Unilever FY15 Profit Drops Despite Higher Revenues - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant Unilever (UN, UL, ULVR.L) reported Tuesday that its fiscal 2015 net profit attributable to shareholders' equity dropped 5 percent to 4.91 billion euros from 5.17 billion euros a year ago.

Earnings per share fell 4 percent to 1.72 euros. Core earnings per share were 1.82 euros, 14 percent higher than last year.

In the year, turnover increased 10 percent to 53.27 billion euros from last year's 48.44 billion euros, including a positive currency impact of 5.9 percent. Underlying sales growth was 4.1 percent, ahead of our markets, with volume up 2.1 percent and price up 1.9 percent.

Emerging markets' underlying sales growth was 7.1 percent with volume up 2.7 percent and price up 4.3 percent.

Looking ahead, Chief Executive Officer Paul Polman said, "We are preparing ourselves for tougher market conditions and high volatility in 2016, as world events in recent weeks have highlighted. Therefore it is vital that we drive agility and cost discipline across our business. …. Our priorities continue to be volume-driven growth ahead of our markets, steady improvement in core operating margin and strong cash flow."