HUL Q2 Results: GST transition impact seen, volume growth in focus

India's largest FMCG company, Hindustan Unilever Ltd

. (HUL) will be reporting its September quarter results on Thursday, October 23, a few days after sharing a business update for the quarter.

A CNBC-TV18 poll expects the company's standalone revenue to grow by 2.2% from the same quarter last year to ₹15,850 crore, while its Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) may decline 2.5% on a year-on-year basis to ₹3,560 crore.

EBITDA margin for the period may decline by 100 basis points from the year-ago quarter, and its net profit is seen 5% lower to ₹2,480 crore from ₹2,612 crore last year, according to the CNBC-TV18 poll.

Underlying volume growth for the quarter is seen between 0% to 1% on a year-on-year basis.

The company's commentary on demand recovery post the GST cuts along with new MD & CEO Priya Nair's first quarterly performance will be keenly watched by the street.

In a business update shared earlier, the Hindustan Unilever had stated that the consolidated business growth is likely to remain flat, or grow in low-single-digits during the quarter, as it will witness a transitory impact due to trade and channel disruption due to the GST rate reforms.

40% of HUL's portfolio has now shifted to the 5% tax slab from the 18% slab earlier. HUL had stated that the impact is likely to be felt in October as well, with potential recovery anticipated from November.

Shares of Hindustan Unilever are off the highs of the day, currently trading 0.9% higher at ₹2,614, ahead of the results announcements. The stock is up 4% in the last one month and is up 12.5% on a year-to-date basis.