Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS Raises Stock Holdings in Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL)

Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS boosted its stake in shares of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) by 48.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 242,399 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 79,451 shares during the quarter. Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS’s holdings in Unilever were worth $13,744,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Golden State Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Unilever during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Financial Life Planners purchased a new position in shares of Unilever during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Roxbury Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Unilever in the fourth quarter valued at $30,000. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Unilever in the third quarter valued at $35,000. Finally, Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new stake in shares of Unilever in the 3rd quarter valued at $40,000. 9.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Unilever Trading Down 1.9 %

Shares of Unilever stock opened at $54.89 on Tuesday. Unilever PLC has a 52-week low of $46.46 and a 52-week high of $65.87. The company has a 50 day moving average of $57.13 and a 200 day moving average of $60.29.

Unilever Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a dividend of $0.4674 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $1.87 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.41%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

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

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.