Hindustan Unilever Limited reported its strongest performance in 13 quarters for the period ended June 30, 2026, driven by a balanced mix of volume and price increases. Turnover reached ₹17,184 crore, reflecting 10% underlying sales growth (USG) as the company navigated geopolitical tensions and currency fluctuations. This acceleration marks a significant step-up from the 3% growth recorded in the first half of FY26, reinforcing management’s conviction in the resilience of India’s FMCG demand environment.

The company maintained financial discipline amid rising input costs, delivering an EBITDA margin of 23%, which remained within the guided range. Absolute EBITDA grew 8% year-on-year to ₹3,947 crore. Profit after tax before exceptional items rose 9% to ₹2,731 crore. Reported profit after tax stood at ₹2,680 crore, a 2% decline due to a one-off tax credit of approximately ₹330 crore in the prior-year base; adjusted for this item, profit after tax grew 11% year-on-year.

Segment Performance Highlights

Growth was broad-based across key categories, with Home Care and Beauty & Wellbeing leading the charge. Home Care delivered 14% USG, its strongest performance in three years, driven by high-single-digit underlying volume growth (UVG). Fabric Wash saw double-digit, volume-led growth, while Household Care accelerated with Vim Liquid posting another quarter of double-digit expansion.

Beauty & Wellbeing achieved 12% USG, supported by high-single-digit UVG. Hair Care continued its double-digit, volume-led trajectory, with premium formats like hair masks and serums outperforming. Skin Care and Colour Cosmetics grew at a high-single-digit rate, led by double-digit growth in Premium Skin Care and the aggressive offline expansion of Minimalist.

Personal Care posted 4% USG, primarily driven by price increases in response to palm oil inflation for the second consecutive year. Skin Cleansing grew mid-single digit, with Dove and Pears delivering double-digit, volume-led growth. Foods segment delivered 7% USG, with Coffee showing double-digit, volume-led growth and Lifestyle Nutrition maintaining momentum through Horlicks and Boost.

What the Numbers Show

A notable divergence emerged between mass and premium segments, though management emphasized competitive growth across both. While premium brands like Dove, Pears, and Minimalist accelerated, mass segments faced headwinds from sustained palm oil-led inflation over two years. Despite this, the company gained turnover-weighted market share, indicating that premiumization efforts did not come at the cost of overall market position. The ability to maintain a 23% EBITDA margin while passing on less than full cost inflation highlights effective procurement leverage and operational efficiency.

Strategic Investments and Outlook

Hindustan Unilever increased advertising and promotion (A&P) spends sequentially to ₹1,657 crore, the highest in 11 quarters, signaling confidence in long-term brand building. The company also highlighted supply chain innovations, including AI-enabled distribution centers and new Lighthouse designations for its Haridwar and Sonapat factories.

Looking ahead, management reaffirmed guidance that FY27 will be better than FY26, citing stable FMCG demand and robust rural-urban growth. While commodities and currencies remain elevated, the company expects to manage margins through structural savings and calibrated pricing actions. Quick commerce continues to grow at strong double digits, contributing to channel diversification.

Hindustan Unilever Limited has published the audio and video recording of its earnings conference call for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 (Q1FY27), on its official website. The recording is accessible to investors and analysts via the company’s dedicated results and presentations section, ensuring transparency and wider access to management’s commentary on the quarterly performance.

The disclosure was made pursuant to Regulation 30(6) read with sub-para 15, Para A, Part A of Schedule III of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. This regulatory requirement mandates that listed entities make the audio or video recordings of their earnings calls publicly available shortly after the event.

Key Details

The conference call took place on July 28, 2026, following the Board meeting where the financial results were approved. The intimation regarding the call had initially been issued on July 7, 2026, with further details provided on July 22, 2026.

Radhika Shah, Company Secretary & Compliance Officer at Hindustan Unilever Limited, signed the disclosure letter addressed to BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. The letter confirms that the recording is now live at https://www.hul.co.in/investors/results-and-presentations/quarterly-results-and-webcasts/ .

What the Numbers Show

While the specific financial metrics are detailed in the separate results filing, the availability of the full recording allows stakeholders to review management’s strategic outlook, volume growth drivers, and margin commentary in detail. This aligns with SEBI’s push for greater transparency in corporate communications, enabling investors to assess not just the numbers but the narrative behind them.