Unilever: A Magnet for Investors

Institutional Investors Flock to Unilever

Institutional investors and hedge funds can't seem to get enough of Unilever PLC (UL). In the 4th quarter, Brooklyn Investment Group skyrocketed its stake by a whopping 228%, while Merit Financial Group LLC upped its position by an impressive 45.6%.

And that's not all. Procyon Advisors LLC tripled its holdings, Cypress Wealth Services LLC jumped in with a new stake, and Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake by over 66%.

Analyst Admiration

Wall Street analysts are also showering Unilever with praise. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded the stock to a "strong-buy" rating, citing robust growth prospects.

However, not all analysts are so bullish. Royal Bank of Canada downgraded the stock to "underperform," citing concerns about rising input costs.

Unilever's Impressive Performance

The market's excitement for Unilever is reflected in its stellar performance. The stock has outpaced both the 50-day and 200-day moving averages, and hit a 12-month high of $65.87.

Dividends Boost Appeal

Unilever recently sweetened the deal for investors by announcing a quarterly dividend increase to $0.4755 per share. This equates to an annualized dividend yield of 3.42%.

About Unilever

Unilever is a global consumer goods giant with a vast portfolio of brands, including Dove, Axe, Ben & Jerry's, and Lipton. The company operates in over 190 countries, reaching an estimated 2.5 billion people.