Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) Shares Acquired by Optas LLC

Optas LLC increased its position in shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) by 5.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,701 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 312 shares during the quarter. Optas LLC’s holdings in Unilever were worth $313,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Red Tortoise LLC acquired a new stake in Unilever during the first quarter worth $26,000. Rise Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Unilever during the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. Quent Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Unilever in the 1st quarter valued at about $28,000. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. lifted its position in Unilever by 423.8% in the second quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 529 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 428 shares during the last quarter. Finally, YHB Investment Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Unilever during the first quarter worth about $30,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 9.67% of the company’s stock.

Unilever Trading Up 1.7 %

UL traded up $1.08 on Friday, hitting $63.60. 2,898,830 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,219,229. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $58.49 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $53.69. Unilever PLC has a twelve month low of $46.16 and a twelve month high of $63.62.

Unilever Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 6th. Investors of record on Friday, August 9th will be issued a $0.4773 dividend. This is a boost from Unilever’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 9th. This represents a $1.91 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.00%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Argus upped their price objective on shares of Unilever from $58.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 8th. Bank of America upgraded Unilever from an “underperform” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price target for the stock from $47.00 to $72.00 in a research note on Thursday. StockNews.com raised Unilever from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, August 3rd. UBS Group raised Unilever to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Finally, Redburn Atlantic upgraded Unilever from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, June 7th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Unilever has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $61.75.

About Unilever

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.