HUL: HUL says inflation now not a priority with gross sales & earnings rising 4% in Q2
This revival, nonetheless, is essentially led by city markets, the corporate mentioned.
Demand in rural areas has fallen on a two yr foundation though the tempo of decline has lowered considerably over each sequential and from a yr earlier, it mentioned.
Volumes rose 3% within the second quarter, indicating three-fourths of its progress was pushed by demand as an alternative of worth rise.
Quarterly gross sales at Unilever’s India unit rose to ₹15,027 crore from ₹14,514 crore a yr earlier, whereas internet revenue grew to ₹2,717 crore from ₹2,616 crore a yr in the past.
Gross margins elevated by 700 foundation factors (bps) within the second quarter, whereas earnings earlier than curiosity, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) margin rose 130 foundation factors to 24.6%. One foundation level is a hundredth of a proportion level.
Within the quarter, there was a one-off credit score in favour of HUL from previous oblique tax litigation which helped each topline and backside line.Excluding the one-off, gross sales expanded 3% whereas quantity grew 2%.
Forward of the outcomes, the corporate’s share worth closed unchanged at ₹2548 apiece on the BSE.
“The numbers are in transition proper now, however the market is recovering, quicker in city and lesser in rural areas. On a two-year foundation, it has type of come again the place it was. Individuals have begun to come back again to consumption,” Rohit Jawa, managing director at HUL, mentioned Thursday after the earnings announcement.
The corporate mentioned progress shall be pushed largely by means of volumes and worth progress shall be flat and even detrimental within the subsequent quarter.
“We’ve got been taking costs down for the final 8-9 months and as we transition from excessive to low costs available in the market, that takes time, and the quantity restoration shall be gradual. It’s good for us to be pressurised on quantity as a result of that is actually extra sustainable, extra structured, and rather more basic.”
HUL, citing NielsenIQ knowledge, mentioned the FMCG market noticed 7-8% quantity progress through the quarter in comparison with 5% a yr in the past. Nevertheless, worth progress was 3%, considerably down from 14% a yr in the past because of worth cuts. City quantity progress was 10% whereas rural progress was 7%. A yr in the past, demand in cities and villages had fallen 3% and 9% every.
“Inflation moderating helps. Upcoming competition season with decrease inflation and good city progress will assist demand, and the general financial system we all know is resilient,” mentioned Ritesh Tiwari, chief monetary officer at HUL.
HUL mentioned it’s seeing the resurgence of small and regional gamers, a lot of which had vacated the market through the peak of inflation.
