Analyst Views: Have Unilever’s third quarter figures altered your outlook?
MARTIN DEBOO INVESTEC
“We read third quarter sales as in line with expectations, no great surprise given the 30 September warning. Despite the downbeat tone, Unilever are sticking to full-year guidance and their expectation of a better fourth quarter. We keep faith, but continue to urge more radical action on foods disposals.
KEITH BOWMAN HARGREAVES LANSDOWN
“With the sting removed thanks to its previously unscheduled update, today’s announcement has provided few if any surprises. In all, expected long term emerging market growth continues to underpin investment reasoning, with analyst opinion, at least for now, remaining positive in tone. Buy.
GRAHAM JONES PANMURE GORDON
“Unilever’s third quarter sales performance is clearly disappointing, and the company needs to convince… that growth is set to bounce back quickly and that its mantra of ‘sustainable core operating margin improvement’ can be maintained into 2014.