Dabur Q2 net profit up 19% at Rs 341 crore

FMCG major Dabur has posted a 18.7% rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 341.1 crore for the second quarter ended September 30, on account of robust growth in key consumer categories like toothpastes, hair oils and home care.

The company had posted net profit of Rs 287.5 crore during the same period of the previous fiscal, 2014-15.

Net sales of the company rose to Rs 2,092.1 crore for the second quarter, 2015-16, up 8.7%, as compared to Rs 1,924.1 crore in the year-ago period, Dabur Ltd said in a statement.

"In a low growth and challenging business environment where growth rates in most consumer products segments remained under pressure, Dabur remains committed to delivering profitable growth," Dabur Chief Executive Officer, Sunil Duggal said.

Even in these uncertain times, the company has continued to report good growth across key categories and grow ahead of the market, he added.

"We continue to invest behind our brands and are confident of our ability to report sustainable and profitable growth, going forward," Duggal said.

The company's board has approved an interim dividend of 125% for 2015-16.

"Continuing with our payout policy, the board has declared an interim dividend of Re 1.25 per share, aggregating to a total payout of Rs 264.65 crore," Dabur India Chairman Anand Burman said.

Dabur stock was trading at Rs 272.40, up 0.55%, on the BSE in the afternoon trade.