HUL Q4 net profit rises 11%, beats estimates
Net profit rose to `872.13 crore in the three months ended 31 March from `787.20 crore a year earlier
Mumbai: Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), the Indian unit of Anglo-Dutch consumer goods maker Unilever Plc., reported a 11% jump in net profit for the fourth quarter, even as underlying volume growth slowed further in a volatile and uncertain environment.
The maker of Knorr soups, Surf and Wheel detergents, and Lux soaps said on Monday that net profit rose to ₹ 872.13 crore in the three months ended 31 March from ₹ 787.20 crore a year earlier.
Domestic consumer products sales, which include home and personal care, water and foods, grew 9% to ₹ 6,935.82 crore from ₹ 6,367.14 crore in the corresponding quarter last year.
A Bloomberg poll of 29 analysts had estimated net profit at ₹ 853.1 crore and sales at ₹ 6,997.3 crore.
The sales growth was driven by price increases of close to 6% and volume growth of 3%.
Volume growth was 4% in the December quarter and 7% in the preceding three months, and much lower than the 9-10% rise in the previous few quarters.
Volume in the skin care segment grew well in a soft market, while the hair care segment sustained volume-led double-digit growth, the company said in a statement.
In the beverages segment, growth was led by tea, which sustained double-digit growth, it added.
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