Stock Performance Comparison - UL stock has seen little change, moving slightly from $55 in early January 2021 to around $60 now, while PG stock increased by about 45% from $125 to $180 over the same period [2] - UL stock returns were -8% in 2021, -3% in 2022, and 0% in 2023, while PG stock returns were 21%, -5%, and -1% respectively [3] - Both UL and PG underperformed the S&P 500, which rose 60% over the same period [2][3] Revenue Growth Analysis - Unilever's revenue grew at an average annual rate of 0.9% from $62.4 billion in 2020 to $63.9 billion in 2023, while P&G's sales rose at a 3.4% average rate from $76.2 billion in fiscal 2021 to $84.0 billion in fiscal 2024 [5] - Unilever's sales were up 4.3% for the nine-month period ending Sep 2024, led by a 2.9% rise in volumes and 1.3% pricing gains [6] - P&G reported a 4% rise in total organic sales in fiscal 2024, driven by a 4% growth in pricing, while volume/mix remained flat [8] Segment Performance - Unilever's revenue is divided into Personal Care, Food & Refreshments, and Home Care, with personal and home care sales trending well, while food and refreshment sales saw slower growth [6] - P&G's largest segment, Fabric & Home Care, contributes around 35% of the company's revenues and has driven overall sales growth, while Beauty and Baby Care segments have seen tepid growth [8] - P&G's Beauty sales fell 5% in the previous quarter, with Skin Care products plunging 20% due to lower volume and unfavorable mix [9][10] Profitability and Financial Position - Unilever's adjusted net margin rose from 8.6% in 2020 to 10.4% in 2023, while P&G's net income margin remained stable at 19.4% in fiscal 2024 [11] - P&G's debt increased from $32.8 billion in fiscal 2021 to $36.2 billion now, while Unilever's debt declined from $33.6 billion in 2020 to $31.8 billion in 2023 [12] - P&G's cash increased from $10.3 billion to $12.2 billion in the last three years, while Unilever's cash declined from $6.8 billion to $4.5 billion over the same period [13] Valuation and Prospects - UL stock trades at 19x forward earnings, versus 26x for PG stock, with both trading at multiples higher than their historical averages [1][16] - Unilever is expected to see robust volume growth across categories, while P&G faces headwinds in its Beauty and Baby Care segments [15] - Unilever's largest segment, Home Care, is performing well with mid-single-digit volume growth this year [15]

About this content About Oliver Haill Oliver has been writing about companies and markets since the early 2000s, cutting his teeth as a financial journalist at Growth Company Investor with a focusing on AIM companies and small caps, before a few years later becoming a section editor and then head of research. He joined Proactive after a couple of years freelancing, where he worked for the Financial Times Group, ITV, Press Association, Reuters sports desk, the London Olympic News Service, Rugby World Cup ...

Ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s said in a lawsuit filed Wednesday that parent company Unilever has silenced its attempts to express support for Palestinian refugees and threatened to dismantle its board and sue its members over the issue.The lawsuit is the latest sign of the long-simmering tensions between Ben & Jerry’s and consumer products maker Unilever. A rift erupted between the two in 2021 after Ben & Jerry’s said it would stop selling its products in the Israeli-occupied West Bank because it was incons ...

It's been a while since I wrote about one of the turnarounds in my own portfolio. I reviewed Unilever PLC (NYSE: UL ) on March 23 and since then, the stock has risen more than 15%, which is slightlyI am a Dutch manual therapist (MSc) and a passionate retail investor. My investment journey started in 2021 and from that point my love for investing has begun. Nearly from the start i had a strong preference for dividend growth investing.My investment goal is to retire early with the dividend growth strategy, co ...

Hi there, welcome to my profile. My name is Eugenio Catone, I live in Italy and I am 26 years old. In 2023 I graduated in Business Administration and I am completing my studies. My interest in financial markets started about 5 years ago when I accidentally came across a video about trading. That was the spark that introduced me to a new world, but over time I realized that it was not my path: too many charts, lines, and not very concrete concepts for a pragmatic person like me. I needed something different ...

Vladimir Dimitrov, CFA is a former strategy consultant within the field of brand and intangible assets valuation. During his career in the City of London he has been working with some of the largest global brands within the technology, telecom and banking sectors. Analyst's Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of UL either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (ot ...

Company and Industry Key Points **1. Holistic Product Superiority and Performance Improvement**: * Unilever emphasizes holistic product superiority, moving beyond functional aspects to include factors like desirability and overall value proposition. * The company has implemented a proprietary methodology to measure 21 demand drivers across six Ps (proposition, product, packaging, promotion, price, and place) to improve competitiveness. * This approach has led to improved sales and performance, particularly in Europe, where the company has seen remarkable volume growth in the second quarter. **2. Organizational Culture and Leadership**: * Unilever has experienced a cultural shift, moving from denial and mediocrity to a more fact-based, results-oriented approach. * The appointment of Hein as CEO and the departure of several non-executive directors have contributed to this change. * The company is committed to making radical decisions for long-term performance improvement, including workforce reductions and strategic portfolio changes. **3. Market Share and Competitiveness**: * Unilever has shifted its focus from sales-weighted market share to turnover-weighted share, aiming for a more accurate measure of competitiveness. * The company acknowledges that it is not yet where it wants to be in terms of market share and is committed to improving its position. * The company is investing in brand equity and innovation to drive growth and competitiveness. **4. Emerging Markets and Growth**: * Unilever remains confident in its position in emerging markets, particularly India, where the company has seen significant growth and is committed to defending its market share. * The company is focused on modernizing its portfolio and leveraging its digital capabilities to drive growth in these markets. **5. Sustainability and Regulatory Compliance**: * Unilever is a leader in sustainability and has focused its efforts on four key areas: climate, nature, plastics, and livelihoods. * The company is committed to achieving time-bound targets and welcomes regulations that promote a level-playing field. * The company is investing in R&D to address challenges related to single-use plastic sachets and other sustainability issues. **6. Strategic Portfolio Changes**: * Unilever has separated its ice cream business, recognizing that it is a clear outlier in the company's portfolio. * The company is committed to maintaining its Nutrition business, which is an integral part of its strategy. **7. Challenges and Opportunities**: * Unilever faces challenges in markets like Indonesia and China, where it is experiencing issues related to channel price conflict and geopolitical tensions. * The company is committed to addressing these issues and focusing on long-term growth and profitability.

Luis Di Como, Unilever's global media head, will leave the company after 33 years. Di Como's exit coincides with Unilever's major restructuring and cost-cutting measures. Selina Sykes and Isabel Massey will assume new media roles amid Unilever's organizational changes. Insider Today NSIDER TODAY Sign up to get the inside scoop on today's biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview Bull Thanks for signing up! Go to newsletter preferences Thanks for signing up! Access your f ...

Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the 'long' context, investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades. Whi ...

f9photos Unilever (NYSE:UL) represents one of the companies with the greatest weight in my portfolio, and the reason lies in its strength and resilience to any macroeconomic environment. To some extent, we could call it the British Procter & Gamble (PG), although there are some important differences between them. In the past 6 months, the stock has risen 26%, outperforming the S&P500. In my opinion, it is unlikely to continue to perform similarly in the coming months, but it remains a company that I will ke ...