Unilever (NYSE:UL) Reaches New 1-Year Low – Here’s Why

Shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) reached a new 52-week low on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $58.06 and last traded at $58.2080, with a volume of 305823 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $59.98.

Trending Headlines about Unilever

Here are the key news stories impacting Unilever this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Separation and merger of Unilever Foods with McCormick values the Foods business at roughly $44.8B and is agreed in a cash-and-stock transaction — this can unlock value from a slower-growth food portfolio and refocus Unilever on higher-margin categories. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: The transaction includes a sizable upfront cash component (reported around $15.7–16B) to Unilever plus majority consideration in McCormick equity — immediate cash improves Unilever’s financial flexibility to de-lever, reinvest or return capital to shareholders. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: The deal is primarily cash-plus-stock, leaving Unilever shareholders with exposure to the combined McCormick entity — this creates execution and timing risk (regulatory approval, integration) and means future returns depend on how the combined company performs. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: McCormick projects material synergies (PR cites ~$600M annual run-rate) and expects the combination to be accretive to its metrics — positive for deal rationale but dependent on integration delivery. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Unilever announced a three‑month global hiring pause citing “significant challenges” from the Middle East conflict, signaling near-term cost control and operational headwinds that could pressure growth and margins. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Market reaction factors in uncertainty around the deal structure/timing and lingering execution issues (including a prior quarterly earnings miss), leaving sentiment weak near-term as investors digest the strategic reset. Article Title

Analyst Ratings Changes

UL has been the subject of several research reports. DZ Bank cut shares of Unilever from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th. UBS Group restated a “sell” rating on shares of Unilever in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Unilever from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. BNP Paribas Exane set a $71.00 price target on shares of Unilever and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $60.10 price objective on shares of Unilever and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, December 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Unilever has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $65.55.

Unilever Price Performance

The company’s 50-day moving average price is $68.00 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $67.32.

Unilever (NYSE:UL) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $0.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.75 by ($1.00). The company had revenue of $11.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $31.39 billion. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Unilever PLC will post 3.27 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Unilever Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 27th will be issued a dividend of $0.5547 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 27th. This represents a $2.22 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.0%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Unilever

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Elyxium Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Unilever in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Palisade Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Unilever during the third quarter worth approximately $25,000. Bard Associates Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Unilever in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Asset Dedication LLC raised its position in shares of Unilever by 108.8% in the third quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 476 shares of the company’s stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 248 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Global Wealth Strategies & Associates bought a new stake in shares of Unilever in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. 9.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Unilever

Unilever PLC is a global consumer goods company with roots dating back to the early 20th century, formed from the merger of the British firm Lever Brothers and the Dutch company Margarine Unie. The company develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of branded products in personal care, home care and foods and refreshments. Unilever’s corporate structure and listings reflect its long history in both the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, and it operates at scale across diverse consumer markets worldwide.

Unilever’s business is organized around major product categories—Beauty & Personal Care, Home Care and Foods & Refreshment—and includes numerous well-known consumer brands across those categories.