5 Best FTSE Dividend Stocks To Buy Now

In this article, we discuss 5 best FTSE dividend stocks to buy now. If you want to see more stocks in this selection, check out 10 Best FTSE Dividend Stocks To Buy Now. 

5. Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 21

Dividend Yield as of October 14: 4.32%

Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) is a London-based fast-moving consumer goods company. It operates through Beauty & Personal Care, Foods & Refreshment, and Home Care segments. On August 3, Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) declared a $0.4343 per share quarterly dividend. The dividend was distributed to shareholders on September 1. Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) is one of the best FTSE dividend stocks to invest in. 

On September 29, Morgan Stanley analyst Pinar Ergun initiated coverage of Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) with an Equal Weight rating and a $42.75 price target. The analyst believes investors are largely favoring Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) in the food sector but will be looking to see growth in the coming quarters in order to turn more optimistic on the stock.

According to Insider Monkey’s Q2 data, 21 hedge funds were bullish on Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL), compared to 23 funds in the last quarter. Tom Russo’s Gardner Russo & Gardner is the largest stakeholder of the company, with approximately 7 million shares worth $319 million. 

Here is what Mayar Capital specifically said about Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) in its Q2 2022 investor letter:

“In 1895 the Lever brothers created a new brand of hand soap. Inspired by the growing demand for hygiene products, the Lifebuoy brand of soaps was launched to ‘make health infectious’. 128 years later the Lifebuoy brand continues as a leading soap brand – albeit without the coal tar-derived ingredients list. In fact, the market research firm Kantar ranked Lifebuoy as the global #3 most chosen FMCG brand in 2020, just below Coca-Cola (KO) and Colgate (CL) – an astonishing fact given the age of the brand. While the brand is largely absent from shelves here in the UK, it is a juggernaut in Asian markets, and is the #1 brand in India.

There are two observations about the Lifebuoy story which tell us a lot about Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL), which is currently our largest holding in the Fund.

The first is the enduring power of brands in the consumer goods market. According to Kantar’s list of most chosen brands, the top 20 global marques have an average age of 116 years, with over half being founded in the 19th century. Fashions come and go, but there is something special about low-cost consumable goods that advantages strong, time-worn brand names…” (Click here to view full text)