Hedge Funds Line Up to Acquire Unilever Shares, Boosting Stock Value

Increasing Institutional Ownership

Park Avenue Securities LLC and other hedge funds have significantly increased their investments in Unilever PLC (NYSE: UL), with Park Avenue Securities alone adding 21.3% to its position in the fourth quarter, acquiring over 8,000 shares.

Other notable investors who have recently expanded their stakes in UL include Jennison Associates, Boosting their position by an impressive 981.6% with 1.88 million additional shares; Bank of Montreal Can, representing a 249.5% increase; Clearbridge Investments, raising their holdings by 598.7% with 1.11 million new shares;

Financial and Analyst Outlook

Increased Dividend: Unilever announced a quarterly dividend of $0.4755 per share, up from the previous $0.35.

Analyst Recommendations: Three investment analysts have assigned UL a "sell" rating, while five recommend "buy," one issues a "strong buy," and two recommend "hold." Currently, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" with an average target price of $61.75.

Unilever's Business Profile

Unilever, a consumer goods giant, operates in five key segments: Beauty & Well-being, Personal Care, Home Care, Nutrition, and Ice Cream. It has a strong global presence across Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe.