On Thursday, Shares of Unilever plc (NYSE:UL), surged 3.82% to $45.06, while Unilever NV (NYSE:UN), ended its trading session with 3.43% gain, and closed at $44.98.
Unilever, made trading statement First Quarter 2015.
First quarter highlights:
- Turnover raised 12.3% to EUR 12.8 billion counting a positive currency influence of 10.6%
- Underlying sales growth at 2.8% with emerging markets up 5.4%
- Underlying volume growth at 0.9% and pricing up 1.9%
- Quarterly dividend up 6% to EUR 0.302.
Paul Polman: Chief Executive Officer statement:
“We have had a good start to the year, assisted by favorable currency movements but also an improvement in underlying sales. This is despite a continued challenging trading environment in many parts of the world. The actions we have been taking to put us on track for higher levels of growth are starting to pay off. We have further strengthened the innovation pipeline, and are increasing investment behind the core of our brands, in addition to extending into premium segments and new markets. We continuously strengthen our go-to-market capabilities and sharpen our execution.
Despite high levels of currency and commodity volatility, we are now starting to see more tailwinds than headwinds in our markets, and expect our initiatives to deliver a further improvement in volume growth in the remainder of the year. We remain focussed on competitive, profitable, consistent and responsible growth. Our priorities continue to be volume growth ahead of our markets, steady improvement in core operating margin and strong cash flow. This is our model for long-term value creation, as evidenced by today’s consistent dividend raise.”
Unilever PLC operates in the fast-moving consumer goods market in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australasia, Africa, the Middle East, Turkey, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and Belarus. The company operates through Personal Care, Foods, Refreshment, and Home Care segments.
Shares of Aoxing Pharmaceutical Company, Inc. (NYSEMKT:AXN), gained 3.66% to $1.98, during the last trading session on Thursday.
On March 30, Aoxing Pharmaceutical Company, declared that the Company has accomplished Good Manufacturing Practices requirements and received GMP certifications for all production lines counting capsules, pills, granules, oral liquids, oral solutions, syrups, extraction, and raw material from the China State Food and Drug Administration.
The Company has added new production equipment to meet the stringency of the latest GMP standards and does not expect large capital expenditures in the near term. With all production lines now GMP certified, the Company can produce high quality products at a variety of formulations to meet market demands, setting the foundation for future product launches.
Aoxing Pharmaceutical Company, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, researches, develops, manufactures, and distributes various narcotic, pain-administration, and addiction treatment pharmaceutical products primarily in the People’s Republic of China.
Finally, at the end of Thursday’s trade, Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH), gained 3.65% to $121.60.
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, stated first quarter results, highlighted by accelerating growth, compriseent execution and strong operating performance in businesses across the Company.
The Company anticipates 2015 revenues of about $143 billion, a raise of $2 billion from the previous outlook, due to stronger business growth in the first quarter. Earnings are now predictable to be in a range of $6.15 to $6.30 per share, an raise from the preceding outlook of $6.00 to $6.25 per share, despite absorbing about $0.10 per share from the projected combination with Catamaran Corporation, counting transaction costs and the effect of moderated share repurchase activity. Administration anticipates the combination to contribute $0.30 per share to UnitedHealth Group’s 2016 earnings. Reflecting the raised outlook for revenues and earnings, the Company is raising its projection for 2015 cash flows from operations to a range of $8.2 billion to $8.4 billion.
- UnitedHealth Group’s first quarter 2015 revenues of $35.8 billion grew 13 percent or more than $4 billion year-over-year. Revenue growth was broad-based, with both UnitedHealthcare and Optum revenues growing by double digit percentages.
- First quarter earnings from operations were $2.6 billion and net earnings of $1.46 per share raised 33 percent year-over-year. With strengthened overall operating performance contrast to the first quarter of 2014, the net margin of 4.0 percent expanded 50 basis points year-over-year.
- First quarter 2015 cash flows from operations of $2.3 billion were 1.6 times net earnings and grew 61 percent year-over-year due to growth in risk-based products and the expansion in overall earnings.
- The merged medical care ratio reduced 140 basis points year-over-year to 81.1 percent in the first quarter of 2015. Preceding year medical reserve development was $140 million, contrast to $220 million in the first quarter of 2014.
- The first quarter 2015 operating cost ratio of 16.6 percent raised 20 basis points year-over-year due to higher growth in services businesses.
- The first quarter 2015 tax rate of 43.3 percent raised 130 basis points year-over-year due to higher levels of nondeductible ACA fees.
- First quarter 2015 days sales outstanding of 13 days raised 1 day year-over-year, due to higher growth in government programs. Days claims payable was flat year-over-year at 47 days.
- The Company’s balance sheet remained strong, with a debt to total capital ratio of 36.6 percent at March 31, 2015. UnitedHealth Group repurchased $900 million in stock in the first quarter, acquiring more than 8 million shares, and grew dividend payments to shareholders by 29 percent year-over-year to $357 million.
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health and well-being company in the United States. The company’s UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; and health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals aged 50 and older addressing their needs for preventive and acute health care services.
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