10 Best FTSE Dividend Stocks To Buy Now

6. Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 20

Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) is a multinational consumer goods company that offers a wide range of related products. Stocks from the consumer staples industry are well-regarded for providing stability to investors’ portfolios, particularly for those aiming to generate income. Moreover, despite the ongoing AI wave, the companies in the consumer staples industry have shown stable results over the past quarters.

In the first quarter of 2024, Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) posted a 4.4% year-over-year underlying sales growth and its volume growth also grew to 2.2%. In comparison, Procter & Gamble Co (NYSE:PG)’s sales volume remained flat during the first quarter. For 2024, Unilever expects its underlying sales growth to be within its multi-year range of 3% to 5%. The company’s financials have remained strong over the years. In 2023, its underlying operating profit came in at €9.9 billion ($10.59 billion), up 2.6% from the same period last year. This growth shows that the company has generated more earnings from its core operations, which eventually contributed to its shareholder return. In fiscal 2023, the company returned €5.9 billion ($6.31 billion) to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL), which ranks sixths among the best FTSE dividend stocks, currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.455 per share and its stock sports a yield of 3.27%.

Unilever PLC’s (NYSE:UL) strong financial position has prompted the company to implement proactive steps to improve its business. The divestment of its ice cream business is also expected to improve its balance sheet through a spin-off, which the board has determined is the most suitable choice at the moment. The transaction is to be finalized at the end of 2025.

At the end of March, 20 hedge funds in Insider Monkey’s database owned stakes in Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL), down by five over the quarter. The consolidated value of these stakes is over $952 million. Fisher Asset Management remained bullish on the stock, growing its position in the company by 33% in in the first three months of the year to 14.31 million shares.