Live Report · Updated January 26, 2026

Unilever vs British American Tobacco

Unilever plc and British American Tobacco p.l.c. are compared on this page to illuminate differences in business models, financial performance, and market context. Explore how each company creates value, the markets they serve, and the strategic priorities shaping their results, without implying recommendations. Educational content, not financial advice.

Unilever plc and British American Tobacco p.l.c. are compared on this page to illuminate differences in business models, financial performance, and market context. Explore how each company creates val...

Comparison Snapshot

Key Financial Metrics

UL

Metric

BTI

$144.61B

Market Cap

$127.96B

11.44%

Potential Profit

-6.36%

Buy

Analyst Rating

Buy

Why It's Moving

Unilever Shares Surge to Weekly Highs Amid Consumer Staples Resilience.

Stock advanced 2.24% on January 23 to $67.00, building on a 2.06% weekly gain through January 22 at $65.53, outpacing recent dips.
Analyst views remain split with a Hold consensus, highlighted by JPMorgan's Overweight reiteration and raised target, balancing Sell calls from UBS and Jefferies.
Consumer staples sector trends bolster UL, as steady demand for core products drives gains amid volatile broader markets.

Sentiment:

🐃Bullish

BTI surges on nine-day winning streak amid swirling class action noise.

Stock up nine consecutive days, on track for longest winning streak since late 2022, signaling strong momentum.
Multiple law firms issue deadline alerts for class action against BTI, targeting investors with losses over $100K before March 25.
Legal filings from firms like ROSEN, Pomerantz, and Kahn Swick spotlight potential securities fraud claims, yet shares keep rising.

Sentiment:

🐃Bullish

Unilever Shares Surge to Weekly Highs Amid Consumer Staples Resilience.

Stock advanced 2.24% on January 23 to $67.00, building on a 2.06% weekly gain through January 22 at $65.53, outpacing recent dips.
Analyst views remain split with a Hold consensus, highlighted by JPMorgan's Overweight reiteration and raised target, balancing Sell calls from UBS and Jefferies.
Consumer staples sector trends bolster UL, as steady demand for core products drives gains amid volatile broader markets.

Sentiment:

🐃Bullish

BTI surges on nine-day winning streak amid swirling class action noise.

Stock up nine consecutive days, on track for longest winning streak since late 2022, signaling strong momentum.
Multiple law firms issue deadline alerts for class action against BTI, targeting investors with losses over $100K before March 25.
Legal filings from firms like ROSEN, Pomerantz, and Kahn Swick spotlight potential securities fraud claims, yet shares keep rising.

Sentiment:

🐃Bullish

Investment Analysis

Unilever

UL

Pros

Underlying sales growth is expected to remain within a resilient 3% to 5% range for 2025, supported by strong innovation and premium product launches.
Operating margins are anticipated to improve in 2025, with second half margins forecast to be higher than in 2024, reflecting productivity gains and cost discipline.
The planned demerger of the Ice Cream business will simplify the group structure and create a sharper focus on higher-margin Beauty, Wellbeing and Personal Care segments.

Considerations

Global macroeconomic uncertainty, currency volatility and fluctuating consumer sentiment continue to pose risks to sales and profitability in key markets.
Emerging markets remain challenging, with growth dependent on the success of recent interventions in countries such as Indonesia and China.
The company's share price remains below its historical highs, reflecting ongoing investor concerns about execution and long-term growth prospects.

British American Tobacco

BTI

Pros

The company maintains a broad global footprint, supplying tobacco and nicotine products across multiple regions and benefiting from diversified revenue streams.
Recent market capitalisation growth reflects strong investor interest, with the company's valuation increasing significantly over the past year.
British American Tobacco continues to expand its portfolio beyond traditional cigarettes, investing in vapour, heated and modern oral nicotine products.

Considerations

Return on equity has declined sharply compared to both recent and historical averages, indicating weaker profitability and capital efficiency.
The business faces persistent regulatory and litigation risks, with increasing scrutiny on tobacco and nicotine products worldwide.
Sales revenues have been under pressure, and the company's financial performance remains sensitive to changing consumer habits and declining smoking rates.

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