Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) shares climbed nearly 3% on Thursday after the company posted stronger-than-expected results for the September quarter, supported by a one-time tax gain. Underlying sales growth came in at 2%, while volume growth remained flat. The company attributed the quarter’s performance to temporary effects of GST rate adjustments and prolonged monsoon conditions across several regions.
HUL’s Board announced an interim dividend of ₹19 per share for the financial year ending March 31, 2026. CEO and MD Priya Nair described the results as a “competitive performance” despite short-term challenges, adding that the recent GST reforms are a “positive move” expected to aid consumption as conditions normalize.
The homecare division, which includes brands such as Surf, Rin, Comfort, and Sunlight, reported revenue of ₹5,664 crore, down 1.1% from ₹5,731 crore in Q2 FY25. Following the results, HUL shares touched an intraday high of ₹2,667.2 on the NSE, up 2.91%. The Nifty FMCG index also gained over 1%, with peers like Varun Beverages, Colgate-Palmolive, and Marico rising up to 2%.