Hindustan Unilever Ltd
Hindustan Unilever: Declines for Fifth Straight Session – Market Trends & Investment Outlook

Business and Industry Overview

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is one of India’s biggest companies. It makes everyday products like soaps, shampoos, and food items. HUL is a part of Unilever, a global company. It sells many well-known brands. Some of them are Lifebuoy, Dove, Lux, Surf Excel, Rin, and Pepsodent. It also makes food and drinks like Lipton tea, Knorr soups, and Kissan ketchup. It makes products in India and sells them across the country. It reaches both cities and villages. It sells through shops, supermarkets, and online stores. HUL is a market leader in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry. It competes with other companies like ITC, Nestlé, and Procter & Gamble. It makes profits by keeping costs low and selling in large numbers. HUL is working on being more eco-friendly. It is reducing plastic waste and using less water in making products. HUL is a strong and trusted company in India. It makes products that people use daily. It continues to grow by reaching more customers and improving its products. 

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is a big company in India that makes everyday products. It has three main business areas: Home Care, Beauty & Personal Care, and Foods & Refreshments. In Home Care, it sells washing powders like Surf Excel, Rin, and Wheel, and cleaners like Vim and Domex. In Beauty & Personal Care, it offers soaps like Lux and Lifebuoy, shampoos like Sunsilk and Clinic Plus, creams like Pond’s and Lakmé, and toothpaste like Pepsodent and Closeup. In Foods & Refreshments, it sells tea like Brooke Bond, coffee like Bru, health drinks like Horlicks and Boost, and ice cream like Kwality Wall’s. HUL sells its products in shops, supermarkets, and online. It also works on eco-friendly and social projects.  

CRISIL forecasts 7-9% revenue growth for the FMCG sector in the current FY25, driven by increased volume and rural demand recovery. The Fast-moving consumer Goods (FMCG) sector is India’s fourth-largest sector and has been expanding at a healthy rate over the years because of rising disposable income, a rising youth population, and rising brand awareness among consumers. With household and personal care products accounting for 50% of FMCG sales in India, the industry is an important contributor to India’s GDP. HUL is one of the largest companies in the FMCG industry in India, with 30.35% of the market share.  

Latest Stock News

Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (HUL) shares have been falling recently. On Tuesday, the stock dropped by 1.8% to ₹2,138.8, its lowest price in the past year. In the last five trading days, it has fallen by nearly 5%, and in the past month, it has lost about 12%. This decline happened because the overall stock market has been weak, affecting even stable sectors like FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods).   

On Monday, HUL’s stock price closed at ₹2,176.95, down by 0.68%. The BSE SENSEX index, which tracks the overall market, also fell by 0.15%. HUL’s stock is currently 28.26% lower than its highest price in the past year (₹3,034.50), which it reached on September 23.   

Compared to some of its competitors on Monday, HUL had mixed performance. Jyothy Laboratories fell by 2.23%, Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care dropped 0.51%, and Godrej Consumer Products lost 0.68%.   

The trading volume for HUL was 153,148 shares, which is much higher than its 50-day average of 77,407 shares. This means more people were buying and selling the stock than usual. 

Potentials

Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (HUL) has big plans for the future. It wants to grow by using digital tools, focusing on sustainability, and making better products. HUL is using technology to understand customers, improve sales, and deliver products faster.  The company is working to protect the environment. It plans to use solar energy, save water, and reduce plastic waste. HUL also wants to make more beauty and food products. It is offering premium and healthier options for customers.  HUL is improving its factories with new machines and smart technology. This will help make products faster and reduce waste. The company is also helping rural women start small businesses through its “Shakti” program.  HUL is changing to meet the needs of modern India. It is using data to make smart decisions and adding sustainability to all parts of its business. By 2039, HUL wants to have zero pollution and be fully eco-friendly. 

Analyst Insights

  • Market capitalization:₹ 5,05,068 Cr. 
  • Current Price: ₹ 2,150 
  • 52-Week High/Low:₹ 3,035 / 2,137 
  • P/E Ratio:48.7 
  • Dividend Yield: 1.96 % 
  • Return on Capital Employed (ROCE): 27.2 % 
  • Return on Equity (ROE): 20.2 % 

Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (HUL) is a strong and stable company with almost no debt and high profits, making it a good long-term investment. It pays high dividends, meaning investors regularly earn returns. However, the stock is expensive compared to its actual value, and its sales growth has been slow over the past five years. The stock price is also near its lowest point in the last year, showing weak demand. Because of this, holding the stock is best. If you already own it, keep it, but if you are a new investor, wait for a better price before buying. 

Asian Paints Q2 FY25 Earnings
Asian Paints Q2 FY25 Earnings: Net Profit Drops 42%

Company Overview 

Asian Paints Ltd. is India’s largest paint manufacturer and one of the leading paint companies globally. Founded in 1942, it operates in more than 15 countries and has over 26 paint manufacturing facilities worldwide. It is No.1 or No.2 in its each segment, showing a great brand. Its product portfolio extends beyond decorative paints to include industrial paints, coatings, home decor, and waterproofing solutions, serving residential, commercial, and industrial markets. It has more than 140,000 customers and 3000+ dealers and 160,000+ retail touchpoints. The company has filed approx. 21 patents, Asian Paints has established itself as the most recognizable brand in India’s paint market. Through initiatives like the ‘Beautiful Homes Service’ and online colour consultation tools, Asian Paints enhances customer experience, leveraging digital solutions to strengthen customer engagement. 

Industry Outlook 

The Indian paints industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 11-13% over the next five years, aiming to reach a valuation of ₹1.2 lakh crores by 2028. Demand for water-based paints, low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) products, and anti-bacterial coatings is on the rise, driven by eco-conscious and health-focused consumers. Major players, such as Asian Paints and Berger Paints, are continuously investing in R&D for product innovation and are expanding manufacturing capacities to meet rising demand. Infrastructure growth and government focus on boosting the manufacturing sector are expected to increase demand for industrial coatings, especially in construction, automotive, and machinery sectors. Crude oil derivatives are key inputs for paint manufacturing, and price fluctuations can impact profit margins. 

Financial Summary

Business Segments: 

  • Decorative Business: The Company offers interiors and exterior wall paints, waterproof solutions, textured coatings, etc. with major products like Royale, TruCare, Apcolite, etc. It includes service of Beautiful Homes Service which shares about 4% in total revenue of company and includes services for kitchens, wardrobes, bath fittings, Sanitaryware, decorative lightings, rugs, furniture, etc. provides customers every possible services. 
  • International Business: Asian Paints has a global footprint with manufacturing operations and markets across 15+ countries in the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean. While international operations currently represent a smaller portion of total revenue, they contribute to the company’s goal of becoming a leading player in emerging markets. 
  • Industrial Business: The Company operates in the industrial coatings segment through a 50:50 joint ventures with PPG Industries Inc. It offers custom-formulated products for the automotive and industrial sectors, including automotive, marine, and packaging coatings, as well as industrial protective coatings. 

Q2 FY25 & Business Highlights 

  • Revenue of ₹8028 crore in Q2 FY25 down by 5.32% YoY from ₹8479 crore in Q2 FY24.  
  • EBITDA of ₹1240 crore in this quarter at a margin of 15% compared to 20% in Q2 FY24. 
  • Profit of ₹694 crore in this quarter compared to a ₹1232 crore profit in Q2 FY24. 
  • Decorative Business registered volume decline of 0.5% with revenue decline of 6.7%, due to weak consumer sentiments coupled with rains and floods in some part country impacted the consumption. 
  • All categories in the Home Decor business benefited from synergies with our Beautiful Homes stores network, though at a lower clip than expectations. 
  • Forex loss on currency devaluation (₹ 56 crore in Ethiopia) along with subdued performance in Asia impacted overall profitability 
  • International business registered a marginal value decline despite some challenging market conditions in Ethiopia and Bangladesh. Though on a constant currency basis, the international portfolio delivered revenue growth of 8.7% for the quarter. 

Subsidiary Information: 

  • Asian paints international Pvt Ltd.: Asian Paints International Private Limited (“APIPL”), Singapore, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and is the holding company for all of its subsidiary companies carrying out operations overseas. The principal activities of APIPL are those of investment holding and management. The Board of Directors at its meeting held on 28th March 2024, approved an investment of approximately ₹200 crores by way of subscription of equity shares of APIPL, for repayment of borrowings. 
  • Asian Paints (Nepal) Pvt Ltd: Asian Paints (Nepal) Private, is a subsidiary company of the Company. Its principal business is the manufacturing and selling of paint products in Nepal. The revenue of AP Nepal was ₹335.04 crores with de-growth of 38.5% YoY. 
  • Obgenix Software Pvt Ltd: It is popularly known by the brand name “White Teak” is a subsidiary company of the Company. White Teak is engaged in the business of decorative lighting products, fans and other décor accessories. The revenue of White Teak was ₹133.43 crores with growth of 23.0% YoY. 
  • Weather seal Fenestration Pvt Ltd: It is a subsidiary company of the Company. Weatherseal is engaged in the business of uPVC windows and doors. The revenue of Weatherseal was ₹51.68 crores growth of 110.0% year on year. 

SWOT Analysis:

Strengths:

  • Market Leadership
  • Diverse Product Portfolio
  • Strong Distribution Network

Weaknesses:

  • Dependency on Raw Materials
  • Limited Presence in Industrial Coatings

Opportunities:

  • Expansion in Rural Markets
  • Rising Demand for Eco-Friendly Products
  • Growth in Home Improvement Solutions

Threats:

  • High Competition
  • Volatile Raw Material Prices
  • Environmental and Regulatory Risks
  • Potential Economic Slowdowns