Unilever Q4 Underlying Sales Rise 2.1% - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Anglo-Dutch consumer goods company Unilever Plc (UN, UL, ULVR.L) reported fourth-quarter underlying sales growth of 2.1% with a higher contribution from price but volumes remained weak. The trade de-stocking in China continued and resulted in a sales decline of nearly 20%, as expected. This particularly impacted Personal Care and Home Care, the company said.

For full year 2014, underlying sales were up 2.9%, ahead of its markets, with volume 1.0% and price 1.9%. Annual turnover slid 2.7% year-over-year to 48.4 billion euros, including a negative currency impact of 4.6%, according to the company.

Despite an adverse currency impact of 9%, full-year core earnings per share rose by 2% to 1.61 euros. At constant exchange rates, core earnings per share increased by 11%, driven by higher revenue, improved core operating margin, the increased shareholding in non-controlling interests and the impact from purchasing the Estate shares left in trust by the first Viscount Leverhulme which was announced in May 2014. Earnings per share were 1.79 euros this year, up 8%, compared with 1.66 euros last year.

Chief Executive, Paul Polman, stated: "We do not plan on a significant improvement in market conditions in 2015. Against this background, we expect our full year performance to be similar to 2014 with the first quarter being softer but growth improving during the year. We remain focussed on competitive, profitable, consistent and responsible growth."