Unilever has reported a bigger than expected acceleration in fourth-quarter sales growth helped by a step-up in emerging markets that saw the consumer goods maker end its tumultuous year on a higher note.
The maker of Dove soap and Ben & Jerry's ice cream spent most of last year reviewing its business after rebuffing a $143 billion takeover bid in February.
It said today that underlying sales rose 4%.
Analysts on average were expecting 3.7%, according to a company-supplied consensus.
That marks an improvement from 3% in the first half and 2.6% in the third quarter.
For the full year, Unilever said its underlying earnings per share were €2.24, above analysts expectations for €2.21 per share.
Looking ahead, the company forecast underlying sales growth of 3-5% for 2018 and an improvement in underlying operating margin and cash flow that will keep it on track for its 2020 targets.
