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Unilever (UL) Stock Analysis

This is a peer-relative look at Unilever (UL): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Household & Personal Products peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Unilever (UL) trades as an ADR rather than ordinary local shares — read it with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile fields for Unilever (UL)
Profile ItemUL
NameUnilever PLC Sponsored American Depositary Receipt
Country/RegionUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorConsumer Staples
GICS Industry GroupHousehold & Personal Products
GICS IndustryPersonal Care Products
GICS Sub-IndustryPersonal Care Products
Market Capitalization130.89 billion USD
CurrencyUSD
ExchangeNYSE
Listing DateMarch 25, 1980
Security TypeADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

UL
GSPC
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Unilever (UL) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Unilever (UL) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Unilever (UL) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Unilever (UL) metric values compared with Household & Personal Products industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: ULIndustry group median
Total Return (1Y)-6.36%-1.99%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)4.53%0.30%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)1.86%1.36%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

UL
GSPC
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Unilever (UL) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Unilever (UL) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Unilever (UL) metric values compared with Household & Personal Products industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: ULIndustry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.30%37.33%
Beta (5Y)0.420.59
Max Drawdown (5Y)-25.09%-51.32%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. UL is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Unilever (UL) metric values compared with Household & Personal Products industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: ULIndustry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.47-0.17
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.64-0.23

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Unilever (UL) posts ROE of 30.96%, in the upper peer quartile. That suggests the company earns more from each dollar of shareholders’ equity than most industry peers, a useful capital-efficiency signal.

UL

Household & Personal Products industry group

30.96%

Group distribution
Max
33.31%
UL
30.96%
Q3
28.44%
Median
13.69%
Q1
0.17%
Min
-20.43%
Largest peers
CL
363.58%
KMB
111.73%
PG
31.11%
UL
30.96%
KVUE
15.70%
HLN
10.27%
EL
-5.95%
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Where Unilever (UL) stands on ROE within its Household & Personal Products peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

Unilever (UL) keeps 18.75% of revenue as net profit, putting net margin in the upper peer quartile. After operating costs, interest, and taxes, more of each sales dollar reaches shareholders than it does at most industry peers.

UL

Household & Personal Products industry group

18.75%

Group distribution
Max
19.16%
UL
18.75%
Q3
11.33%
Median
6.67%
Q1
0.66%
Min
-9.20%
Largest peers
PG
19.16%
UL
18.75%
HLN
15.11%
KMB
12.80%
KVUE
10.61%
CL
10.04%
EL
-1.67%
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Where Unilever (UL) stands on net margin within its Household & Personal Products peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Unilever (UL) turns 20.05% of revenue into operating profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal operating margin range. Its core cost structure looks typical for the industry.

UL

Household & Personal Products industry group

20.05%

Group distribution
Max
23.17%
Q3
20.10%
UL
20.05%
Median
12.60%
Q1
6.91%
Min
-9.69%
Largest peers
HLN
23.17%
PG
23.05%
KVUE
21.62%
CL
20.92%
UL
20.05%
KMB
19.65%
EL
14.93%
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Where Unilever (UL) stands on operating margin within its Household & Personal Products peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

Unilever (UL) metric values compared with Household & Personal Products industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: ULIndustry group median
ROE (TTM)30.96%13.69%
ROA (TTM)8.43%6.90%
Net Margin (TTM)18.75%6.67%
Operating Margin (TTM)20.05%12.60%
Gross Margin (TTM)46.95%48.97%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Unilever (UL) grew revenue -3.77%, in the lower peer quartile. The top line is expanding more slowly than at most peers, which can reflect softer demand, lost share, or weaker pricing.

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Unilever (UL): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Household & Personal Products industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

Unilever (UL) grew earnings per share 67.69%, in the upper peer quartile. Per-share profits are compounding faster than at most industry peers.

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Unilever (UL): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Household & Personal Products industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

Unilever (UL) metric values compared with Household & Personal Products industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: ULIndustry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)-3.77%0.29%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-5.62%0.79%
EPS Growth (YoY)67.69%5.24%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)8.70%6.22%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Unilever (UL) has current ratio of 0.79, in the tighter-liquidity quartile for its industry. The short-term cushion is thinner than most peers carry, even if the absolute comfort level still depends on the business model.

UL

Household & Personal Products industry group

0.79

Group distribution
Max
4.51
Q3
3.12
Median
1.95
Q1
1.01
UL
0.79
Min
0.73
Largest peers
EL
1.27
CL
1.03
KVUE
0.98
HLN
0.92
UL
0.79
KMB
0.77
PG
0.73
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Where Unilever (UL) stands on current ratio within its Household & Personal Products peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Unilever (UL) has debt-to-equity ratio of 1.61, in the higher-leverage quartile for its industry. The heavier reliance on borrowing can make earnings, rates, or refinancing conditions matter more.

UL

Household & Personal Products industry group

1.61

Group distribution
Max
2.33
UL
1.61
Q3
1.45
Median
0.77
Q1
0.39
Min
0.02
Largest peers
CL
16.41
KMB
3.71
EL
2.33
UL
1.61
KVUE
0.83
PG
0.68
HLN
0.52
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Where Unilever (UL) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Household & Personal Products peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

Unilever (UL) metric values compared with Household & Personal Products industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: ULIndustry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.791.95
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.610.77
Net Debt / EBITDA2.142.19

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Unilever (UL) has dividend yield of 3.19%, in the upper peer-yield quartile while still inside the industry range. The dividend offers more cash income per dollar of share price than most peers, though payout coverage still matters.

UL

Household & Personal Products industry group

3.19%

Group distribution
Max
5.90%
UL
3.19%
Q3
2.64%
Median
1.02%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Largest peers
KMB
4.66%
KVUE
4.35%
UL
3.19%
PG
2.83%
CL
2.26%
EL
1.67%
HLN
0.71%
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Where Unilever (UL) stands on dividend yield within its Household & Personal Products peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Unilever (UL) has payout ratio of 78.60%, above the industry’s usual payout band. A larger share of earnings is going to dividends, so the cushion narrows if profit weakens.

UL

Household & Personal Products industry group

78.60%

Group distribution
Max
98.51%
UL
78.60%
Q3
66.00%
Median
36.90%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Largest peers
EL
471.43%
KVUE
98.51%
KMB
97.87%
CL
80.62%
UL
78.60%
PG
61.80%
HLN
37.08%
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Where Unilever (UL) stands on payout ratio within its Household & Personal Products peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

Unilever (UL) metric values compared with Household & Personal Products industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: ULIndustry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.19%1.02%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)78.60%36.90%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Unilever (UL) trades at P/E ratio of 21.03, near the industry’s usual earnings multiple. The stock is not showing a clear peer discount or premium on trailing earnings.

UL

Household & Personal Products industry group

21.03

Group distribution
Max
36.52
Q3
24.48
UL
21.03
Median
20.82
Q1
15.98
Min
5.38
Largest peers
CL
35.63
KVUE
22.63
PG
21.78
UL
21.03
KMB
20.98
HLN
20.67
EL
--
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Where Unilever (UL) stands on P/E ratio within its Household & Personal Products peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Unilever (UL) trades at 2.59 on P/S ratio, roughly in the peer group’s normal range. The market is not making a strong cheap-or-rich statement about its revenue base.

UL

Household & Personal Products industry group

2.59

Group distribution
Max
5.42
Q3
2.97
UL
2.59
Median
1.58
Q1
0.70
Min
0.07
Largest peers
PG
3.98
HLN
3.96
CL
3.48
UL
2.59
KVUE
2.39
KMB
2.17
EL
2.01
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Where Unilever (UL) stands on P/S ratio within its Household & Personal Products peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Unilever (UL) trades at 7.47 on P/B ratio, in the higher book-value quartile. The market is paying a premium to book, so stronger ROE, cleaner assets, or a better growth profile need to justify it.

UL

Household & Personal Products industry group

7.47

Group distribution
Max
11.82
UL
7.47
Q3
7.46
Median
2.83
Q1
1.04
Min
-2.96
Largest peers
CL
500.00
KMB
19.97
UL
7.47
EL
7.46
PG
6.42
KVUE
3.44
HLN
2.00
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Where Unilever (UL) stands on P/B ratio within its Household & Personal Products peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

Unilever (UL) metric values compared with Household & Personal Products industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: ULIndustry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)21.0320.82
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.591.58
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.472.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.79%4.98%