Unilever Plc
Unilever Plc (LON: ULVR) is a Fast-Moving Consumer Goods company. The company helps billions of people in improving health and wellbeing. The company is serving the UK market for over a century and provides nourishment, home hygiene and personal care products. The company’s sixteen brands out of forty brands are the market leaders which includes Persil, Dove, Magnum, Marmite, Lynx etc. The company launched the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan in 2010, which marked the blueprint for achieving company’s strategy.
Sales Updates
On 17th December 2019, the company reported that the sale growth for the year 2019 is expected to be lower than the earlier given guidance, due to economic slowdown in South Asia as well as poor trading condition in west Africa. However, the company has been experiencing an early sign of improvement in performance in North America.
News Updates
On 13th November 2019, the company announced that Chairman of the Board, Marijn Dekkers decided to resign with immediate effect and Nils Andersen who was the Non-Executive Director, would be taking Marijn position as Chairman of the company.
Trading Updates
On 17th October 2019, the company announced a trading statement of third-quarter 2019 with nine-month data.
The company reported €13.3 billion turnovers in the third quarter of 2019, whereas nine-month turnover was reported at €39.3 billion in FY2019. The company further declared that Underlying sales growth was at 2.9% with 1.4% from volume and 1.5% from the price in the third quarter of 2019.
Financial Highlights
On 25th July 2019, the company announced its interim financial report for the six months ended 30th June 2019 through a press release.
The company’s total turnover decreased to €26,126 million in H1 FY2019 as compared to €26,352 million in H1 FY2018, a change of 0.86 per cent. The operating profit increased to €4,589 million in H1 FY2019 as compared to €4,529 million in H1 FY2018, a change of 1.32 per cent.
The company’s total Profit before taxation increased to €4,354 million in H1 FY2019 as compared to €4,329 million in H1 FY2018, a change of 0.58 per cent. The net profit fell to €3,209 million in H1 FY2019 as compared to €3,229 million in H1 FY2018, a change of 0.62 per cent.
The company’s total basic earnings per share increased to 1.15 cents in H1 FY2019 as compared to 1.11 cents in H1 FY2018. The diluted earnings per share increased to 1.14 cents in H1 FY2019 as compared to 1.11 cents in H1 FY2018.
(Sources: LSE)
Share Price Performance
On 19th December 2019, at 10:51 AM GMT, while writing, ULVR share price was reported to be trading at GBX 4,318.11 per share on the LSE, an increase of 0.93 per cent or GBX 39.61 per share, as compared to the previous day's closing price, which was reported to be at GBX 4,278.50 per share.
On 04th September 2019, the shares of ULVR were GBX 5,333.0, which was the highest and it reached to GBX 3,904.94 on 31st Jan 2019, which was the lowest in the last 52 weeks. The present share price was down by 19.03 per cent from the 52-week high price, whereas it was up by 10.58 per cent from the 52-week low price.
The company's market capitalisation was reportedly valued to be at GBP 113.22 billion as per the share's current market price. The stock outstanding of the ULVR share has been reported to be at 2.63 billion, and the free float has been reported at 1.13 billion.
The beta of the ULVR share was reported to be at 0.65. It means that the company's share price movement is less volatile in its trend, as compared to the benchmark market index's movement.
Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc
Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc (LON: RB.) is a global organisation engaged in the business of home products, health and hygiene. The company’s brands are being sold in many stores in around 200 countries. The company believes that through research and development, it creates best products that enable its customer to take their health into their own hands and homes.
News Updates
On 4th December 2019, the company announced several changes in the management. Harold van den Broek was appointed as Chief Operating Officer and also joined the Executive Committee reporting to the Group’s CEO Laxman Narasimhan. The President, Rob de Groot resigned and will depart the company in February 2020. Additionally, Kris Licht joined the company in November 2019. Before joining the company, Kris worked with Pepsico. Jeff Carr's has been appointed as Group Chief Financial Officer.
On 2nd December 2019, the company announced that had issued 736.5 million ordinary shares of 10 pence each with total 709.5 million voting right. The company hold 27.0 million ordinary shares in treasury.
Trading Updates
On 22nd October 2019, the company announced trading updates for the third quarter of 2019. The IFCN segment of the company reported like to like 7.2% growth in the third quarter of 2019, whereas the OTC and other Health segment reported a negative growth of 6.8% and 2.5% respectively in the same quarter of 2019. Geographically, North America reported a negative growth of 12.3%, whereas Europe/ANZ & DvM reported an increase of 3.5% & 4.1% respectively on a like to like basis in the third quarter of 2019.
Financial Highlights
On 30th July 2019, the company announced its interim financial report for the six months ended 30th June 2019 through a press release.
The company’s Net Revenue increased to £6,240 million in H1 FY2019 as compared to £6,138 million in H1 FY2018, a change of 1.66 per cent on AER basis. The gross profit increased to £3,757 million in H1 FY2019 as compared to £3,710 million in H1 FY2018, a change of 1.26 per cent
The operating profit increased to £1,406 million in H1 FY2019 as compared to £1,291 million in H1 FY2018, a change of 8.9 per cent. The company’s profit before income tax increased to £1,262 million in H1 FY2019 as compared to £1,111 million in H1 FY2018, a change of 13.59 per cent.
The Net income for the period declined to £124 million in H1 FY2019 as compared to £872 million in H1 FY2018, a change of 85.78 per cent.
The company’s basic earnings per ordinary share decreased to 15.8 pence in H1 FY2019 as compared to 122.0 pence in H1 FY2018. The diluted earnings per ordinary share fell to 15.8 pence in H1 FY2019 as compared to 121.2 pence in H1 FY2018.
Share Price Performance
On 19th December 2019, at 10:53 AM GMT, while writing, RB share price was reported to be trading at GBX 6,003.0 per share on the LSE, a decrease of 0.12 per cent or GBX 7.00 per share, as compared to the previous day's closing price, which was reported to be at GBX 6,010.00 per share.
On 27th September 2019, the shares of RB were GBX 6,744.0, which was highest and it reached to GBX 5,510.0 on 22nd October 2019, which was lowest in the last 52 weeks. The present share price was down by 10.98 per cent from the 52-week high price, whereas it was up by 8.9 per cent from the 52-week low price.
The company's market capitalisation was reportedly valued to be at GBP 42.64 billion as per the share's current market price. The stock outstanding of the RB share has been reported to be at 709.52 million, and the free float has been at 683.42 million.
The beta of the RB share was reported to be at 0.87. It means that the company's share price movement is less volatile in its trend, as compared to the benchmark market index's movement.
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