Unilever Earnings Preview: Stability Returns to McCormick Deal Sentiment

Analysts anticipate underlying sales growth of 4.3% for the second quarter, a notable climb from the 3.1% reported during the same period last year. Projections place turnover at 12.90 billion euros, or $14.67 billion. For the first half of 2026, the company is expected to post an underlying operating profit of 5.16 billion euros, with underlying earnings per share reaching roughly 1.59 euros. Despite these targets, Unilever shares have faced pressure, slipping 5.84% since the start of the year.

The strategic pivot remains the focal point for stakeholders. By offloading its foods division to focus on beauty, home, and personal-care products, Unilever aims to capture higher market multiples. Barclays analyst Warren Ackerman noted that the core business, stripped of its food assets, could achieve growth near 5.9%, outperforming the sluggish pace seen among global home and personal care peers. Furthermore, the company is expected to leverage strong momentum in emerging markets, with India acting as a primary engine for growth, mirroring the robust performance recently seen by local competitors like Dabur and Nestle India.