Mumbai, Jan. 16 - India's top two consumer goods makers should post higher quarterly earnings as people with more money in their pockets splash out on premium personal care products. Also, prices have risen, helping offset higher raw materials costs.
Market leader Hindustan Unilever Ltd, majority-owned by Anglo-Dutch Unilever Pl and known for its Lux soap, Surf detergent and Lipton tea, is expected to report a 9 percent rise in October-December earnings, a Reuters poll of 10 brokers showed.
ITC Ltd, the top cigarette maker which also has interests in hotels, packaged foods, retail, personal care products and information technology, is seen reporting a 13.5 percent increase in quarterly net profit.
ITC, 31.7 percent-owned by British American Tobacco Plc , is also expected to expand into household products.
Hindustan Unilever has been spinning off smaller businesses to focus on its core portfolio as it faces greater competition from rivals including ITC, Procter & Gamble, Godrej Consumer Products and Marico.
Its full-year profit is expected to rise 12.6 percent to 17.9 billion rupees ($45 million), according to Reuters Estimates.
Following are October-December net profit and net sales estimates, based on the Reuters poll.
ITC reports fiscal third-quarter earnings on Friday. Hindustan Unilever has yet to set a firm date for its fourth-quarter earnings.
NET PROFIT (billion rupees)
Mean % change Range Oct-Dec
P/E
on year shr move (%)
Hindustan Unilever 5.59 +9 5.21-6.08 -3
26.9
ITC Ltd 8.14 +13.5 7.74-8.52 +11
26.4
NET SALES (billion rupees)
Mean % change Range Mkt Cap
($ bln)
Hindustan Unilever 36.10 +14 34.72-36.85 11.9
ITC 35.90 +13 34.48-37.15 20.7