Unilever Posts 13.3B Euro Q3 Revenue, Boosts Full-Year Growth Outlook

Unilever topped sales estimates in the third quarter and upgraded its full-year outlook.

The U.K.-headquartered CPG giant reported turnover of 13.3 billion euros in the third quarter, with underlying growth of 5.2 percent versus analysts' estimates for 4.8 percent.

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Beauty & Wellbeing sales came in at 3.5 billion euros, up 5.7 percent, while personal care was 3.6 billion euros, 6.3 percent higher than a year earlier.

Within Beauty & Wellbeing, hair care grew by double digits and skin care grew by midsingle digits. Growth was driven by strong performances from Dove, Vaseline, Sunsilk, Clear and K18.

Wellbeing, though, declined 1 percent in the third quarter, with the company stating that this reflects conscious choices to rebalance revenues and relative pricing between direct-to-consumer, club, pure play online and omnichannels.

Across its wellness brands, the picture is mixed: While Liquid I.V. and Olly both grew in the year-to-date, Nutrafol declined as the measures to improve customer acquisition remain at an early stage. Grüns, which it acquired earlier this year, delivered strong growth in its first full quarter with Unilever and will enter its underlying sales growth measure next year in June.

Home care and food both came in at 3.1 billion euros, respectively.

By region, growth was led by emerging markets, while developed markets reflected tougher comparators and soft market conditions.

Emerging markets recorded underlying growth of 9.5 percent, with strong volume growth of 6 percent and 3.3 percent from price. Growth was broad-based, including double-digit growth in India, Turkey, Vietnam and Pakistan, and high-single-digit growth in Latin America, Indonesia and South East Asia.

Developed markets saw underlying growth of 0.9 percent, with negative 1.7 percent from volume and 0.7 percent from price. North America declined 0.7 percent, while Europe was down 1.7 percent.

Unilever upgraded its full-year forecast to at least 3 percent underlying volume growth for full-year 2026 and underlying sales growth in the second half of around 5 percent.

Chief executive officer Fernando Fernández said: "We are performing while transforming Unilever. We are becoming simpler and sharper, with greater focus and stronger execution as we drive desire at scale across our brands. This progress gives us confidence that we will now deliver at least 3 percent volume growth for the full year. At our investor event next week we will set out how this transformation is creating a stronger, more focused Unilever capable of delivering sustained, competitive performance."