Growth revival and impact on volume growth may help HUL stock to shine

Higher demand for discretionary products and price hike to support margins

The stock of the country’s largest listed consumer company, Hindustan Unilever (HUL), has been underperforming its peers and benchmark indices in September. Valuation worries post the price run-up in August, margin pressures and weaker earnings growth compared to peers in recent quarters has led to the muted stock performance.

This, however, could reverse going ahead as improving demand and easing concerns on the margin front are making brokerages optimistic about the company. The key near term trigger is demand revival and the impact on volume growth after the Covid-hit June quarter.  

Easing of restrictions, extended store operations and rising mobility have led