Unilever (NYSE:UL) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas

Unilever

Unilever is a diversified personal-care (52% of 2022 sales by value), homecare (14%), and packaged food (34%) company. Its brands include Knorr soups and sauces, Hellmann's mayonnaise, Axe and Dove skin products, and the TRESemmé haircare brand. The firm has been acquisitive in recent years; notable purchases include Paula's Choice, Liquid I.V., Horlicks, Garancia, and The Vegetarian Butcher.

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Accenture plc (NYSE: ACN) has seen its stock rise 17% in the past three months, outperforming the industry&#39;s 10.4% growth and the 0.4% uptick in the S&amp;P 500 composite index.

Accenture and Unilever Collaborate on Generative AI Platform

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Accenture and Unilever expand their partnership to transform Unilever&#39;s digital infrastructure and boost global efficiency with advanced generative AI.

AI Power Play: Accenture And Unilever Unveil Major Expansion to Transform Digital Operations

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Kamala Harris promises a price-gouging ban on groceries if elected President. Price control laws are not new, dating back to Roman Empire.

FDR, Nixon Tried Price Control Legislation: Would It Work For Kamala Harris?

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Accenture plc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/acn#NYSE">ACN</a>) has seen its stock rise 17% in the past three months, outperforming the industry&#39;s 10.4% growth and the 0.4% uptick in the S&amp;P 500 composite index.
Recently, Accenture broadened its strategic alliance with Unilever (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ul#NYSE">UL</a>) to streamline Unilever&#39;s digital infrastructure and leverage generative AI to enhance efficiency and operational agility. By tapping into Accenture&#39;s expertise, Unilever aims to identify where AI can generate the most significant transformative impact, ultimately yielding higher returns on investment.
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<h2>Accenture PLC Price</h2>
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Accenture PLC price | Accenture PLC Quote
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<h2>GenWizard Platform: A Key Driver of Change</h2>
Under this multi-year collaboration, Unilever will collaborate with Accenture to establish new standards in generative AI-driven productivity across the industry. This involves scaling AI applications that have already demonstrated the ability to cut costs and optimize operations on a global scale.
Accenture will provide Unilever access to its GenWizard platform, designed to fast-track technological and digital product development. The platform, armed with more than 350 patents and ready-to-use tools and frameworks, offers a comprehensive suite of solutions tailored to achieve specific business technology goals. The partnership will allow Unilever to deploy targeted generative AI solutions throughout its operations, driving efficiency, cost reduction and discovering innovative workflows. Ultimately, this collaboration is expected to help Unilever gain a competitive edge in the marketplace.
<h2>Driving Digital Transformation and Competitive Advantage</h2>
Accenture&#39;s collaboration with Unilever marks a strategic move toward strengthening its position as a leader in digital transformation, particularly in the realm of generative AI. The use of Accenture&#39;s GenWizard platform underscores the company&#39;s commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions that enable its clients to achieve operational excellence.
From Unilever&#39;s perspective, the application of generative AI is expected to enhance overall business performance by simplifying its digital core, identifying new efficiencies and scaling successful AI use cases globally. These initiatives are likely to drive significant cost reductions, operational agility and business insights, positioning Unilever to better adapt to an increasingly competitive and technology-driven market.
The partnership also highlights the growing importance of AI in shaping corporate strategies. Companies that harness AI&#39;s potential to streamline operations and improve decision-making will likely gain a competitive edge. This collaboration serves as a testament to the value of long-term investments in AI-driven innovations.
<h2>Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider</h2>
ACN currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
A couple of better-ranked stocks from the broader Zacks Business Services sector are AppLovin&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/app#NASDAQ">APP</a>) and Genpact (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/g#NYSE">G</a>).
APP currently sports a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). The company has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 20%. JAMF delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 21.1%, on average.
Genpact carries a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) at present. It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 8.4%.G delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 6.9%, on average.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2333218/accenture-and-unilever-collaborate-on-generative-ai-platform?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|company_news_corporate_actions-2333218">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Accenture plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>) and Unilever plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UL#NYSE">UL</a>) have announced a significant expansion of their strategic partnership aimed at transforming digital infrastructure and harnessing the power of generative AI to enhance efficiency<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/09/b40723918/unilever-and-accenture-join-forces-to-establish-a-new-industry-standard-in-generative-ai-powered-p" rel="noreferrer noopener"> and agility across its global operations.</a>
The multi-year program will focus on establishing a new industry benchmark for productivity powered by generative AI. Unilever plans to scale successful AI use cases that have already demonstrated worldwide cost savings and operational efficiencies.
Hein Schumacher, CEO of Unilever, highlighted the success of their initial AI implementations, which introduced 500 AI applications and achieved notable efficiency gains. He emphasized the potential for further advancements with Accenture&#8217;s support, stating that the deeper integration of AI is a key part of their strategy to accelerate growth and performance.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40577369/accenture-expands-healthcare-reach-across-europe-with-latest-consus-health-deal" rel="noreferrer noopener">Accenture Expands Healthcare Reach Across Europe With Latest consus.health Deal</a>
According to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>, UL stock has gained over 30% in the past year. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;Absolute Select Value ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABEQ#NYSE">ABEQ</a>) and&nbsp;Keating Active ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KEAT#NASDAQ">KEAT</a>).
Unilever will utilize Accenture&#8217;s GenWizard platform, which boasts over 350 patents and a suite of tools and frameworks designed to meet various technology objectives. This platform will play a crucial role in expediting Unilever&#8217;s technology and digital product development.
Julie Sweet, Chair and CEO of Accenture, praised the extended collaboration, noting that it will set a new standard for scaling generative AI in enterprise settings. She emphasized that the GenWizard platform will help Unilever achieve efficiencies, discover innovative work methods, and gain a competitive edge.
This enhanced partnership builds on previous efforts to explore and apply generative AI across Unilever&#8217;s operations, including new projects from its &#8220;Horizon3 Labs.&#8221;
ACN stock has gained over 5% in the past year. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;Trust for Professional Managers Jensen Quality Growth ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JGRW#NYSE">JGRW</a>) and&nbsp;iShares U.S. Tech Independence Focused ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IETC#BATS">IETC</a>).
Price Action: ACN shares closed higher by 0.62% to $343.99 on Wednesday. UL shares are trading higher by 0.15% to $65.20 at premarket trading on Thursday.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock
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Unilever will look to leverage Accenture&#39;s&nbsp;<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.accenture.com%2Fus-en%2Fservices%2Fcloud%2Fapplication-transformation%2Fgenwizard&amp;esheet=54116604&amp;newsitemid=20240905109256&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=GenWizard&amp;index=1&amp;md5=18f1e18f83894cc32ddeac2e779335d0">GenWizard</a>&nbsp;platform to accelerate their technology and digital product development. The gen AI platform has more than 350 patents and ready-to-apply tools and frameworks that work together to provide a comprehensive solution for any given technology business objective.

Unilever And Accenture Launch Multi-Year Program To Boost Productivity With Generative AI-Powered Solutions

<a href="https://news.sky.com/story/unilever-rations-skincare-portfolio-with-kate-somerville-sale-13203323?dcmp=snt-sf-twitter" title="https://news.sky.com/story/unilever-rations-skincare-portfolio-with-kate-somerville-sale-13203323?dcmp=snt-sf-twitter">https://news.sky.com/story/unilever-rations-skincare-portfolio-with-kate-somerville-sale-13203323?dcmp=snt-sf-twitter</a>

Asset Sales

Sky News Reported Unilever Is Working With Advisers On Sale Kate Somerville Skincare Brand It Acquired In 2015

As soon as Democratic nominee Kamala Harris promised to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40387906/kamala-harris-plans-historic-federal-ban-on-corporate-price-gouging-in-food-and-grocery-industries">ban price-gouging on groceries</a> (if she were elected U.S. President in November), the blowback from critics was loud and fierce. 
But such laws, which put a floor and a ceiling on consumer goods and services through government mandate, are not new.
For example, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the Emergency Price Control Act of 1942 to curb inflation during World War II. It was enacted on Jan. 30, 1942 and expired on June 30,1947, <a href="https://www.loc.gov/item/uscode1940-006050a010/">according</a> to the Library of Congress.
Almost 30 years later, President Richard Nixon issued an executive order in 1971 that put a 90-day freeze on wages and prices, following the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970, <a href="https://www.cato.org/commentary/remembering-nixons-wage-price-controls">according</a> to the Cato Institute.
Read Also: <a href="https://feeds2.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/08/40508841/oleary-on-harris-price-control-plan-thats-beyond-crazy-it-didnt-work-in-the-70s-it-wont-work-now">O&#8217;Leary On Harris&#8217; Price Control Plan: &#8216;That&#8217;s Beyond Crazy&#8217; – It Didn&#8217;t Work In The &#8217;70s, It Won&#8217;t Work Now</a>
There are countless other instances of governments imposing such legislation as far back as the days of the Roman Empire, <a href="https://cdn.mises.org/Forty%20Centuries%20of%20Wage%20and%20Price%20Controls%20How%20Not%20to%20Fight%20Inflation_2.pdf">according</a> to &#8220;Forty Centuries of Wages and Price Controls.&#8221;
Harris presented the price-gouging ban a week ago at <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40387906/kamala-harris-plans-historic-federal-ban-on-corporate-price-gouging-in-food-and-grocery-industries">a campaign rally</a> in North Carolina. The plan includes sharper scrutiny on potential mergers between supermarkets and food producers, which leads to higher grocery prices as expenses are passed onto consumers.
Grocer association gave the proposal <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40467624/harris-price-gouging-plan-faces-pushback-from-grocers-hurting-from-the-same-inflationary-pressure-as">the cold shoulder</a>. They argue that they face the same inflationary pressures that consumers do.
When enacted, price control legislation significantly impacts sectors that have a handful of dominant players, such as soda production, tire manufacture, wireless communications and retail.
Price Action: Soda producers saw gains and losses by Friday&#8217;s mid-afternoon trading.
<ul>
<li>The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>) dipped 0.19% to $69.20</li>
<li>PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEP#NASDAQ">PEP</a>) declined 0.60% to $174.69</li>
<li>Unilver PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UL#NYSE">UL</a>) gained 1.42% to $63.41</li>
</ul>
Tire makers also went in both directions on Wall Street on Friday.
<ul>
<li>The Goodyear Tire &amp; Rubber Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GT#NASDAQ">GT</a>) jumped 5.12% to $8.93</li>
<li>Bridgestone Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRDCY#OTC">BRDCY</a>) gained 1.37% to $20.01</li>
<li>Group Michelin (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGDDY#OTC">MGDDY</a>) slipped 0.81% to $19.54</li>
</ul>
Wireless communications providers trended upward. 
<ul>
<li>Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>) gained 0.69% to $41.15</li>
<li>AT&amp;T Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>) went up 0.82% to $19.67</li>
<li>T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>) rose 0.73% to $197.88</li>
</ul>
Retailers also had a positive day into Friday&#8217;s mid-afternoon trading.
<ul>
<li>Walmart Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) improved 0.19% to $75.43</li>
<li>Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) rose 0.47% to $176.96</li>
<li>Target Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGT#NYSE">TGT</a>) climbed 0.68% to $157.88</li>
</ul>
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</ul>

B of A Securities analyst Victoria Petrova upgrades Unilever (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UL#NYSE">UL</a>) from Underperform to Buy and raises the price target from $47 to $72.

Upgrades

Price Target

B of A Securities Upgrades Unilever to Buy, Raises Price Target to $72

A proposed buyout offer of 7-Eleven parent company Seven &amp; I Holdings Co could take the American convenience store from being owned by a Japanese company to<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/08/40448182/7-eleven-may-become-canadian-how-japanese-chain-could-change"> a Canadian company.</a>
Many people likely have no idea that 7-Eleven is currently owned by a Japanese company according to a poll of Benzinga readers.
What Happened: Canadian convenience store owner Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANCTF#OTC">ANCTF</a>) has proposed an offer to buy Seven &amp; I Holdings Co, the owner of 7-Eleven, for a reported $31 billion. The news of the deal sent shares of Seven &amp; I Holdings <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/08/40453525/7-eleven-owner-seven-i-holdings-sees-6-drop-in-shares-amid-alimentation-couche-tards-potential-takeo">higher to start the week.</a>
7-Eleven was founded in the 1920s in Texas, which currently serves as the company's headquarters. The convenience store has been owned by the Japanese company since 2005, which many Americans likely weren't aware of.
"Did you know that 7-Eleven is a Japanese-owned company?" Benzinga asked its readers.
Seventy-one percent of poll respondents answered no, with 29% saying yes that they knew 7-Eleven was owned by a Japanese company.
While most readers weren't familiar with this example, there are dozens more American companies owned by foreign companies. Here are some examples.
Ben &amp; Jerry's: The American ice cream company founded in Vermont, now owned by Unilever (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UL#NYSE">UL</a>), a U.K. food and consumer products conglomerate.
Burger King: The restaurant brand is owned by Restaurant Brands International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QSR#NYSE">QSR</a>), a Canadian-American company headquartered in Toronto that also owns Canadian coffee retail brand Tim Horton's.
Trader Joe's: The grocery store brand is owned by German company Aldi Nord, which also owns Aldi.
Smithfield Foods: The American pork producer and food processing company is owned by WH Group, a Chinese food company.
Chrysler: One of the American "Big 3" automakers, Chrysler is now a unit of Stellantis NV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLA#NYSE">STLA</a>), which is headquartered in the Netherlands.
Budweiser: One of the top-selling American beer brands, Budweiser was founded in St. Louis, Missouri in 1876. The company is now owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BUD#NYSE">BUD</a>), which is headquartered in Belgium.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/08/40423891/buffett-musk-wood-cuban-or-ackman-who-do-investors-trust-most-with-life-savings-poll-shows-it-isnt-e">Buffett, Musk, Wood, Cuban Or Ackman: Who Do Investors Trust Most With Life Savings? Poll Shows It Isn&#8217;t Even Close</a>
Why It's Important: If Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. completes its takeover of 7-Eleven parent Seven &amp; I, it would create the world&#8217;s leading convenience store operator, with over 100,000 combined locations globally.
The deal would also mark the largest takeover of a Japanese company if the buyout offer is approved.
Alimentation Couche-Tard is one of the most valuable Canadian public companies, and it would likely elevate into the top 10.
With a combined total of over 20,000 locations in the United States, the potential merger could face regulatory scrutiny in North America.
Read Next: 
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</ul>
The study was conducted by Benzinga on Aug. 19 and Aug. 20, 2024, and included the responses of a diverse population of adults 18 or older. Opting into the survey was completely voluntary, with no incentives offered to potential respondents. The study reflects results from 121 adults.
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Exclusives

ANCTF

STLA

7-Eleven Owned By A Japanese Company? 71% Of Benzinga Poll Respondents Surprised: Other Foreign-Owned US Companies Revealed

Only Popsicle Jolly Rancher products marked for individual sale are impacted

Unilever U.S. Recalls ~137,000 Cases Of Popsicle Jolly Rancher Frozen Confection Pop Poducts Due To Unlabeled Milk Product

The Bank of England (BoE) reduced its key interest rate by 25 basis points for the first time after over four years, bringing it down from a 16-year high <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/interest-rates">of 5.25% to 5%. </a>
The Monetary Policy Committee was divided, with five members, including Governor Andrew Bailey, voting for a rate cut while four favored maintaining the current rate. The vote split was broadly predicted by market participants. 
"It is now appropriate to reduce slightly the degree of policy restrictiveness," the monetary policy statement said.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">BoE Sees Inflation Below Target In 2 Years, As Economic Slack Emerges</h3>
The BoE justified the decision by highlighting that despite the recent positive growth readings, restrictive monetary policies are dampening real economic activity, loosening the labor market, and curbing inflationary pressures.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation aligned with the BoE&#8217;s 2% target in May and June, holding steady at the lowest levels in three years. 
The BoE projected inflation to rise to approximately 2.75% in the latter half of this year, as the base effect from last year's energy price declines fades. CPI is anticipated to decrease to 1.7% in two years and 1.5% in three years, aided by sustained restrictive monetary policy and emerging economic slack.
The BoE predicts economic slack will become more evident in 2025, persisting due to ongoing restrictive monetary policies. A slight rise in unemployment is anticipated as the labor market adjusts.
Expectations for the Bank rate are 4.2% in 2025, 3.8% in 2026, and 3.5% in 2027, reflecting a gradual easing of monetary policy as inflation risks abate and the economy cools. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Market Reactions: Pound Falls, UK stocks Hold Steady</h3>
The British pound, monitored via the Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FXB#NYSE">FXB</a>), remained broadly stable after the decision, but it had fallen 0.5% on the day against the dollar. 
UK equities, as monitored through the iShares United Kingdom ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWU#NYSE">EWU</a>), were flat for the day.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">US-listed mega-cap British companies&#8217; premarket performances:</h3>
<ul>
<li>AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AZN#NASDAQ">AZN</a>): Down 0.3%</li>
<li>Shell plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHEL#NYSE">SHEL</a>): Up 0.8%</li>
<li>HSBC Holdings, plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSBC#NYSE">HSBC</a>): Down over 5%</li>
<li>Arm Holdings plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>): Down over 9%</li>
<li>Unilever PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UL#NYSE">UL</a>): Down 0.5%</li>
<li>Rio Tinto Plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIO#NYSE">RIO</a>): Down 1%</li>
</ul>
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</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Macro Economic Events

Specialty ETFs

Eurozone

Global

Econ #s

ETFs

CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust

HSBC

SHEL

Bank Of England Reduces 16-Year High Interest Rates In Divided Decision As Inflation Hits 2%

U.S. stocks were higher, with the Dow Jones index gaining more than 1% on Thursday.
Shares of International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBM#NYSE">IBM</a>) rose during Thursday's session following strong <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39961144/why-ibm-stock-is-trading-higher-on-thursday">quarterly earnings</a>.
IBM reported quarterly earnings of $2.43 per share, which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $2.19. Quarterly sales clocked in at $15.8 billion, which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $15.616 billion.
IBM shares gained 6.4% to $195.75 on Thursday.
Here are some other big stocks recording gains in today&#8217;s session.
<ul>
<li>Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VKTX#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>) shares surged 28.2% to $64.64 after the company reported better-than-expected second-quarter EPS results.</li>
<li>AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASTS#NASDAQ">ASTS</a>) jumped 25.2% to $16.72. The company announced the successful completion of its first five commercial satellites.</li>
<li>Bally&#8217;s Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BALY#NYSE">BALY</a>) shares rose 24.2% to $16.80. Bally&#8217;s entered into merger agreement with affiliates of Standard General L.P.</li>
<li>Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MOH#NYSE">MOH</a>) gained 18.3% to $341.39 following better-than-expected quarterly earnings.</li>
<li>Carpenter Technology Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRS#NYSE">CRS</a>) jumped 16.3% to $141.59 after the company reported better-than-expected quarterly financial results.</li>
<li>RPC, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RES#NYSE">RES</a>) rose 15.1% to $6.64 following upbeat earnings.</li>
<li>ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOW#NYSE">NOW</a>) rose 13.7% to $831.97 after the company reported better-than-expected second-quarter financial results.</li>
<li>Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VSAT#NASDAQ">VSAT</a>) jumped 13.6% to $19.05.</li>
<li>Pegasystems Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEGA#NASDAQ">PEGA</a>) gained 13.1% to $69.09 after the company reported better-than-expected second-quarter financial results.</li>
<li>Helmerich &amp; Payne, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HP#NYSE">HP</a>) gained 12.5% to $42.46 following third-quarter results.</li>
<li>CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CBRE#NYSE">CBRE</a>) surged 11.7% to $109.87 after the company raised its 2024 guidance.</li>
<li>Valmont Industries, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VMI#NYSE">VMI</a>) climbed 11.1% to $300.96 following upbeat earnings.</li>
<li>Lazard, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LAZ#NYSE">LAZ</a>) rose 11% to $48.08 following better-than-expected quarterly earnings.</li>
<li>Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TYL#NYSE">TYL</a>) rose 10.7% to $571.01 after the company reported better-than-expected quarterly adjusted EPS and sales.</li>
<li>Plexus Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLXS#NASDAQ">PLXS</a>) gained 10.5% to $128.36 following upbeat earnings.</li>
<li>Transocean Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIG#NYSE">RIG</a>) surged 10.2% to $5.80.</li>
<li>Beam Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BEAM#NASDAQ">BEAM</a>) rose 10.1% to $32.81.</li>
<li>Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KNX#NYSE">KNX</a>) gained 10.1% to $53.92 following second-quarter results.</li>
<li>Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TYL#NYSE">TYL</a>) shares climbed 9.6% to $565.64 after the company reported better-than-expected second-quarter adjusted EPS and sales.</li>
<li>Mr. Cooper Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COOP#NYSE">COOP</a>) gained 9.5% to $94.86 following second-quarter results.</li>
<li>RPM International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RPM#NYSE">RPM</a>) climbed 9.2% to $121.14 after the company reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings.</li>
<li>Oceaneering International, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OII#NYSE">OII</a>) rose 9.2% to $27.79 following strong sales.</li>
<li>Masco Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAS#NYSE">MAS</a>) gained 8.1% to $76.27 after the company reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings.</li>
<li>Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UHS#NYSE">UHS</a>) rose 8.1% to $201.00 after the company reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings and increased FY 2024 guidance.</li>
<li>RTX Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTX#NYSE">RTX</a>) climbed 8% to $113.24 following a second-quarter earnings beat.</li>
<li>Morningstar, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MORN#NASDAQ">MORN</a>) rose 7.8% to $328.71. The company reported second-quarter financial results yesterday.</li>
<li>Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NDAQ#NASDAQ">NDAQ</a>) gained 7.4% to $67.36 after the company reported better-than-expected second-quarter financial results.</li>
<li>MongoDB, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MDB#NASDAQ">MDB</a>) rose 7.4% to $262.60.</li>
<li>J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBHT#NASDAQ">JBHT</a>) shares rose 6.1% to $173.75.</li>
<li>Unilever PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UL#NYSE">UL</a>) gained 5.9% to $59.90 following HI results.</li>
</ul>
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IBM Posts Upbeat Earnings, Joins ServiceNow, Helmerich & Payne, RTX, Nasdaq And Other Big Stocks Moving Higher On Thursday

On Thursday, Unilever plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UL#NYSE">UL</a>) reported first-half adjusted EPS of 1.67 euros ($1.74), up from 1.39 euros a year ago.
The British multinational fast-moving consumer goods company reported sales of 31.12 billion euros ($33.7 billion), up 2.3% year-over-year (underlying growth of 4.1%).
Unilever&#8217;s underlying price growth for the first half was 1.6%, with underlying volume sales growth of 2.6%.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/07/39753936/whats-going-on-with-unilever-shares-today" rel="noreferrer noopener">What&#8217;s Going On With Unilever Shares Today?</a>
<ul>
<li>Second quarter sales <a target="_blank" href="https://www.unilever.com/investors/results-presentations-webcasts/overview-q2-2024/" rel="noreferrer noopener">increased</a> 2.2% to 16.09 billion euros.</li>
<li>Unilever&#8217;s underlying price growth for the quarter <a target="_blank" href="https://www.unilever.com/files/ir-q2-2024-results-presentation.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener">was</a> 1%, with underlying volume sales growth of 2.9%.</li>
<li>The consumer products giant reported an underlying operating profit of 6.1 billion euros, up 17.1%, with a margin of 19.6%, up 250 bps.</li>
<li>Financial Times<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/de869b5c-4667-4ef6-901c-c27e587a5ee1" rel="noreferrer noopener"> noted </a>that the margin came in ahead of an expected 18%.</li>
<li>Beauty &amp; Wellbeing sales increased 5.1% to 6.5 billion euros (underlying growth of 7.1%).</li>
<li>Personal Care segment sales were up 0.6% to 7 billion euros (+5.6%).</li>
<li>Home Care revenues were up 2% to 6.3 billion euros (+3.3%).</li>
<li>Nutrition sales were up 1.3% to 6.7 billion euros (+3.2%)</li>
<li>Ice Cream sales were up 2.8% to 4.6 billion euros (+0.6%).</li>
</ul>
&#8220;We are focused on driving high-quality sales growth and gross margin expansion, led by our Power Brands. Over the first half, we made progress on those ambitions,&#8221; said Hein Schumacher, CEO.
In March, Unilever announced the separation of Ice Cream and the launch of a major productivity program to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Separation activity is underway and on track to be <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37916172/unilevers-ice-cream-unit-may-find-home-in-amsterdam-over-london-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">completed by the end of 2025</a>.
Guidance: Unilever continues to expect underlying sales growth for 2024 to be within 3% to 5%, with most of the growth driven by volume.
The underlying operating margin for the full year is expected to be at least 18%, with increasing investment behind brands. The company expects the year-on-year margin progression in the second half to be smaller than in the first half.
&#8220;There is much to do, but we remain focused on transforming Unilever into a consistently higher-performing business,&#8221; Schumacher added.
Unilever owns over 400 brands, including Ben &amp; Jerry&#8217;s, Dove soap, TRESemmé hair products, and Wish-Bone salad dressing.
Price Action: Unilever stock is up 6.3% at $60.10 at last check Thursday.
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Image: Wikimedia Commons

Guidance

Unilever Boasts Improved Profitability: 'Power Brands Led Gross Margin Expansion,' CEO Says

As of July 25, 2024, three stocks in the consumer staples sector could be flashing a real warning to investors who value momentum as a key criteria in their trading decisions.
The RSI is a momentum indicator, which compares a stock&#8217;s strength on days when prices go up to its strength on days when prices go down. When compared to a stock&#8217;s price action, it can give traders a better sense of how a stock may perform in the short term. An asset is typically considered overbought when the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/rsi">RSI is above 70</a>, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>. 
Here's the latest list of major overbought players in this sector.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Unilever plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UL#NYSE">UL</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On July 25, Unilever reported quarterly adjusted earnings of $1.74 per share. This is a 16.27% increase over earnings of $1.50 per share from the same period last year. The company reported $33.48 billion in sales this quarter. The company's stock gained around 19% over the past six months and has a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/UL">52-week high of $58.62</a>.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 71.27&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>UL Price Action: Shares of Unilever gained 0.04% to close at $56.54 on Wednesday.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">British American Tobacco PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTI#NYSE">BTI</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On July 25, British American Tobacco posted H1 adjusted EPS of 169.3p down from 181.6p year over year. The company's stock gained around 4% over the past month and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BTI">has a 52-week high</a> of $34.15.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 77.99</li>
<li>BTI Price Action: Shares of British American Tobacco fell slightly to close at $33.38 on Wednesday.</li>
</ul>
Altria Group Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>)
<ul>
<li>Altria Group will report its second-quarter and first-half business results on July 31. The company's stock gained around 6% over the past month and has a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MO">52-week high</a> of $49.92.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 76.01</li>
<li>MO Price Action: Shares of Altria closed at $49.42 on Wednesday.</li>
</ul>
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Unilever shares are trading higher following H1 financial results.

We continue to expect underlying sales growth (USG) for 2024 to be within our multi-year range of 3% to 5%, with the majority of the growth being driven by volume.
Underlying operating margin for the full year is expected to be at least 18%, with increasing investment behind our brands. We expect the year-on-year margin progression in the second half to be smaller than in the first half.
Our very strong gross margin progression in the first half reflects positive contributions from volume leverage, mix and net productivity but also factors that will not repeat in the second half such as, a low prior year comparator affected by high input costs, and carry-over pricing from a period of higher inflation.

For 2024 Unilever Continues To Expect Underlying Sales Growth To Be 3%-5%, With The Majority Of The Growth Being Driven By Volume; Sees Operating Marin Of 18%

Unilever (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UL#NYSE">UL</a>) reported quarterly adj. earnings of $1.74 per share. This is a 16.27 percent increase over earnings of $1.50 per share from the same period last year. The company reported $33.48 billion in sales this quarter. This is a 1.79 percent increase over sales of $32.89 billion the same period last year.

Unilever H1 Adj. EPS $1.74 Up From $1.50 YoY, Sales $33.48B Up From $32.89B YoY

Unilever Said To Start Sale Talks For £15B Ice Cream Business

A. O. Smith Agrees To Buy Water Purification Business Pureit From Unilever For $120M In Cash, Subject To Customary Adjustments - Filing

Unilever PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UL#NYSE">UL</a>) shares are<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/movers" rel="noreferrer noopener"> trading higher on Friday.</a>
The consumer goods giant intends to reduce one-third of its office positions in Europe by the end of 2025 as part of efforts led by the CEO to stimulate growth, Reuters reported.
Unilever announced plans to eliminate up to 3,200 positions across Europe by the end of 2025 during a company-wide call with senior executives on Wednesday.
This move comes amidst ongoing efforts by the company, which counts billionaire activist investor Nelson Peltz among its shareholders and board members, to streamline its operations.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39517176/ben-jerrys-co-founders-not-worried-about-ozempics-impact-on-ice-cream-business-heres-why" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben &amp; Jerry&#8217;s Co-Founders Not Worried About Ozempic&#8217;s Impact On Ice Cream Business: Here&#8217;s Why</a>
CEO Hein Schumacher, who assumed leadership last year, outlined strategies in October to regain investor trust following a period of underperformance.
According to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>, UL stock has gained over 2% in the past month. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;Absolute Select Value ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABEQ#NYSE">ABEQ</a>) and&nbsp;American Century Focused Large Cap Value ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FLV#NYSE">FLV</a>).
&#8220;We are now, over the next few weeks, starting the consultation process with employees who may be impacted by the proposed changes,&#8221; a Unilever spokesperson said in an email to Reuters.
&#8220;The expected net impact in roles in Europe between now and the end of 2025 is in the range of 3,000 to 3,200 roles,&#8221; Constantina Tribou, chief human resources officer, said during the video call, Reuters added.
In March, Unilever initiated a business shake-up by announcing the spin-off of its ice cream division, which includes iconic brands like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/03/37815586/chilling-changes-unilever-to-separate-iconic-ice-cream-brands-in-strategic-shake-up" rel="noreferrer noopener">Magnum and Ben &amp; Jerry&#8217;s, as part of efforts to rejuvenate growth.</a>
Price Action: UL shares are trading higher by 1.86% to $57.69 at last check Friday.&nbsp;
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
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Media

What's Going On With Unilever Shares Today?

<a href="https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/unilever-to-cut-a-third-of-office-jobs-in-europe-by-end-of-2025-report-124071200833_1.html">https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/unilever-to-cut-a-third-of-office-jobs-in-europe-by-end-of-2025-report-124071200833_1.html</a>
&nbsp;
Unilever plans to cut a third of all office roles in Europe by the end of next year as new CEO Hein Schumacher forges ahead with a plan to boost growth at the struggling consumer goods giant, the Financial Times reported on Friday.
The company told senior executives on Wednesday that as many as 3,200 roles would be cut in Europe by the end of 2025, according to details of a company-wide call shared with the FT.
The report added that the cuts were a part of the cost-savings programme announced in March, which included as many as 7,500 layoffs. &nbsp;
"The expected net impact in roles in Europe between now and the end of 2025 is in the range of 3,000 to 3,200 roles," Constantina Tribou, a chief human resources officer, said during the video call, the FT reported. &nbsp;
Schumacher, who became CEO last year, laid out plans in October to win back investor confidence by simplifying the business after admitting Unilever had underperformed in recent years.

Management

'Unilever To Cut A Third Of Office Jobs In Europe By End Of 2025: Report' - Business Standard

Labour Party member Keir Starmer is set to become the new prime minister of the United Kingdom with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39640147/keir-starmer-to-become-uk-prime-minister-as-labour-wins-big-over-rishi-sunaks-conservatives-mohamed">a win over the Rishi Sunak-led Conservative Party.</a>
The win marks an end to 14 years of Conservative Party control in the United Kingdom. The Labour Party will also have one of the largest majority government leads in the country in 25 years, as reported by CNN.
"A mandate like this comes with a great responsibility," Starmer said Friday. 
Starmer promised to put "country first, party second" in his victory speech.
UK Stocks &amp; ETFS: Gains for United Kingdom stocks and ETFs were minimal on Friday with the results of the election potentially priced in and others dissecting what the Labour Party in control means for certain sectors.
The iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWU#NYSE">EWU</a>) is up 0.5% on Friday. The largest U.K. ETF has $2.8 billion in assets under management and holds 80 stocks representing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/EWU/news">the largest companies in the country</a>.
The top holdings are:
AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AZN#NASDAQ">AZN</a>)
Shell PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHEL#NYSE">SHEL</a>)
HSBC Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSBC#NYSE">HSBC</a>)
Unilever PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UL#NYSE">UL</a>)
BP PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BP#NYSE">BP</a>)
RELX PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RELX#NYSE">RELX</a>)
GlaxoSmithKline PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GSK#NYSE">GSK</a>)
Rio Tinto PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIO#NYSE">RIO</a>)
Diageo PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DEO#NYSE">DEO</a>)
Glencore PLC (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLNCY#OTC">GLNCY</a>)
Eight of the 10 largest holdings are up Friday at the time of writing, with HSBC and Rio Tinto trading lower.
The top weightings in the iShares ETF are the categories of financials (19.3%), consumer staples (16.4%) and energy (13.4%).
The Franklin FTSE United Kingdom ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FLGB#NYSE">FLGB</a>) also offers exposure to the country with 107 holdings. The fund has all the same top 10 holdings as the iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF, in a slightly different order and at smaller weightings. The ETF's largest categories are financials (19.5%), consumer staples (15.5%) and energy (14.4%).
Another ETF option is the iShares MSCI United Kingdom Small Cap ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EWUS#BATS">EWUS</a>). The ETF holds 231 stocks and has smaller weightings for the small-cap components it holds. The top categories for the ETF are industrials (21.5%), financials (19.8%) and consumer discretionary (14.8%).
What Experts Are Saying: British private bank and wealth management company Coutts sees policy changes from the Labour Party leadership taking time to materialize.
"In terms of what this means for the U.K. population and our clients, we will closely monitor the developments of a Keir Starmer government and its potential impact on markets," Coutts Chief Investment Officer Fahad Kamal said.
Kamal said history shows U.K. elections don't tend to have a "long-term impact on markets."
The CIO said it could be "business as usual" for the United Kingdom. One item to closely monitor is falling inflation in the country and the potential for rate cuts soon, which could improve economic growth in the country, he said. 
RBC Capital analysts see the homebuilding sector in the United Kingdom benefitting with a Labour Party win, as reported by CNBC. The analysts said the new leadership and policy pledges could lead to a "new age" for homebuilding in the country.
"Over the last few years housebuilders' potential has been hamstrung, but over the next few this potential is likely to be unleashed," the RBC analysts said.
It is worth noting the iShares MSCI United Kingdom Small Cap ETF counts the real estate sector as its fourth-largest weighting at 12.3%, which could make the ETF stand out based on policy. The EWU and FLGB ETFs have 0.8% and 1.1% exposure to the real estate sector, respectively.
Allianz also sees opportunity in U.K. homebuilders with the Labour Party win and likely cuts to interest rates ahead. 
"We expect rules and regulations around planning permissions to be quickly relaxed by the incoming government," Allianz said.
Allianz also sees opportunity in U.K.-listed mining companies thanks to the electrification of the energy supply.
Citi has a preference for the FTSE 250 over the FTSE 100, preferring small to mid-cap sized companies over large caps, as reported by Investing.com.
"We see an improving balance of risks for UK SMID caps, which have underperformed, but are expected to have superior growth vs. large caps. SMID caps are also better positioned to benefit from rate cuts and a pick-up in dealmaking," Citi said.
Sectors like real estate and utilities were mentioned positively by Citi in the post-election comments.
Related Link:
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Photo via Shutterstock.

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Unilever (UL) Forecast

Unilever (NYSE:UL) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas