Malaga Cove Capital LLC Boosts Stake in Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL)

Malaga Cove Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) by 6.4% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 8,998 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 541 shares during the period. Malaga Cove Capital LLC’s holdings in Unilever were worth $436,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its stake in shares of Unilever by 111.5% in the third quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 552 shares of the company’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 291 shares in the last quarter. Life Planning Partners Inc purchased a new stake in Unilever in the 4th quarter worth $27,000. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Unilever by 215.1% in the third quarter. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC now owns 586 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. Evolution Advisers Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Unilever in the fourth quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, Planned Solutions Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Unilever during the fourth quarter worth about $44,000. Institutional investors own 9.67% of the company’s stock.

Unilever Stock Performance

NYSE:UL traded up $0.11 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $52.13. The stock had a trading volume of 4,413,133 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,468,891. Unilever PLC has a 52 week low of $46.16 and a 52 week high of $55.69. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $49.21 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $48.69.

Unilever Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 7th. Investors of record on Friday, May 17th will be given a $0.4556 dividend. This represents a $1.82 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.50%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 16th.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently commented on UL shares. Morgan Stanley cut Unilever from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $52.00 to $48.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 27th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Unilever from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Unilever has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $48.00.

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.