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India Alcohol Earnings Split: UBL Profit Slides 65% as USL Rises on Andhra Re-Entry

A festive-heavy second half now looms as the key demand test.

Overview

  • United Breweries’ September-quarter revenue fell to Rs 3,737.31 crore from Rs 4,743.56 crore with volumes down 3.4%, as an unusual monsoon and prior-year stock-building weighed on beer sales despite growth in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Assam.
  • UBL highlighted resilience in its premium portfolio with 17% volume growth and reported Rs 293 crore in capex, largely for a new greenfield facility in Uttar Pradesh and related commercial investments.
  • United Spirits posted standalone net sales of Rs 3,170 crore, up 11.5%, and net profit of Rs 472 crore, up 41%, supported by re-entry into Andhra Pradesh, revenue growth management and relatively stable input costs, with Ebitda margin expanding to 21.2%.
  • On a consolidated basis, USL’s net profit rose 36% to Rs 464 crore as its Prestige & Above segment reached 89.6% of net sales with double-digit growth, while regulatory headwinds in Maharashtra tempered otherwise favorable comparisons.
  • USL shares closed 0.52% higher on the NSE after results, and most analysts tracked by Bloomberg maintain Buy ratings with an average 12-month target implying roughly 9% upside.