Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights Unilever's strong second-quarter sales growth driven by robust demand in North America and Europe, exceeding market expectations while maintaining its full-year sales forecast [1] - For the three months ending June 30, Unilever reported a 3.8% growth in underlying sales, surpassing analysts' expectations of 3.6% [1] - The company achieved an underlying operating profit of €5.8 billion for the first half of the year, slightly above the market expectation of €5.7 billion [1] Group 2 - Unilever has undertaken several organizational and operational changes over the past year to address poor performance and improve profit margins, including plans to spin off its ice cream business, which includes Ben & Jerry's and Magnum, layoffs, and the dismissal of former CEO Hein Schumacher in February [1] - The ice cream business, named The Magnum Ice Cream Company, is set to be spun off in mid-November [1] - CEO Fernando Fernandez stated that the company's priorities moving forward are clear: focusing more on beauty, health, and personal care; disproportionate investments in the U.S. and India; and increased attention to premium segments and digital commerce [1] Group 3 - Despite maintaining its sales forecast for 2025 and emphasizing growth areas, Unilever's free cash flow decreased by 50% from €2.2 billion in the same period last year to €1.1 billion in the first half of this year, raising concerns about financial pressures related to supply chain changes, tariff uncertainties, and costs associated with the ice cream business spin-off [1] - The company anticipates growth in the second half of the year, with resilient markets in North America and Europe, and improvements expected in India, China, and Indonesia [2] - Unilever previously indicated that the impact of U.S. tariffs is expected to be limited and manageable [2]
联合利华(UL.US)二季度销售增长超预期 北美欧洲需求强劲支撑全年展望