HUL Q4 Results 2026: HUL quarterly results released, dividend of Rs 22, stock crash:HUL's results were strong, but market expectations and valuation pressure weighed heavily on the stock. This is why the stock declined despite the good news. This signals to investors that market sentiment and expectations are just as important as results.

News Topical, Digital Desk : Hindustan Unilever Limited's (HUL) March quarter results appeared strong at first glance, but the stock market told a different story. The company's stock opened slightly weak on April 30th, then rebounded, but after the results, a sudden sell-off took hold. Despite strong profits and revenue, the stock's decline surprised investors. The question is: why did the market reject this stock despite its strong results?

HUL shares experienced significant volatility on April 30. The stock opened at ₹2,312, compared to its previous close of ₹2,314.40. Initially, there was little movement, but as the results were announced, the stock gained momentum, reaching ₹2,368.80.

But this rally didn't last long. Around 11 a.m., a sudden selling pressure took over, and the stock fell nearly 2.5 percent to below Rs 2,250. This means that the stock, which had been showing gains just moments earlier, suddenly came under pressure.

Now let's talk about the quarterly results…
HUL recorded 6% underlying volume growth this quarter, better than market expectations of 4% to 5%. This suggests strong demand for the company. Revenue grew 7.6% year-on-year to ₹16,351 crore, while profit increased 22% to ₹2,992 crore. EBITDA (operating profit) was ₹3,841 crore, a 6% increase. However, margins declined slightly to 23.5%, compared to 23.8% last year.

This quarter is also significant because this is the company's first result after the demerger of the ice cream business. Looking at the individual business segments, the home care business performed the most, achieving 9% growth, the highest in the last 11 quarters. Fabric wash, in particular, saw double-digit growth.

The beauty and wellness segment saw 8% sales growth. The hair care category recorded double-digit growth, strengthening the company's market leadership. The personal care business grew by 5 percent. Oral care experienced low single-digit growth, but the Close-Up brand strengthened its market share. The foods business also grew by 5 percent, while growth in the tea segment was slightly weaker, in the low single digits.

Interestingly, two of the company's major brands—Vaseline and Sunsilk—have crossed the ₹1,000 crore annual revenue mark. The question now is: why did the stock fall despite such strong results? Indeed, the market was already expecting good results, and the stock had risen 11.5 percent in the past month. Investors saw an opportunity to book profits.