded Unilever from a “sector perform” rating to an “underperform” rating in a report on Monday, January 6th. DZ Bank upgraded Unilever from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Unilever from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $66.33.

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.