Unilever PLC (UL) Financial Ratios
30 years of historical data (1995–2024) · Consumer Defensive · Household & Personal Products
EV/EBITDA
↓
12.16
↓-19% vs avg
5yr avg: 14.99
30Y Low6.5·High19.4
P/FCF
↓
14.29
↓-25% vs avg
5yr avg: 19.14
30Y Low8.5·High100.9
P/B Ratio
↓
5.66
↓-17% vs avg
5yr avg: 6.85
30Y Low3.4·High17.9
ROE
↓
26.5%
-18% vs avg
5yr avg: 32.3%
30Y Low16%·High70%
Debt/EBITDA
↑
2.75
+4% vs avg
5yr avg: 2.65
30Y Low0.8·High5.7
Percentile shows where the current value sits in 30-year historical distribution. Sparklines show 5-year trend.
UL Valuation Multiples
Price-based multiples — how expensive the stock is relative to earnings, sales, book value, and cash flow
Unilever PLC trades at 22.2x earnings, roughly in line with its 5-year average of 22.4x, sitting at the 43rd percentile of its historical range. Compared to the Consumer Defensive sector median P/E of 18.8x, the stock trades at a premium of 18%. On a free-cash-flow basis, the stock trades at 14.3x P/FCF, 25% below the 5-year average of 19.1x.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 | FY 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $127.6B | $142.2B | $122.8B | $128.9B | $140.4B | $158.7B | $150.2B | $140.8B | $155.7B | $116.2B | $123.1B |
| Enterprise Value | $155.7B | $166.7B | $147.2B | $153.0B | $166.6B | $180.0B | $174.2B | $162.5B | $176.8B | $129.4B | $134.8B |
| P/E Ratio → | 22.22 | 24.76 | 18.94 | 16.84 | 23.19 | 28.47 | 26.71 | 15.01 | 25.86 | 22.36 | 25.07 |
| P/S Ratio | 1.83 | 2.34 | 2.06 | 2.15 | 2.68 | 3.13 | 2.89 | 2.76 | 2.90 | 2.20 | 2.31 |
| P/B Ratio | 5.66 | 6.30 | 5.91 | 5.94 | 7.11 | 8.99 | 10.81 | 11.45 | 10.82 | 6.84 | 7.66 |
| P/FCF | 14.29 | 18.27 | 15.49 | 22.12 | 20.45 | 19.37 | 22.11 | 23.51 | 24.45 | 22.15 | 22.54 |
| P/OCF | 11.68 | 14.93 | 13.02 | 17.70 | 17.61 | 17.52 | 18.52 | 19.24 | 19.76 | 16.48 | 16.80 |
P/E links to full P/E history page with 30-year chart
UL EV Ratios
Enterprise-value multiples — capital-structure-neutral measures of total business value
Unilever PLC's enterprise value stands at 12.2x EBITDA, 19% below its 5-year average of 15.0x. The Consumer Defensive sector median is 11.0x, placing the stock at a 11% premium on an enterprise-value basis.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 | FY 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV / Revenue | — | 2.74 | 2.47 | 2.55 | 3.18 | 3.55 | 3.35 | 3.19 | 3.29 | 2.45 | 2.53 |
| EV / EBITDA | 12.16 | 14.94 | 13.70 | 12.94 | 15.95 | 17.44 | 16.33 | 11.09 | 16.85 | 13.96 | 15.17 |
| EV / EBIT | 14.44 | 14.82 | 14.55 | 16.08 | 17.29 | 19.23 | 17.57 | 17.41 | 18.80 | 16.79 | 18.23 |
| EV / FCF | — | 21.42 | 18.58 | 26.26 | 24.28 | 21.96 | 25.65 | 27.13 | 27.76 | 24.67 | 24.67 |
UL Profitability
Margins and return-on-capital ratios measuring operating efficiency
Unilever PLC earns an operating margin of 15.5%, above the Consumer Defensive sector average of 3.5%. Operating margins have compressed from 17.9% to 15.5% over the past 3 years, signaling potential cost pressures or competitive headwinds. ROE of 26.5% indicates solid capital efficiency, compared to the sector median of 6.5%. ROIC of 15.3% represents solid returns on invested capital versus a sector median of 5.7%.
Margins
Full margin charts and quarterly trend are on the Earnings History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 | FY 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 100.0% | 100.0% | 42.2% | 40.2% | 42.3% | 43.5% | 44.0% | 43.7% | 43.2% | 42.7% | 42.2% |
| Operating Margin | 15.5% | 15.5% | 16.4% | 17.9% | 16.6% | 16.4% | 16.8% | 24.8% | 16.7% | 14.8% | 14.1% |
| Net Profit Margin | 9.5% | 9.5% | 10.9% | 12.7% | 11.5% | 11.0% | 10.8% | 18.4% | 11.2% | 9.8% | 9.2% |
Return on Capital
| Metric | TTM | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 | FY 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE | 26.5% | 26.5% | 30.6% | 36.9% | 32.3% | 35.4% | 43.0% | 70.2% | 38.4% | 31.4% | 32.4% |
| ROA | 7.4% | 7.4% | 8.5% | 10.0% | 8.5% | 8.4% | 9.1% | 15.6% | 10.3% | 9.5% | 9.8% |
| ROIC | 15.3% | 15.3% | 16.1% | 17.6% | 15.4% | 16.2% | 18.2% | 27.3% | 20.5% | 20.2% | 21.4% |
| ROCE | 17.7% | 17.7% | 18.7% | 20.9% | 17.9% | 18.3% | 20.9% | 32.9% | 24.5% | 22.9% | 24.8% |
UL Leverage & Debt
Solvency and debt-coverage ratios — lower is generally safer
Unilever PLC carries a Debt/EBITDA ratio of 2.7x, which is moderately leveraged (21% below the sector average of 3.5x). Net debt stands at $24.5B ($30.7B total debt minus $6.1B cash). Interest coverage of 8.4x is adequate, though a cyclical earnings downturn could tighten the margin of safety.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 | FY 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt / Equity | 1.36 | 1.36 | 1.38 | 1.31 | 1.50 | 1.52 | 2.03 | 2.02 | 1.70 | 0.98 | 0.87 |
| Debt / EBITDA | 2.75 | 2.75 | 2.66 | 2.41 | 2.84 | 2.59 | 2.65 | 1.70 | 2.33 | 1.79 | 1.57 |
| Net Debt / Equity | — | 1.09 | 1.18 | 1.11 | 1.33 | 1.20 | 1.73 | 1.76 | 1.47 | 0.78 | 0.73 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.20 | 2.20 | 2.27 | 2.04 | 2.51 | 2.06 | 2.26 | 1.48 | 2.01 | 1.43 | 1.31 |
| Debt / FCF | — | 3.15 | 3.08 | 4.14 | 3.83 | 2.59 | 3.54 | 3.62 | 3.31 | 2.52 | 2.13 |
| Interest Coverage | 8.41 | 8.41 | 9.08 | 13.63 | 17.47 | 11.81 | 11.41 | 17.29 | 15.85 | 13.73 | 13.71 |
UL Liquidity & Efficiency
Short-term solvency ratios and asset-utilisation metrics
The current ratio of 0.76x is below 1.0, meaning current liabilities exceed current assets — though the company's $6.1B cash position helps mitigate short-term liquidity concerns.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 | FY 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 0.76 | 0.76 | 0.76 | 0.75 | 0.70 | 0.78 | 0.78 | 0.78 | 0.73 | 0.68 | 0.63 |
| Quick Ratio | 0.56 | 0.56 | 0.54 | 0.52 | 0.51 | 0.57 | 0.58 | 0.57 | 0.56 | 0.47 | 0.42 |
| Cash Ratio | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.25 | 0.22 | 0.18 | 0.31 | 0.24 | 0.21 | 0.18 | 0.19 | 0.13 |
| Asset Turnover | — | 0.76 | 0.79 | 0.77 | 0.70 | 0.75 | 0.80 | 0.86 | 0.89 | 0.93 | 1.02 |
| Inventory Turnover | 6.73 | — | 6.73 | 6.05 | 6.46 | 6.43 | 6.99 | 6.67 | 7.69 | 7.07 | 7.11 |
| Days Sales Outstanding | — | 30.74 | 30.24 | 27.61 | 31.11 | 24.70 | 47.01 | 49.79 | 35.46 | 36.77 | 34.76 |
UL Shareholder Yields
Earnings, FCF, buyback, and dividend yields — total returns to shareholders
Unilever PLC returns 4.7% to shareholders annually — split between a 3.4% dividend yield and 1.4% buyback yield. The payout ratio of 75.2% is elevated — while still covered by earnings, there is limited headroom for dividend increases. The earnings yield of 4.5% (inverse of P/E) provides a useful comparison to bond yields when assessing the stock's relative attractiveness to fixed income.
Dividends
Full dividend history and growth charts are on the Dividend History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 | FY 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | 3.4% | 3.0% | 3.6% | 3.4% | 3.2% | 2.7% | 2.8% | 2.9% | 2.5% | 3.1% | 2.7% |
| Payout Ratio | 75.2% | 75.2% | 67.3% | 56.6% | 74.1% | 76.7% | 74.8% | 43.4% | 65.0% | 69.6% | 67.9% |
Total Shareholder Return Metrics
| Metric | TTM | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 | FY 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Yield | 4.5% | 4.0% | 5.3% | 5.9% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 3.7% | 6.7% | 3.9% | 4.5% | 4.0% |
| FCF Yield | 7.0% | 5.5% | 6.5% | 4.5% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 4.5% | 4.3% | 4.1% | 4.5% | 4.4% |
| Buyback Yield | 1.4% | 1.1% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 2.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 4.5% | 3.4% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Total Shareholder Yield | 4.7% | 4.1% | 4.8% | 4.5% | 5.3% | 2.7% | 2.9% | 7.3% | 5.9% | 3.3% | 2.9% |
| Shares Outstanding | — | $2.5B | $2.5B | $2.6B | $2.6B | $2.6B | $2.6B | $2.7B | $2.8B | $2.9B | $2.9B |
Peer Comparison
Compare UL with 10 similar companies in its peer group
| Company | Market Cap | P/E | EV/EBITDA | P/FCF | Gross Margin | Op Margin | ROE | ROIC | Debt/EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 ULYou | $128B | 22.2 | 12.2 | 14.3 | 100.0% | 15.5% | 26.5% | 15.3% | 2.7 |
 PG | $351B | 23.1 | 16.2 | 25.0 | 51.2% | 24.3% | 31.1% | 20.1% | 1.5 |
 KMB | $34B | 16.9 | 13.1 | 20.8 | 35.6% | 14.5% | 153.9% | 23.3% | 2.3 |
 CL | $72B | 34.0 | 15.8 | 19.8 | 60.1% | 21.3% | 469.1% | 43.4% | 1.6 |
 NWL | $2B | -7.2 | 9.9 | 123.0 | 33.8% | 6.2% | -11.1% | 4.3% | 7.5 |
 KHC | $27B | -4.6 | — | 7.4 | 33.3% | -18.7% | -12.8% | -5.5% | — |
 GIS | $18B | 8.2 | 8.5 | 7.8 | 34.6% | 17.0% | 24.3% | 10.6% | 4.0 |
 CPB | $6B | 10.5 | 7.5 | 8.9 | 30.4% | 13.2% | 15.6% | 9.1% | 4.0 |
 CHD | $23B | 31.7 | 18.5 | 20.7 | 44.7% | 17.4% | 17.6% | 13.9% | 1.7 |
 EL | $31B | -26.9 | 20.8 | 45.7 | 73.9% | 6.7% | -24.7% | 6.5% | 5.3 |
 COTY | $2B | -4.4 | 8.6 | 6.2 | 64.8% | 4.1% | -9.0% | 2.3% | 6.4 |
| Consumer Defensive Median | — | 18.8 | 11.0 | 15.3 | 40.8% | 3.5% | 6.5% | 5.7% | 3.5 |
Peer selection based on competitive and market overlap. Compare multiple stocks →
Download Financial Ratios Data
Includes 30+ ratios · 30 years · Updated daily
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UL — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying UL stock.
What is Unilever PLC's P/E ratio?
Unilever PLC's current P/E ratio is 22.2x. The historical average is 21.8x. This places it at the 43th percentile of its historical range.
What is Unilever PLC's EV/EBITDA?
Unilever PLC's current EV/EBITDA is 12.2x. This enterprise value multiple compares the company's total value (equity + debt - cash) to its EBITDA. The historical average is 13.5x.
What is Unilever PLC's ROE?
Unilever PLC's return on equity (ROE) is 26.5%. This is above the typical threshold of 15-20% considered good for most companies. The historical average is 35.5%.
Is UL stock overvalued?
Based on historical data, Unilever PLC is trading at a P/E of 22.2x. This is at the 43th percentile of its historical P/E range. Compare with industry peers and growth rates for a complete picture.
What is Unilever PLC's dividend yield?
Unilever PLC's current dividend yield is 3.38% with a payout ratio of 75.2%.
What are Unilever PLC's profit margins?
Unilever PLC has 100.0% gross margin and 15.5% operating margin. Operating margin between 10-20% is typical for established companies.
How much debt does Unilever PLC have?
Unilever PLC's Debt/EBITDA ratio is 2.7x, indicating moderate leverage. A ratio between 2-4x is manageable but warrants monitoring.