HUL Reports 14% Rise In Q4 Profit; Board Recommends Dividend

On Friday, Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) reported a 14 percent increase in net profit to Rs 1,538 crore for the fourth quarter (Q4) of the financial year 2018-19 from Rs 1,351 crore a year ago.

Revenue for the March-ended quarter rose by 8.94 percent to Rs 9,808 crore from Rs 9,003 crore in the same quarter in 2018. In a BSE filing, the company said that its volume grew at 7 percent in March. Volume growth helps indicate growth in sales excluding the hikes in prices made by the company.

Its Home Care segment delivered a strong growth in volumes with Fabric Wash and Household Care growing in double digits.

EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) or operating income grew 13 percent from a year ago to Rs 2,331 crore. Operating margin expanded 23.3 percent in the March 2019 quarter.

The company's board has recommended a final dividend of Rs 13 per share of Re 1 for the financial year 2018-19. The final dividend along with the interim dividend of Rs 9 paid in November 2018 amounts to a total dividend of Rs 22 for the year.

Shares of HUL closed lower by 1.91 percent at Rs 1,690.65 apiece.