Better-than expected volume growth of 11% in the three months to March 2010 boosted Hindustan Unilever?s topline by 8% to Rs 4,315.75 crore. However, the Street was disappointed with HUL?s operating profit margin, which was 13.59%, lower by about 160 basis points, over the March 2009 quarter.
Although the reported net profit increased by 47% to Rs 581 crore, shorn of exceptional items, the profit after interest and before exceptionals was more or less flat at Rs 573.6 crore. That left the net profit for 2009-10, higher by only 4% to Rs 2,202 crore on revenues of Rs 17,523.80 crore, up just over 6% over 2008-09. HUL has proposed a final dividend of Rs 3.50 per share for 2009-10. The scrip fell 0.60% to Rs 230.10 on Tuesday.
