In a quarter that was expected to reflect sluggish consumption trends, Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) surprised the Street with a 2% volume growth in Q4 FY25—beating analysts’ estimates of 0–1%. Earlier projections had even positioned HUL as the potential underperformer in the FMCG pack on volume terms.
Contrary to concerns around weak rural demand and high competitive intensity, the company reported broad-based recovery across categories, helping it deliver better-than-expected underlying volume growth.
Q4 FY25: Key financial highlights
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Standalone net profit: ₹2,493 crore, up 3.6% from ₹2,406 crore in Q4 FY24
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Revenue from operations: ₹15,213 crore, up 2.4% from ₹14,857 crore
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EBITDA: ₹3,466 crore, up 1% from ₹3,435 crore
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EBITDA margin: 22.8%, down from 23.1% YoY
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Volume growth: 2%, ahead of Street estimates of 0–1%
While revenue grew moderately, the company’s margin took a 30 basis points hit, mainly due to persistent input cost pressures and increased promotional spending, especially in the Foods and Personal Care categories.
FY25 performance snapshot (Standalone)
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Total income: ₹62,646 crore (vs ₹61,442 crore in FY24)
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Net profit: ₹10,644 crore (vs ₹10,114 crore in FY24)
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EBITDA: ₹14,300 crore
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Total expenses: ₹48,768 crore
Dividend payout at ₹53 per share for FY25
HUL’s Board of Directors also announced a final dividend of ₹24 per share for the financial year ended March 31, 2025. This comes on top of the ₹19 interim dividend and a ₹10 special dividend already paid earlier in the year.
✅ Total dividend for FY25: ₹53 per equity share of face value ₹1 – a strong show of shareholder reward amid consistent earnings performance.
Market reaction and outlook
Following the results, HUL shares rose nearly 2% intraday, touching ₹2,458.10 as investors welcomed the unexpected volume uptick and consistent profitability.
Looking ahead, HUL management remains cautiously optimistic about demand recovery, citing early signs of rural revival and expectations of softening input costs. The company continues to focus on premiumisation, innovation, and digital growth across categories.
FAQs
What was HUL’s volume growth in Q4 FY25?
2%, ahead of consensus estimates of 0–1%.
What was the total dividend announced for FY25?
₹53 per share – comprising ₹24 final, ₹19 interim, and ₹10 special dividend.
Did margins improve this quarter?
No, EBITDA margin declined to 22.8% from 23.1% YoY due to cost pressures.
How did the market respond?
HUL shares gained nearly 2% post results, buoyed by the volume growth beat.
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