UL News & Events

Unilever unveiled plans to develop a new Global Innovation Center in New Haven, Connecticut, opening by spring 2029. The center will be a leading hub for the company's research and development for its personal care, beauty and wellbeing businesses in the U.S. and globally. The company said, "he center brings together a new and differentiated combination of assets and capabilities that will accelerate breakthroughs and enable Unilever's brands to bring the next generation of market-making beauty, wellbeing and personal care products to people faster: New technologies to drive scale and speed to market: Powered by AI and emerging quantum capabilities, the center positions Unilever to be the leading innovator in the consumer goods sector. Fueled by the State of Connecticut and private investment, the computational power of quantum will accelerate advanced materials discovery in the coming decades, unlocking new possibilities for market-making products that drive desire by scale. End-to-end integration of the R&D process to push the boundaries of desirable products: All R&D capabilities - including formulation, fragrance creation, packaging design and consumer insights - will be housed under one roof. By co-locating every stage of the innovation cycle, the center will enable deeper collaboration to further accelerate product development. Located in the heart of the New Haven biosciences ecosystem: With access to dozens of world-class universities, hundreds of companies and some of the brightest minds in the world, the center places Unilever's U.S. R&D at the heart of innovation in bioscience, building on the company's expertise in understanding skin biology, the microbiome and the skin-brain axis. The center will enhance Unilever scientists' use of cutting-edge neuroscience to create the next generation of desirable products, connecting sensory attributes like texture, fragrance and bioactives with emotional, behavioral and wellness responses." Unilever will invest $270M in the project over the long term, including $50M in capital expenditure. Total combined investment of public and private funds in the center will exceed $300M. Approximately 300 employees will work at the center. It will succeed Unilever's existing R&D facility in Trumbull, Connecticut.

The major averages were higher near noon as investors weigh AI enthusiasm alongside mounting concerns about the U.S. fiscal outlook and the long-term direction of interest rates. Additionally, Axios is reporting that the U.S. and Iran have reached an agreement on a 60-day memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire and launch negotiations on Iran's nuclear program. The report noted, however, that President Trump has yet to give the proposed deal his final approval.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Snowflakereported, agreed to acquire Natoma, and expanded its Amazoncollaboration with a $6B commitment to AWSSalesforceprovided areport for Q1Caesarsby Fertitta Entertainment for $31 per share in cashHP Inc.reportedand narrowed its FY26 earnings guidanceBig retailers Best Buy, Kohl's, and Dollar Treeall reported2. WALL STREET CALLS:JPMorganDick's Sportingwith Q1 supporting bull caseBaxterto Sell at CitiTrade Deskwith a Sell at Rothschild & Co RedburnDominionto Buy at Jefferies following NextEradealFirst Solarto Buy at GLJ Research3. AROUND THE WEB:Cybersecurity company SentinelOneis preparing for layoffs and is expected to announce the cuts alongside earnings, Calcalist reportsUnileveris investing $270M to build a new research facility in New Haven, Connecticut, slated to open in 2029, WSJ saysJPMorganCEO Jamie Dimon said the bank could spend up to $20B on an acquisition in the next couple of years, CNBC reportsSamsungplans to invest about $1.5B to build a semiconductor testing plant focused on legacy chips in Vietnam, Reuters saysAustralia has launched a record $1.43B+ lawsuit against 3Mover PFAS-contaminated firefighting foam, citing extensive environmental, economic, and cultural damage tied to the "forever chemicals," Reuters reports4. MOVERS:Hormel Foodsrises after reporting quarterly resultsUnusual Machines, AeroVironment, Ondas, and RedCatincrease afterthe Trump administration is pursuing funding deals with drone companiesAgilenthigher afterand raising its guidance for FY26Photronicsfalls after, with EPS and revenue missing consensusSidus Spacelower after filing to5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:Build-A-Bearand provided guidance for FY26Sono-Tek, with CEO Steve Harshbarger commenting, "We are greatly encouraged by our fiscal 2026 results"Seanergy Marinewith EPS and revenue beating consensusLi Auto, with EPS and revenue lower year-over-yearIcon, with CEO Barry Balfe commenting, "ICON demonstrated continued commercial momentum through the fourth quarter"INDEXES:Near midday, the Dow was up 0.12%, or 59.28, to 50,703.56, the Nasdaq was up 0.62%, or 166.50, to 26,841.23, and the S&P 500 was up 0.51%, or 38.07, to 7,558.43.

Unilever is investing $270M to build a new research facility in New Haven, Connecticut, slated to open in 2029, The Wall Street Journal's Natasha Khan reports. The new site will be the company's global center for skin care and cleansing and supports Unilever's shift to focus on beauty, wellness and personal care products, Khan writes.