Unilever Completes EUR1.5 Billion Share Buyback Program

Unilever has completed a EUR1.5 billion share buyback program. The company is a global supplier of Beauty & Personal Care, Home Care, and Foods & Refreshment products, with a presence in over 190 countries and sales reaching 3.4 billion consumers daily. Unilever's Sustainable Living Plan aims to create value through growth, trust, cost elimination, and risk reduction, while ensuring 100% of its plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025.

Unilever PLC (LON:ULVR) has successfully completed its share buyback program, repurchasing a total of 27,815,955 ordinary shares at an aggregate market value of just under €1.5 billion [1]. The consumer goods giant announced the completion of this program following its latest total voting rights figure, published on May 1, 2025, under the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rule 5.

Unilever, renowned for its diverse product portfolio spanning Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care, Foods, and Ice Cream, serves approximately 3.4 billion consumers daily. The company, which employs around 120,000 people worldwide, reported a turnover of €60.8 billion in 2024 [1]. The completion of the buyback program is a significant financial move, aligning with Unilever’s capital allocation strategy. Share buybacks are commonly used by companies to return value to shareholders and potentially improve earnings per share by reducing the number of shares outstanding.

The press release contained forward-looking statements regarding Unilever’s expectations of future performance, but it also cautioned that these statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could materially affect actual results [1]. The company’s Sustainable Living Plan aims to create value through growth, trust, cost elimination, and risk reduction, while ensuring 100% of its plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025 [1].

Ulta Beauty, a major beauty retailer, also reported strong financial performance for its first quarter in 2025, raising its full-year outlook from $11.6 billion to $11.7 billion. The retailer’s net sales increased 4.5% to $2.8 billion, beating analyst expectations [2]. The company’s ‘Unleashed’ strategy, focusing on streamlining leadership, improving store presentation, and diversifying its brand portfolio, has shown positive results, with fragrance sales up 11% and skincare and wellness increasing 25% [2].

Both Unilever and Ulta Beauty are navigating dynamic market conditions, with Ulta Beauty’s CEO, Kecia Steelman, acknowledging the challenges posed by US tariffs and wavering consumer confidence. Unilever’s completion of the share buyback program and Ulta Beauty’s strong Q1 performance reflect the resilience of these companies in the face of economic uncertainty.

References:
[1] https://in.investing.com/news/company-news/unilever-wraps-up-15-billion-share-buyback-program-93CH-4856077
[2] https://www.voguebusiness.com/story/beauty/ulta-beauty-sales-grew-45-beating-expectations