UL

Consumer Defensive

Unilever PLC · Household & Personal Products · $125B

UQS Score — Balanced Preset
51.1
Good

Unilever PLC scores 51.1/100 using the Balanced preset.

UQS vs Consumer Defensive Sector
UL
51.1
Sector avg
38.4
Quality
Good
Moat
Neutral
Growth
Weak
Risk
Weak
Valuation
Good

What is Unilever PLC?

Unilever PLC is one of the world's largest fast-moving consumer goods companies, selling everyday products across beauty, food, and home care categories to consumers in markets worldwide.

Unilever generates revenue through three segments: Beauty & Personal Care, Foods & Refreshment, and Home Care. The company sells branded products — from skin care and deodorants to ice cream, condiments, and fabric cleaners — through retail channels globally, relying on brand recognition and distribution scale to drive repeat purchases.

Incorporated in 1894, Unilever is headquartered in London, United Kingdom.

  • Beauty & Personal Care (Dove, Axe, Sunsilk, Vaseline, Lux)
  • Foods & Refreshment (Knorr, Hellmann's, Magnum, Ben & Jerry's)
  • Home Care (Domestos, OMO, Cif, Comfort)
  • Health & Wellness brands (Liquid I.V., OLLY, Onnit)

Is UL a Good Stock to Buy?

UQS Score rates UL as Below Average overall.

Unilever's Quality pillar comes in at a Good rating, reflecting the durability of its branded portfolio and broad distribution network. Valuation also registers as Good, suggesting the stock is not trading at a significant premium relative to its fundamentals.

Growth and Risk both register as Weak, pointing to meaningful headwinds around top-line expansion and the risk profile investors should weigh carefully.

See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →

Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.

Does UL pay dividends?

Yes — Unilever PLC pays a dividend.

Unilever pays a regular dividend, consistent with its profile as a mature consumer staples company. The dividend reflects steady cash generation from its global branded portfolio. Income-oriented investors often consider Unilever for its long-standing commitment to returning cash to shareholders.

When does UL report earnings?

Unilever reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for large-cap internationally listed equities.

Growth and Risk pillar ratings suggest Unilever has faced pressure on volume and profitability in recent periods. The company continues to manage costs and portfolio mix across its three segments in a challenging consumer environment.

For the most recent quarter's results, visit Unilever's official investor relations page.

UL Price History

-0.4% over 5Y

Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.

Return Calculator

What if I invested in Unilever PLC?

$
Today it would be worth
$10,423
That's a +4.2% total return, or +0.8% annualized.

Based on Unilever PLC's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Unilever do?

Unilever is a global fast-moving consumer goods company. It sells branded products across three segments — Beauty & Personal Care, Foods & Refreshment, and Home Care — under well-known names like Dove, Knorr, Hellmann's, and Domestos.

Does UL pay dividends?

Yes, Unilever pays a regular dividend. As a mature consumer staples company with broad global distribution, it has a long history of returning cash to shareholders. Check Unilever's investor relations page for current dividend details.

When does UL report earnings?

Unilever reports on a quarterly cadence. For confirmed upcoming earnings dates, refer to the company's investor relations page rather than relying on third-party estimates.

Is UL a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates UL as Below Average overall. While Quality and Valuation pillars are rated Good, the Growth and Risk pillars are both Weak. The full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members and can help inform your own research.

Is UL overvalued?

UL's Valuation pillar is rated Good, suggesting the stock does not appear significantly overpriced relative to its fundamentals. However, weak growth and risk ratings are factors worth considering alongside valuation. View the complete metrics with a Pro account.

What is UL's market cap bracket?

Unilever is classified as a large-cap company, reflecting its scale as one of the world's biggest consumer goods businesses with a presence across dozens of countries and product categories.

Is UL a long-term quality investment?

As a long-term quality indicator, UQS rates UL Below Average overall. Its brand portfolio and Quality pillar provide some foundation, but Weak Growth and Risk ratings suggest investors should weigh durability against the company's current trajectory before making long-horizon decisions.

What sector does UL belong to?

Unilever belongs to the Consumer Defensive sector. Companies in this sector sell everyday essentials — food, personal care, and household products — that tend to see relatively stable demand regardless of broader economic conditions.

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Pro Analysis

UL — Score History

4045505560Apr 2Apr 12Apr 22May 2May 12May 22May 24v5
Score changes· 22 most recent
DateUQSQualityMoatGrowthRiskValueChange
May 23, 202651.178.947.030.621.668.2+0.4
May 6, 202650.781.747.030.621.661.4+0.1
May 3, 202650.681.747.029.821.661.3-0.1
May 2, 202650.781.747.029.821.662.20.0
Apr 28, 202650.781.747.029.621.662.10.0
Apr 26, 202650.781.747.029.721.662.2+0.2
Apr 25, 202650.581.747.029.721.661.3+0.6
Apr 23, 202649.979.247.029.721.661.30.0
Apr 19, 202649.979.247.029.421.661.2-0.1
Apr 18, 202650.079.247.029.421.662.0-2.6

UL — Pillar Breakdown

Quality

78.8/100 (25%)

Unilever PLC demonstrates outstanding capital efficiency and profitability, placing it among the highest-quality businesses in the market.

Capital Efficiency (ROIC)Moderate

How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.

Return on EquityStrong

Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Operating ProfitabilityStrong

Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.

Net ProfitabilityModerate

Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.

Gross Profit / AssetsStrong

Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.

Cash GenerationStrong

Free cash flow relative to market value.

Growth

30.6/100 (20%)

Unilever PLC faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.

Recent Revenue TrendWeak

Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.

3Y Revenue CAGRWeak

Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.

EPS GrowthModerate

Year-over-year earnings per share growth.

Forward Revenue OutlookWeak

Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.

Forward EPS GrowthStrong

Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.

Risk

21.6/100 (15%)

Unilever PLC presents elevated risk with concerns around leverage or financial stability.

Financial LeverageWeak

Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.

Debt/EquityWeak

Total debt relative to shareholder equity.

Current RatioWeak

Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.

Interest CoverageStrong

Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.

Valuation

68.3/100 (15%)

Unilever PLC trades at a reasonable valuation with decent earnings yield and FCF multiples.

Earnings YieldModerate

Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.

Price to Free Cash FlowStrong

How many years of FCF the market cap represents.

PEG RatioStrong

P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.

EV/EBITDA vs SectorWeak

Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.

Moat

47/100 (25%)

Unilever PLC possesses some competitive advantages but faces meaningful competition. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for UL.

Score Composition

Quality
78.8×25%19.7
Growth
30.6×20%6.1
Risk
21.6×15%3.2
Valuation
68.3×15%10.2
Moat
47.0×25%11.8
Total
51.1Good

Financial Data

More Stock Analysis

How is the UL UQS Score Calculated?

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Unilever PLC is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses Unilever PLC's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether Unilever PLC is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.