Unilever is basically the ultimate "boring" stock. You probably have a bottle of Dove soap or a jar of Hellmann’s mayo in your house right now. But honestly, boring is exactly what many investors want in 2026. After a few years of sluggishness, the stock price for unilever is finally doing something interesting.
The company is in the middle of a massive identity shift. For a long time, Unilever felt like a messy attic—stuffed with too many brands and not enough focus. Now, under CEO Hein Schumacher, they’re cleaning house. They even spun off the ice cream business.
Yeah, Ben & Jerry’s and Magnum are gone. They’re part of a new standalone company now.
What’s happening with the numbers?
Right now, as we sit in mid-January 2026, the stock is hovering around 4,822 GBp (or roughly $65 on the NYSE). It’s not a rocket ship. It’s more like a steady freight train. The 52-week range has been between 4,638 and 5,220 GBp, which tells you it’s been relatively stable despite some global market wobbles.
Analysts are mostly playing it safe. We’re seeing a "Hold" consensus from the big banks, though several firms like Deutsche Bank are leaning toward a "Buy" with targets reaching up to 5,150p.
There’s a lot of talk about "underlying sales growth" (USG). In their last update, Unilever posted a USG of 3.9%. That’s not world-breaking, but it’s healthy. Most of that growth came from their "Power Brands"—the big hitters like Dove and Rexona that make up nearly 80% of their revenue.
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The Great Ice Cream Divorce
The biggest thing that happened recently was the demerger of the ice cream division. It officially finished up in late 2025.
Why do it? Because ice cream is a headache. It requires a completely different supply chain—everything has to stay frozen, obviously—and sales are wildly seasonal. By cutting it loose, the "new" Unilever can focus on Beauty & Wellbeing and Personal Care.
Those are the high-margin areas. It’s where the real money is.
Honestly, the market seems to like the simpler version of the company. Without the frozen baggage, Unilever is aiming for a leaner operating margin. They’re targeting at least 19.5% for the core business.
Why the stock price for unilever stays resilient
If you're looking at the stock price for unilever, you're probably looking for dividends.
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The yield is currently sitting around 3.6% to 3.8%. In a world where high-growth tech stocks can crash 20% in a week, Unilever’s dividend is like a warm blanket. They’ve been paying it consistently for decades. They even hiked it by about 3% recently.
But it's not all sunshine.
- Emerging Markets: Over half of their sales come from places like India and China. While that’s great for long-term growth, it means they get hit hard by currency fluctuations. In 2025, adverse currency changes chopped over 6% off their total turnover.
- Competition: Private label brands (the generic store versions) are getting better. When inflation bites, people swap Dove for the supermarket brand.
- Marketing Costs: It’s expensive to keep a brand famous. Unilever has to pump billions into advertising just to stay in the same place.
The "Schumacher" Factor
Hein Schumacher took over a company that was basically stuck in the mud. He’s been ruthless about cutting costs, including plans to slash about 7,500 office jobs. It sounds harsh, but the goal is to save €800 million by 2027.
Investors are watching to see if these savings actually go to the bottom line or if they just get eaten up by rising raw material costs.
Is it a buy right now?
Technical indicators are a bit mixed. The RSI (Relative Strength Index) recently hit 59, which means it’s not quite "overbought," but it’s getting there. It’s trading just a hair below its 200-day moving average.
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Most experts think the stock has an 11% upside from here.
If the February 12th earnings report shows that the "leaner" Unilever is actually more profitable, we could see a break toward that 5,300 GBp mark. If the guidance is weak, expect it to bounce around that 4,700 GBp support level.
Actionable steps for your portfolio
If you're thinking about jumping in, don't just look at the ticker symbol. Here is what you should actually do:
- Check the February 12 Earnings: This is the big one. Look specifically for the "operating margin" excluding ice cream. If it’s below 19%, the "leaner is better" narrative might be in trouble.
- Monitor the Rupee and Yuan: Since a huge chunk of profit comes from India and China, a weak local currency there means fewer Dollars or Pounds for Unilever shareholders.
- Drip the Dividends: This is a classic "Dividend Reinvestment" stock. Because the price doesn't move 50% in a year, the real wealth is built by using those quarterly payments to buy more shares.
- Watch the "Power Brands": Keep an eye on Dove and Hellmann’s. If these core brands start losing market share to generic labels, the stock’s floor will drop.
Unilever isn't going to make you a millionaire overnight. It's a "sleep well at night" stock. With the ice cream spin-off finally in the rearview mirror, 2026 is the year we find out if a simpler Unilever is actually a better one.
Next Steps for Investors:
Review your exposure to consumer staples. If you are over-indexed in tech, Unilever provides a defensive hedge. Set a price alert for 4,750 GBp; many analysts see this as a strong entry point if the market sees a minor pullback before the February results.