Unilever's investment thesis is severely undermined by apparent financial reporting anomalies, including impossible 100% gross margins and erratic revenue trends, which prevent a reliable assessment of its core consumer staples business. While the company main...
Price trend, volume and key moving averages
Start with the evidence for owning the stock and the risks that can break the thesis.
Revenue has contracted sharply, with a 14.9% year-over-year decline in 2026Q2, while reported gross margins of 100.0% in multiple quarters indicate severe data integrity issues that obscure underlying profitability trends.
Input cost inflation remaining moderate supports margin stability and potential expansion.
Faster-than-expected volume recovery and margin expansion could drive revenue growth towards 5%.
Unilever's long-term success hinges on its emerging market strategy, offering significant growth potential.
Trailing total returns as of 9/23/2026, which may include dividends or other distributions. Benchmark is S&P 500 (^GSPC).
Check whether operating performance supports the current valuation.
Recent results and news deserve attention only when they alter the forward view.
| Quarter | EPS (Act vs Est) | Revenue (Act vs Est) |
|---|---|---|
Q3 2026Latest Jul 28, 2026 | $1.83-0.5% vs $1.84 | $29.1B-0.9% vs $29.4B |
Q1 2026 Feb 12, 2026 | $1.37-21.7% vs $1.75 | $29.7B-5.4% vs $31.4B |
Q3 2025 Jul 31, 2025 | $1.67-8.7% vs $1.83 | $35.5B+2.9% vs $34.5B |
Q1 2025 Feb 13, 2025 | $0.84-44.8% vs $1.53 | $30.7B-2.9% vs $31.6B |
Unilever "refuses to engage" with union body IUF over demands that a two-year employment guarantee agreed with European workers under its planned food business merger with McCormick be applied to all staff globally, the IUF said in a memo seen by Reuters.
Britain's competition regulator on Wednesday said it has launched an investigation into McCormick & Company's planned acquisition of the majority of Unilever's foods business to assess whether the deal could reduce competition in UK markets.
Unilever PLC remains a Hold, as its current valuation reflects a balanced risk-reward and leaves little margin of safety. UL delivered its strongest volume growth in over 15 years, with Q2 underlying sales up 5.8% and margin improvement, supported by emerging markets. Portfolio streamlining, including potential divestitures and the McCormick deal, positions UL for capital influx and future buybacks, but macro and private label risks persist.
Unilever PLC (UL) Presents at Barclays 19th Annual Global Consumer Staples Conference Transcript
Benchmark UL against direct peers instead of judging its metrics in isolation.
Key metrics vs top competitors for Unilever PLC (UL)
| Company | Price | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | Rev Growth (1Y) | Net Margin | ROE | Div Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $62.93 | $137.39B | 21.19 | -16.88% | 18.75% | 47.19% | 3.55% | |
| $148.22 | $345.15B | 22.39 | 3.26% | 18.44% | 29.7% | — | |
| $98.91 | $32.83B | 16.29 | -14.17% | 11.8% | 112.84% | — | |
| $87.05 | $69.66B | 33.10 | 1.4% | 9.68% | 306.89% | — | |
| $5.77 | $2.45B | -8.49 | -4.99% | -3.05% | -8.95% | — | |
| $24.00 | $28.46B | -4.87 | -3.5% | -13.64% | -8.41% | — |
Unilever PLC (UL) vs competitors — business, growth, and fundamentals comparison against the closest industry rivals.
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Unilever PLC (UL) stock FAQ — growth, dividends, profitability & financials explained
Unilever PLC (UL) reported $105.62B in revenue for fiscal year 2025. This represents a 129% increase from $46.12B in 1996.
Unilever PLC (UL) saw revenue decline by 16.9% over the past year.
Yes, Unilever PLC (UL) is profitable, generating $11.44B in net income for fiscal year 2025 (18.7% net margin).
Yes, Unilever PLC (UL) pays a dividend with a yield of 3.55%. This makes it attractive for income-focused investors.
Unilever PLC (UL) has a return on equity (ROE) of 47.2%. This is excellent, indicating efficient use of shareholder capital.
Unilever PLC (UL) generated $13.86B in free cash flow for fiscal year 2025. Positive FCF indicates the company can fund dividends, buybacks, or reinvestment.
