Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) Plans $0.47 Quarterly Dividend

Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) declared a quarterly dividend on Thursday, February 13th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a dividend of 0.4674 per share on Friday, March 28th. This represents a $1.87 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.35%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th.

Unilever has decreased its dividend payment by an average of 2.8% annually over the last three years. Unilever has a payout ratio of 53.6% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Research analysts expect Unilever to earn $3.49 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.87 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 53.6%.

Unilever Price Performance

Unilever stock opened at $55.87 on Wednesday. Unilever has a twelve month low of $46.46 and a twelve month high of $65.87. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $56.66 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $60.01.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. DZ Bank raised Unilever from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. 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. StockNews.com cut shares of Unilever from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of Unilever from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 9th. Finally, Erste Group Bank reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Unilever in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $61.75.

Unilever Company Profile

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.