Ballentine Partners LLC Sells 1,435 Shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL)

Ballentine Partners LLC lessened its stake in shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) by 6.7% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. 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 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in shares of Unilever by 16.9% during the 3rd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 110,528 shares of the company’s stock worth $7,180,000 after buying an additional 15,941 shares during the period. Verition Fund Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Unilever during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $11,694,000. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its position in shares of Unilever by 249.5% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,748,329 shares of the company’s stock worth $98,204,000 after buying an additional 1,248,136 shares during the period. WCM Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Unilever by 236.2% during the 3rd quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 30,520 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,997,000 after buying an additional 21,441 shares during the period. Finally, Radnor Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Unilever during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,388,000. Institutional investors own 9.67% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently commented on UL. Erste Group Bank restated a “hold” rating on shares of Unilever in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. StockNews.com downgraded Unilever from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Unilever from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 9th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada downgraded Unilever from a “sector perform” rating to an “underperform” rating in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $61.75.

Unilever Price Performance

NYSE UL opened at $56.95 on Wednesday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $57.57 and a 200-day moving average of $60.36. Unilever PLC has a 52 week low of $46.46 and a 52 week high of $65.87.

Unilever Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 8th were paid a $0.4755 dividend. This is a boost from Unilever’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. This represents a $1.90 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.34%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th.

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.