London, Feb 16, 2026, 07:51 GMT — Premarket
- Unilever ended Friday’s session at 5,432 pence, gaining 1.44%.
- Investors continue to weigh the company’s tempered outlook for 2026 sales growth, even as a fresh €1.5 billion buyback plan lands on the table.
- The next catalyst: a scheduled appearance at the CAGNY conference, set for Feb. 17.
Unilever PLC stock climbed 1.44% to finish Friday at 5,432 pence (£54.32), outpacing the FTSE 100’s 0.42% uptick ahead of the London open on Monday. (MarketWatch)
The debate over the Dove maker’s growth strategy is still simmering, despite the recent rebound. Unilever last week flagged that underlying sales growth for 2026 is likely stuck at the bottom of its 4% to 6% target range, pinning the blame on slower momentum in the U.S. and Europe. Still, the company rolled out a fresh 1.5 billion euro share buyback. CEO Fernando Fernandez told analysts to expect price hikes of about 2% this year—down from the 3% average over the last ten years. Over at Barclays, the analysts dubbed 2026 “the acid test.” RBC Capital Markets’ James Edwardes Jones noted there are “signs of progress,” but warned that “it will take time.” (Reuters)
Unilever isn’t buying claims it’s losing focus. “In 2025 we became a simpler, sharper, and faster Unilever,” Fernandez insisted in a statement, after the company reported 3.5% underlying sales growth for 2025 and stuck to its 4%-6% target for 2026. Still, Unilever cautioned that growth is tracking toward the low end of the range, with margins only set for a “modest” bump from 20.0%. (Unilever)
Since the director declaration back on Feb. 13, the RNS feed has stayed quiet—no new regulatory filings to chew on. That’s left the stock mostly moving with the swings in risk appetite and whatever noise brokers have put out after the results. (Investegate)
This is crucial for a consumer staples player like Unilever, where even minor shifts in volume, pricing, or mix can make all the difference. The company’s top brands are up against heavyweights such as Procter & Gamble and Nestlé. If pricing starts to ease, it doesn’t take long for that to escalate into a bruising contest for space on store shelves.
Investors kick off the week eyeing whether Unilever’s volume momentum can withstand a softer market. The group has touted share gains stateside, though Europe remains unpredictable and food sales haven’t picked up speed, setting the stage for more closely watched updates ahead.
Still, the risks are clear enough. Should consumers in the U.S. and Europe continue trading down—or if retailers ramp up promotional pressure—Unilever’s decision to ease off price hikes may put a pinch on margins, leaving that lower-end growth goal looking like a stretch.
Unilever last week put out a supplement tied to its U.S.$25 billion debt issuance programme—a standard move, but one that keeps debt investors alert, right alongside the equity crowd. (TradingView)
Unilever is set to appear at the CAGNY consumer conference on Feb. 17. After that, the company’s next major update comes with its first-quarter trading statement, which is expected on April 30. (Investegate)
