Colgate, HUL, Marico bank on demand revival to turn around their fortunes
Colgate-Palmolive
(India) declined nearly 7 per cent in eight trading sessions after reporting a lacklustre set of numbers for the March quarter. The performance of the oral healthcare company was hit by flat sales volume and urban softness though rural markets and premium products offered some support. The management has guided for a gradual revival in demand from the second half of FY26, as macro pressures ease and premium offerings gain ground.
The country's rural parts continued to outperform urban markets for the third straight quarter. According to the company management, the bottom 70 per cent of the urban consumer base was under stress while premiumisation continued to be strong. The company launched new products such as
Colgate
Max Fresh Sensorials, Total Plaque Release, and the reformulated Strong Teeth, to strengthen its premium segment.
Colgate's revenue and net profit declined by 1.9 per cent and 6.5 per cent to Rs 1,452 crore and Rs 355 crore, on year-on-year basis in the March quarter. Volume growth was flat, marking a sharp deceleration from the previous three quarters of mid-single-digit growth. The operating margin before depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda margin) slipped by 164 basis points year-on-year to 34.3 per cent .
Despite the muted fourth-quarter numbers, Colgate closed FY25 on a stable note. Revenue from operations for the year rose 6.3 per cent to Rs 5,999 crore while net profit grew 8.5 per cent to Rs 1,437 crore. Ebitda margin dropped to 32.6 per cent from 35.9 per cent , a year ago.
The other major consumer companies including
Hindustan Unilever
(HUL) and
Marico
also reported pressure on margins for the March quarter. HUL's revenue and net profit recorded near flat growth whereas margin remained range-bound at around 23 per cent . Marico's consolidated revenue and net profit grew 20 per cent and 8 per cent year-on-year, but Ebitda margin fell by 260 basis points to a 12-quarter low of 16.8 per cent .
The
FMCG companies
expect a revival in the current fiscal year given the expectation of a normal monsoon and income tax relief, which are expected to improve consumer spend.
HUL expects business momentum to gradually improve with the first half of FY26 likely to be better than the second half of the previous fiscal year.
Marico expects the next fiscal year to be better.
Analysts expect demand weakness to persist in the near term.
Emkay Global Financial Services
has maintained a 'sell' rating on Colgate with a target price of Rs 2,000, citing weak growth visibility and limited room for margin expansion. While Axis Securities has reduced the target price by 4 per cent to Rs 2,830, the brokerage has retained a 'buy' rating on the stock noting that the recent fall in its price offers a strong margin of safety.
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