London, Jan 18, 2026, 08:29 GMT — Market closed
- Unilever slipped 0.4% to close at 4,761.5 pence on Friday
- Berenberg kept its “buy” rating and lifted the price target to 5,600 pence
- Attention shifts to the full-year results and 2026 outlook set for February 12
Unilever PLC shares slipped 0.4% on Friday, dragging the stock lower ahead of the new week despite Berenberg raising its price target.
Markets were closed Sunday, leaving Unilever investors wondering if recent broker adjustments will spark buying on Monday or if the stock will remain flat until next month’s guidance.
This is key since Unilever’s Feb. 12 report will offer the first clear view of the company’s structure after shedding its ice cream business, along with 2026 targets that investors believe will heavily influence its valuation.
On Friday in London, the FTSE 100 held steady, with losses in mining stocks and softer metals prices balancing out gains in other sectors.
Berenberg’s Fulvio Cazzol maintained a “buy” rating on Unilever, nudging the target price up to 5,600 pence from 5,530 pence, a research note summary revealed Friday. MarketScreener
That target is roughly 18% higher than Friday’s closing price. Keep in mind, price targets reflect brokers’ projections for where a stock might land within a year—not predictions for the next trading day.
The note arrived following Unilever’s spin-off of The Magnum Ice Cream Company in December. The new business is now trading on exchanges in Amsterdam, London, and New York, as detailed in the company’s demerger documents.
Unilever confirmed it kept a minority stake—under 20%—in the spun-off ice cream unit, planning to gradually reduce its holding to fund separation expenses and maintain capital flexibility.
Traders are eyeing further broker revisions as analysts adjust models for the leaner group, looking for initial clues on volumes, pricing, and costs that might influence management’s 2026 outlook.
Still, the stock faces downside risks: a cautious outlook hinging on sluggish consumer demand, rising input costs, or adverse currency swings could limit any upside, despite most of the portfolio simplification being complete.
Unilever’s upcoming fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings land on Feb. 12, with the company set to present at the CAGNY Conference on Feb. 17.
