FMCG Giant Declares ₹19 Dividend as Revenue Beats Estimates
Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) bellwether Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) posted a 4.4 percent year-on-year increase in consolidated net profit to ₹2,790 crore for the second quarter of fiscal year 2027, up from ₹2,673 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal. The headline bottom-line figure marginally trailed analyst projections of ₹2,818 crore tracked by CNBC-TV18, primarily weighed down by modest margin contraction and competitive promotional spending. However, the corporate giant outperformed market consensus on the top-line front, with consolidated revenue from operations climbing 5.1 percent year-on-year to ₹18,226 crore compared to ₹17,341 crore a year ago, beating the Street estimate of ₹17,560 crore. Consolidated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) advanced 3.6 percent to ₹4,809 crore, comfortably surpassing the projected ₹4,003 crore, even as the consolidated EBITDA margin compressed slightly to 22.43 percent from 22.76 percent last year, remaining below market expectations of 23.8 percent.
Standalone Earnings Jump 15% Alongside ₹19 Interim Dividend Announcement
On a standalone basis, HUL demonstrated robust underlying operational momentum, recording a 14.8 percent year-on-year surge in net profit to ₹2,844 crore, compared to ₹2,478 crore reported in the same period last year. Standalone revenue from operations expanded 12.6 percent to ₹17,543 crore against ₹15,585 crore in the prior-year quarter, while standalone EBITDA climbed 11.1 percent to ₹3,959 crore from ₹3,563 crore, with margins holding steady at 22.6 percent compared to 22.8 percent previously. In a reward for shareholders, HUL’s board of directors declared an interim dividend of ₹19 per equity share of face value ₹1 for FY2027. The company has fixed Thursday, November 12, 2026, as the record date to determine eligible shareholders, with dividend payouts scheduled for formal disbursement on November 25, 2026.
Segment Performance: Home Care Rallies 22% as Premium Beauty Gains Traction
Segmental performance was led by strong volume momentum in the Home Care vertical, which delivered a stellar 22 percent Underlying Sales Growth (USG) anchored by broad-based double-digit volume expansion across fabric wash, household care, and specialized liquid detergent formats. The Beauty & Wellbeing division registered a 16 percent USG, driven by resilient consumer demand for premium hair care and clinical skincare portfolios, including aggressive distribution of brands like Minimalist, Simple, Dove, and Vaseline. Meanwhile, the Personal Care division reported 9 percent USG, bolstered by double-digit expansion in skin cleansing despite muted growth in the oral hygiene space. The Foods & Refreshment segment posted 9 percent USG with low single-digit volume growth, supported by steady retail consumption in lifestyle nutrition, packaged culinary ranges, and the branded coffee business.
