India's largest FMCG company Hindustan Unilever's ( HUL ) fourth quarter net profit rose better-than-expected 21% year-on-year to Rs 687 crore, helped by strong growth across segments. Analysts on average had expected HUL to report a net profit of Rs 649 crore, according to a CNBC-TV18 poll,
HUL,the unit of Anglo-Dutch Unilever Plc, reported net sales of Rs5,660.5 crore in the Jan-March quarter, up 16% from a year ago.
In the fourth quarter, HUL had exceptional items, which included gain ofRs 34.73 crore from sale of properties and Rs 5.78 crore provisionfor retirement benefits among other things. In the year ago quarter it had exceptional gain of Rs 47.8 crore from sale of properties anda few other provisions. Its net profit before exceptional items wasup 29%, HUL said.
During the three-month period, the company's domestic consumer business grew 20% with a volume growth of 10%.
Among key segments, soaps & detergents revenue rose 28% year-on-year to Rs 2,834.38 crore in Jan-March.
Personal products revenue was up 17% year-on-year to Rs 1,710.94 crore. The company said, skin care brands like Ponds, Fair & Lovely and Vaseline and hair care brands continued double-digit growth. However,growth in oral care continued to be modest amid high competition.
While,beverages sales rose 8% to Rs 683.2 crore, coffee grew in double digits. HUL's packaged foods revenue was up 10% from a year ago to Rs348 crore.
Revenue from other segments, which includes exports, chemicals and the Pure-it water purifier business, however, fell 47% from a year ago to Rs 182.30 crore.
HUL's total expenses in the quarter were up 14% to Rs 4,989.6 crore. Its advertising and promotional spends went up 9% from a year ago and employee benefits expenses were up 17%.
HULshares closed at Rs 417.60 on Monday, unchanged from Friday's closed
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