Products like DryWater, Water Melt and Liquid I.V. have caught on as Americans focus on optimizing their health, marketing experts said. https://t.co/P9KFSs4o7B ...

Core Insights - Unilever reported a decline in revenue for both Q3 and the first three quarters of 2025, with Q3 revenue at €14.7 billion (approximately ¥121.4 billion), down 3.5% year-on-year, and year-to-date revenue at €44.8 billion (approximately ¥370.0 billion), down 3.3% year-on-year [1][2] - Despite the overall decline, CEO Fernando Fernandez highlighted a return to growth in the Indonesian and Chinese markets, and significant improvement in overall performance when excluding the ice cream business [1][6] Financial Performance - The last significant growth for Unilever was in 2022, with a 16% increase in revenue, reaching €37.7 billion (approximately ¥376.8 billion) [1][2] - All five business segments (Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care, Foods, and Ice Cream) experienced declines in Q3 and year-to-date performance [2][3] Business Segment Analysis - **Beauty & Wellbeing**: Q3 revenue was €3.2 billion (approximately ¥264.5 billion), down 3.1% year-on-year; year-to-date revenue was €9.7 billion (approximately ¥801.8 billion), down 1.6% year-on-year [3][4] - **Personal Care**: Q3 revenue was €3.3 billion (approximately ¥272.6 billion), down 2.3% year-on-year; year-to-date revenue was €9.8 billion (approximately ¥809.6 billion), down 4.8% year-on-year [8][4] - **Home Care**: Q3 revenue was €2.8 billion (approximately ¥229.0 billion), down 5.3% year-on-year; year-to-date revenue was €8.7 billion (approximately ¥724.0 billion), down 6.4% year-on-year [4] - **Foods**: Q3 revenue was €3.1 billion (approximately ¥256.0 billion), down 2.9% year-on-year; year-to-date revenue was €9.7 billion (approximately ¥801.8 billion), down 2.2% year-on-year [4] - **Ice Cream**: Q3 revenue was €2.3 billion (approximately ¥189.0 billion), down 4.2% year-on-year; year-to-date revenue was €6.9 billion (approximately ¥573.0 billion), down 1.1% year-on-year [4] Regional Performance - The Asia Pacific and Africa region showed strong growth, particularly in China and Indonesia, with Q3 USG at 6.8% and revenue of €6.2 billion (approximately ¥512.2 billion), accounting for 42% of the group's overall performance [9][10] - The Americas region faced challenges, with Q3 revenue of €5.2 billion (approximately ¥429.7 billion) and a decline in Latin America, particularly in Brazil and Mexico [13] - Europe achieved Q3 revenue of €3.3 billion (approximately ¥272.6 billion), with growth across all business groups despite high year-on-year comparisons [13] Strategic Focus - Unilever is focusing on core businesses, particularly in beauty and health, with plans to spin off the ice cream business to enhance profitability [14][15] - The company aims to expand its portfolio in high-end segments and digital commerce, with the U.S. and India identified as key growth markets [15]

Core Insights - Unilever's beauty and well-being sales drove a 3.9% underlying group sales growth to 14.7 billion euros in Q3 [1][2] - The beauty and well-being division reported a 5.1% underlying sales growth to 3.2 billion euros, marking the highest growth within the group [2][3] - Overall sales at actual exchange fell 3.5% year-on-year due to net disposals and currency headwinds [2] Beauty and Well-Being Division Performance - Top performers included Dove hair, Vaseline, Liquid I.V., Nutrafol, Hourglass, and K18, all achieving double-digit growth [3] - Prestige beauty grew at mid-single digits, while Paula's Choice and Dermalogica returned to low-single-digit growth after previous declines [3] - Liquid I.V.'s sugar-free range, launched in mid-2023, now accounts for nearly 30% of total brand sales [4] Personal Care Division Performance - The personal care division saw a 4.1% underlying sales growth to 3.3 billion euros, with strong performance from Dove's premium innovations [4] Future Outlook - The CEO stated that the full-year underlying sales growth is expected to be between 3% and 5%, with second-half growth anticipated to exceed the first half [5] - An improvement in underlying operating margin is expected for the full year, with second-half margins projected to be at least 18.5% [6] Market Dynamics - Emerging markets like Indonesia and China returned to growth, driven by Unilever's power brands [7] - Significant investments in manufacturing, logistics, and e-commerce in China contributed to the growth across all major divisions [8] Strategic Focus - Unilever is prioritizing beauty, well-being, and personal care, with a focus on premium segments and digital commerce [9] - The underlying growth exceeded analysts' expectations of 3.7% [9] Market Reaction - RBC Capital Markets described the third-quarter numbers as "reassuring," with encouraging momentum in China and India expected to accelerate in Q4 [10]

Core Viewpoint - Unilever's financial performance in the first half of 2025 shows a decline in overall revenue but indicates a positive trend in strategic transformation and market focus, particularly in the Chinese market [2][4][30]. Financial Performance - Total revenue for the first half of 2025 was €3.01 billion (approximately ¥24.76 billion), a year-on-year decrease of 3.2%, primarily due to currency fluctuations (-4.0%) and business adjustments (-2.5%), while underlying sales grew by 3.4% [2]. - Operating profit was €530 million (approximately ¥4.37 billion), reflecting a significant year-on-year drop of 10.6% [2]. Strategic Focus - CEO Fernando Fernandez emphasized the importance of "focus" and "agility" in driving growth, highlighting the company's strategic correctness in both developed and emerging markets [4]. - Unilever is undergoing a profound transformation, with plans to spin off its ice cream business and leverage influencer marketing as a new growth engine [4][12]. China Market Insights - In China, Unilever's underlying sales saw a slight decline in the first half, but improvements were noted in the second quarter, suggesting that recent adjustments are beginning to yield results [6][26]. - The company is accelerating premiumization and localized innovation, exemplified by the launch of the Vaseline Water Radiance Body Essence series tailored for Chinese consumers [8][27]. Regional Performance - Revenue contributions from developed markets (44%) and emerging markets (56%) showed growth rates of 4.3% and 2.8%, respectively, indicating that the Chinese market is crucial for the group's return to positive growth [10][30]. - The beauty and personal care segments generated €650 million (approximately ¥5.35 billion) in revenue, with underlying sales growth of 3.7% and 4.8% [10]. Business Restructuring - Unilever is actively engaged in mergers and acquisitions, focusing on high-end beauty and personal care brands, while divesting non-core assets to optimize its business portfolio [13][16]. - The company has made several acquisitions, including a 90.5% stake in the high-end beauty brand Minimalist and the purchase of the UK-based eco-friendly personal care brand Wild [16][17]. Marketing Strategy - Unilever is shifting towards a "influencer-first" strategy, planning to increase social media spending from 30% to 50% of its total advertising budget and expand collaborations with influencers [18][19]. - This strategy aims to enhance brand relevance and connection with younger consumers, particularly in the beauty sector [20]. Future Directions - Unilever's three core development directions include enhancing beauty and health, increasing investments in the U.S. and Indian markets, and deepening high-end and digital transformation [22][23][24]. - The company anticipates a rebound in the Chinese market, supported by regional growth and strategic adjustments, with expectations of a sales growth rate between 3% and 5% for the full year [30][29].