Proactive Investors - Unilever PLC's (LON:ULVR) third-quarter print came in marginally ahead of forecasts. However, this wasn't enough to prompt the Dove soap maker to upgrade its forecasts for the year.
In fact, the consumer products giant carried a glint of a warning in the outlook statement as it said "margin progression in the second half to be smaller than in the first half".
But let that not detract from what was a generally solid performance that was boosted by new product innovations and a moderation in price hikes, marking its largest rise in sales volumes in over three years.
The Hellman's Mayonaise group announced a 4.5% increase in third-quarter underlying sales, slightly ahead of analysts’ predictions of a 4.2% gain.
Unilever maintained its full-year guidance for 3-5% underlying sales growth and a minimum operating margin of 18%.
In the trading update, we learned the productivity programme and separation are both progressing to plan. The sale of the Magnum choc ice operation is expected to be complete by the end of 2025 with the business worth an estimated £15 billion.