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There's a fresh chill in the air — and it's not the weather. Hindustan Unilever (HUL), India's FMCG heavyweight, is spinning off its ice cream division into a separate company. The move, recently cleared by both the BSE and NSE, will see the creation of Kwality Wall's India (KWIL), a pure-play ice cream business. For every HUL share you own, you'll now get one KWIL share. But what's really cooking behind this demerger?
About the company
HUL is a household name, with brands like Dove, Surf Excel, and Bru in your daily routine. It's India's largest FMCG company, with products across home care, beauty, and foods. But within its vast portfolio, the ice cream business — think Kwality Wall's, Magnum, and Cornetto — is a niche, seasonal play.
Below are the company's fundamental metrics:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Market cap | Rs 5,55,913 crore |
| Revenue (TTM) | Rs 63,121 crore |
| Net profit (TTM) | Rs 10,649 crore |
| ROE | 20.3 per cent |
| ROCE | 28.1 per cent |
| P/E ratio | 52.2 |
| P/B ratio | 11.3 |
| Industry P/E | 47.03 |
| EV/EBITDA | 34.6 |
| Dividend yield | 2.2 per cent |
| Debt to equity | 0 |
| Book value | Rs 210.3 |
| EPS | Rs 44.3 |
| Face value | Rs 1 |
| Shares outstanding | 2,34,95,91,262 |
What's happening?
Back in January 2025, HUL's board approved the demerger of its ice cream unit into KWIL. Now, the stock exchanges have cleared the way.
The plan? List the new company separately.
The rationale? Give the ice cream unit the independence to grow on its own terms — and let investors value it separately.
Why now?
Unlike HUL's other segments, ice creams are a different beast — cold chain-heavy, seasonal, impulse-driven. Managing it requires a different playbook. CEO Rohit Jawa believes separating it out will unlock better value for shareholders and give the business a sharper growth focus.
The new company will operate with its own leadership, capital structure, and strategy. That means more agility, faster innovation, and potentially a better market share grab, especially as demand for branded ice cream grows in India.
Value Research Online ratings
- Overall rating : 4/5
- Quality : 10/10
- Growth : 7/10
- Valuation : 4/10
- Momentum : 4/10
HUL remains a quality stock — rock-solid fundamentals and steady growth. However, the lower momentum and valuation scores hint that much of the upside may already be priced in. The KWIL spin-off could inject fresh energy — but only time (and earnings) will tell.
Final word
Let's cut to the chase — HUL shareholders will receive one KWIL share for every share held. That's a clean, 1:1 split. More importantly, it gives investors direct access to a pure-play ice cream business, a category with strong brand recall (Cornetto, Magnum, Kwality Wall's) and growth potential in a largely underpenetrated Indian market.
But here's the scoop: demergers unlock value only when the newly carved-out business delivers. KWIL will need to prove itself on margins, innovation, and market expansion. HUL, through this move, is handing the ice cream unit its own racetrack. Now it's up to KWIL to run — and not melt under pressure.
For detailed financial information, visit Hindustan Unilever's stock page .
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Disclaimer: This is not a stock recommendation. This story was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence and is intended for informational purposes only. Please take it with a pinch of salt and do your own research or consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Disclaimer: This content is for information only and should not be considered investment advice or a recommendation.
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