Hindustan Unilever Limited (NSE:HINDUNILVR) Second-Quarter Results: Here's What Analysts Are Forecasting For This Year

Shareholders might have noticed that Hindustan Unilever Limited (NSE:HINDUNILVR) filed its second-quarter result this time last week. The early response was not positive, with shares down 3.2% to ₹2,512 in the past week. Results were roughly in line with estimates, with revenues of ₹162b and statutory earnings per share of ₹45.32. The analysts typically update their forecasts at each earnings report, and we can judge from their estimates whether their view of the company has changed or if there are any new concerns to be aware of. With this in mind, we've gathered the latest statutory forecasts to see what the analysts are expecting for next year.

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Following last week's earnings report, Hindustan Unilever's 26 analysts are forecasting 2026 revenues to be ₹654.6b, approximately in line with the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are forecast to reduce 2.3% to ₹45.29 in the same period. Yet prior to the latest earnings, the analysts had been anticipated revenues of ₹670.8b and earnings per share (EPS) of ₹46.83 in 2026. The analysts are less bullish than they were before these results, given the reduced revenue forecasts and the small dip in earnings per share expectations.

View our latest analysis for Hindustan Unilever

Despite the cuts to forecast earnings, there was no real change to the ₹2,770 price target, showing that the analysts don't think the changes have a meaningful impact on its intrinsic value. It could also be instructive to look at the range of analyst estimates, to evaluate how different the outlier opinions are from the mean. There are some variant perceptions on Hindustan Unilever, with the most bullish analyst valuing it at ₹3,200 and the most bearish at ₹1,966 per share. There are definitely some different views on the stock, but the range of estimates is not wide enough as to imply that the situation is unforecastable, in our view.

These estimates are interesting, but it can be useful to paint some more broad strokes when seeing how forecasts compare, both to the Hindustan Unilever's past performance and to peers in the same industry. We would highlight that Hindustan Unilever's revenue growth is expected to slow, with the forecast 3.8% annualised growth rate until the end of 2026 being well below the historical 7.6% p.a. growth over the last five years. By way of comparison, the other companies in this industry with analyst coverage are forecast to grow their revenue at 7.7% per year. Factoring in the forecast slowdown in growth, it seems obvious that Hindustan Unilever is also expected to grow slower than other industry participants.

The Bottom Line

The biggest concern is that the analysts reduced their earnings per share estimates, suggesting business headwinds could lay ahead for Hindustan Unilever. On the negative side, they also downgraded their revenue estimates, and forecasts imply they will perform worse than the wider industry. There was no real change to the consensus price target, suggesting that the intrinsic value of the business has not undergone any major changes with the latest estimates.

Following on from that line of thought, we think that the long-term prospects of the business are much more relevant than next year's earnings. We have estimates - from multiple Hindustan Unilever analysts - going out to 2028, and you can see them free on our platform here.

You should always think about risks though. Case in point, we've spotted 1 warning sign for Hindustan Unilever you should be aware of.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.