HUL’s Q4 ad push grows 6% YoY

Advertising and promotion spends for the March quarter stood at Rs 1,509 crore

by e4m Staff
Published: Apr 30, 2026 11:24 AM | 3 min read

Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) increased its advertising and promotion spending by 6.0% year-on-year to Rs 1,509 crore in Q4 FY26, while full-year ad spends rose 4.5% to Rs 6,261 crore, reflecting a commitment to brand building amidst a volatile environment.
Revenue from operations for Q4 FY26 grew 8.1% year-on-year to Rs 16,172 crore, with a full-year increase of 5.3% to Rs 63,636 crore; profit for the quarter rose 21% year-on-year to Rs 2,994 crore, while full-year profit surged 41.1% to Rs 15,059 crore.
Segment growth was broad-based, with Home Care achieving 9% growth, Beauty & Wellbeing at 8%, Personal Care at 5%, and Foods also at 5%, driven by strong performances in various product categories and innovations.
HUL's strategy included portfolio sharpening, increased investments, and operational simplifications to enhance growth, while navigating challenges from geopolitical tensions and commodity volatility through disciplined savings and pricing actions.

Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) continued to step up brand investments in FY26, even as it balanced margin discipline amid a volatile operating environment.

Advertising and promotion spends for the March quarter stood at Rs 1,509 crore, up 6.0% year-on-year from Rs 1,423 crore, but marginally down 0.9% sequentially from Rs 1,522 crore. For the full year, ad spends rose 4.5% to Rs 6,261 crore, compared to Rs 5,989 crore in FY25, reflecting sustained commitment to brand building.

The calibrated spend comes alongside steady business momentum. Revenue from operations for Q4 FY26 grew 8.1% YoY to Rs 16,172 crore, while remaining largely flat QoQ. Profit for the quarter rose 21% YoY to Rs 2,994 crore, though it declined sequentially due to a high base.

For the full year, revenue from operations increased 5.3% to Rs 63,636 crore, while profit surged 41.1% to Rs 15,059 crore, aided by exceptional gains.

Commenting on the performance, Priya Nair said, “Financial Year 2026 witnessed an improved demand environment driven by supportive macro-economic policies. During the year, we took decisive actions to accelerate growth, including sharpening our portfolio, scaling investments to create desire at scale, strengthening frontline demand generation capabilities, and simplifying the organisation to drive speed, focus, and execution. These initiatives resulted in consistent improvement in performance through the year with 8% Revenue Growth and 7% Underlying Sales Growth in the March quarter, translating into 5% Underlying Sales Growth for the financial year.

More recently, heightened geopolitical tensions have led to commodity and currency volatility. We are navigating these headwinds through disciplined savings, the resilience of our global and local supply chain and calibrated pricing actions. Looking ahead, we are well positioned to navigate this volatile operating environment, supported by our strong brands, robust financial position and operational agility. We are focussed on strengthening our consumer franchise while delivering sustainable and competitive growth.”

Segmentally, growth remained broad-based, supported by category momentum and sustained investments behind brands.

Home Care delivered 9% growth, its highest in 11 quarters, led by high-single digit volume growth. Fabric Wash posted double-digit growth while Household Care saw high-single digit gains. The liquids portfolio maintained a strong double-digit trajectory, and the segment continued to strengthen its leadership through innovations and market development. Brands like Surf excel amplified visibility through high-impact partnerships, including collaborations with Indian Premier League franchises during the quarter.

Beauty & Wellbeing recorded 8% underlying sales growth, driven by strong double-digit growth in Hair Care. Performance was broad-based, although premium portfolios in Skin Care and Colour Cosmetics offset softness in mass segments. The company also continued to premiumise and expand access, with launches such as Lakme Sun Gel entry packs and Vaseline Cloud Soft with SPF 50. Notably, Vaseline and Sunsilk crossed the Rs 1,000 crore annual turnover milestone, taking HUL’s portfolio of Rs 1,000 crore brands to 20.

Personal Care grew 5%, led by high-single digit growth in Skin Cleansing, driven by brands such as Dove and Lux. Premium soaps and bodywash continued to see strong traction, while Oral Care delivered low-single digit growth. The company expanded its presence in high-growth segments with launches like Lifebuoy Ice Bath and Pepsodent Sensitive Care.

Foods reported 5% growth, led by strong performance in Lifestyle Nutrition and Coffee. While Tea remained subdued, Coffee sustained double-digit growth momentum. Horlicks and Boost drove double-digit growth in Lifestyle Nutrition, supported by innovation and expansion into new demand spaces, including the launch of Horlicks Protein Ready-to-Drink. The company also pushed premiumisation in Tea with the relaunch of Lipton Green Tea.

The steady increase in advertising spends, alongside measured sequential moderation, indicates that Hindustan Unilever Limited is continuing to prioritise demand generation while maintaining a tight grip on costs amid macro and geopolitical uncertainties.