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Informist, Tuesday, Jul. 28, 2026

 

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--HUL Apr-Jun net profit INR 26.31 bln 
--Analysts saw HUL Apr-Jun net profit at INR 27.22 bln 
--HUL Apr-Jun net profit INR 26.31 bln vs INR 27.32 bln year ago 
--HUL Apr-Jun revenue INR 166.57 bln 
--Analysts saw HUL Apr-Jun revenue at INR 168.64 bln 
--HUL Apr-Jun revenue INR 166.57 bln vs INR 151.74 bln year ago 
--HUL Apr-Jun EBITDA INR 37.68 bln vs INR 34.80 bln yr ago 
--HUL Apr-Jun EBITDA margin 22.8%, down 40 bps on yr 
--HUL Apr-Jun underlying volume grew 5% on year 
--HUL Q1 cost of materials consumed INR 46.62 bln vs INR 47.59 bln yr ago 
--HUL Apr-Jun advt, promotion spend INR 15.07 bln vs INR 14.98 bln yr ago 
--HUL Apr-Jun underlying sales grew 10% on year 
--HUL Apr-Jun home care revenue INR 65.60 bln vs INR 57.83 bln yr ago 
--HUL Apr-Jun beauty, well-being revenue INR 37.21 bln vs INR 33.49 bln 
--HUL Apr-Jun personal care revenue INR 26.24 bln vs INR 25.41 bln year ago 
--HUL Apr-Jun food segment revenue INR 34.80 bln vs INR 32.59 bln yr ago 
--HUL: Expect FY27 to be better than FY26 led by portfolio transformation 
--HUL: Expect FY27 to be better than FY26 led by channel transformation 
--HUL: Consolidated EBITDA margin to be around the current guided range 
--HUL: Focus on competitive, volume-led revenue growth 
--HUL: Inflationary pressures expected to continue in the short term 
--HUL Q1 home care sales grew 14% with high single digit volume growth 
--HUL Q1 beauty, wellbeing sales up 12% with high single digit volume growth 
--HUL Q1 personal care sales grew 4% with low single digit volume fall 
--HUL Q1 foods ops sales grew 7% with mid single digit volume growth 
--HUL MD: Underlying demand environment remained stable during Apr-Jun 
--HUL MD: Q1 underlying sales growth marks our highest growth in 13 qtrs

 

By Simran Rede

 

MUMBAI – The net profit of Hindustan Unilever Ltd. fell for the first time after six quarters despite its revenue rising at the fastest pace in 13 quarters. The company's total expenses rose at the same pace as the revenue, eating up most of its part. Moreover, a higher tax outgo in the June quarter compared to the corresponding quarter a year ago led to a fall in net profit.

 

The company reported a nearly 4% on-year decline in net profit for the June quarter to INR 26.31 billion. This was also below the estimate by nine analysts of INR 27.22 billion. Its revenue for the quarter rose almost 10% on year to INR 166.57 billion, missing the Street's estimate of INR 168.64 billion by over 1%. This rise in revenue was largely driven by volume growth and price hikes taken during the quarter owing to higher raw material costs.  

 

The fast-moving consumer goods major reported a 5% on-year growth in underlying volume, which is better than the 3% growth in the year-ago quarter but lower than the 6% growth in the trailing quarter. This is at the lower end of the expectations of 5.0-6.5% underlying volume growth, according to the average of analysts estimates. Going ahead, the company aims to focus on competitive and volume-led growth in revenue, according to its earnings presentation.

 

Of the total income earned during the quarter, which was INR 168.90 billion including other income, the company spent INR 132.67 billion of it on all the expenses incurred. This was almost 10% higher than last year. During the quarter, the company accounted for stock-in-trade worth INR 38.98 billion, which was 26% higher than last year. This constituted over 29% of the total expenses.  

 

The highest contributor of expense was cost of raw materials, which was 35% of the total expenses, fell 2% on year to INR 46.62 billion. Other expenses rose over 10% on year to INR 20.93 billion. The second most important expense for HUL is the advertising and promotional expense, which rose marginally on year to INR 15.07 billion. This accounted for 11% of the total expenses.

 

For the reporting quarter, HUL incurred a tax outgo of INR 9.17 billion, over 82% higher than the INR 5.03 billion incurred a year ago. The company's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation were INR 37.68 billion, slightly higher than the INR 34.80 billion earned in the same quarter last year. The EBITDA margin was 22.8% for the reporting quarter, down 40 basis points on year.

 

HUL expects to do better in 2026-27 (Apr-Jun) than FY26 on the back of portfolio and channel transformation, it said in the presentation. It also expects its consolidated EBITDA margin to be around the current guided range of 22-23% while projecting continued inflationary pressures in the short term, the company said.

 

Under HUL's segments, the sales from home care rose 14% on year to INR 65.60 billion, driven by high-single digit underlying volume growth. This marks the highest growth in three years, the company said. Within this segment, Fabric Wash drove the growth with a double-digit underlying sales growth on the back of high-single digit volume growth. The sales and volume growth of Household Care were each in double digits. Vim Liquids delivered double-digit growth during the quarter.

 

The beauty and well-being segment reported a revenue of INR 37.21 billion, over 12% higher on year, driven by high-single digit volume growth. The Hair Care products posted a double-digit underlying sales growth for the quarter, driven by Premium Hair Care including future-formats. Skin Care and Colour Cosmetics delivered high-single digit sales growth, led by double-digit growth in Premium Skin Care. The Minimalist brand reported double-digit growth. During the quarter, the company launched a sugar-free variant of Liquid I.V. and a Gluta Hya Smoothening Body Lotion under the Vaseline brand.

 

HUL earned INR 26.24 billion as revenue from the personal care segment, higher than INR 25.41 billion earned in the corresponding quarter last year. This was largely led by price hikes taken during the quarter, as palm oil inflation persisted for the second consecutive year, the company said. In this segment, the revenue from Skin Cleansing products rose in mid single digit, led by Premium Bars delivering double-digit sales growth on strong volumes.

 

Bodywash continued its double-digit growth momentum and the Oral Care reported mid-single digit growth, with premium innovations in Closeup White Now, Pepsodent Gum Care and Sensitive Care continuing to gain traction, the company said. During the quarter, the company launched a refreshed Bodywash proposition under Lux brand.

 

The food segment sales rose to INR 34.80 billion from INR 32.59 billion reported a year ago, driven by mid-single digit underlying volume growth. Premium tea reported a low-single digit volume growth while coffee delivered a double-digit volume-led growth. The company said RTD and Bru Gold continue to scale up. Lifestyle Nutrition continued to grow in double digits.

 

The Boost brand surpassed INR 10 billion annual turnover, while Horlicks Superfoods and RTD continued to see traction, HUL said. Packaged Foods delivered high-single digit sales growth, led by Unilever Foods Solutions, Mayonnaise, and International Sauces. "The underlying demand environment remained stable during the quarter," Priya Nair, chief executive officer and managing director, said in the press release.

 

After the announcement of results, shares of HUL fell sharply and extended their decline to hit an almost four-month low of INR 2,052 on the National Stock Exchange, down over 5% from the previous close.  End

 

IST, or Indian Standard Time, is five-and-a-half hours ahead of GMT

 

Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury

 

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