Reckitt Benckiser Reports 5% Like-for-Like Revenue Growth

The Tip Desk · March 25, 2026 · 2 min read

The consumer health and hygiene company returned £2.3 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks in 2025.

Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc, a consumer health and hygiene company, reported that group net revenue grew 5.0% on a like-for-like basis to £14,205 million in 2025. This growth was driven by price and mix improvements of 4.1% and volume growth of 0.9%. Core Reckitt delivered a like-for-like net revenue increase of 5.2%, while Mead Johnson Nutrition grew 3.8%.

Performance varied by region. Emerging Markets delivered 14.6% like-for-like net revenue growth. In contrast, the Europe area declined 1.4% on a like-for-like basis, and North America grew 0.2%. By category, Intimate Wellness saw the highest like-for-like growth at 12.5%, followed by Germ Protection at 8.4% and Self Care at 3.0%, while Household Care declined 0.4%.

Adjusted operating profit rose 5.3% to £3,543 million, compared to £3,475 million in 2024. The company said this result reflected efficiency improvements from its Fuel for Growth programme and a marginally higher gross margin. Adjusted operating margin increased 40 basis points to 24.9%. On an IFRS basis, operating profit was £4,217 million, primarily due to a gain on the sale from the divestment of Essential Home.

Despite the adjusted profit growth, the company reported a loss of £374 million for the financial year, compared to a profit of £4,280 million in 2024. Total adjusted diluted EPS rose 1.1% to 352.8 pence.

Reckitt returned £2.3 billion to shareholders in 2025 through £1,403 million in dividend payments and £879 million in share repurchases. The company also paid a special dividend of approximately £1.6 billion in early 2026 using excess capital from the Essential Home divestment. The proposed full-year dividend for 2025 increased 5.0% to 212.2 pence per share.

Free cash flow decreased 23.4% to £1,709 million. The company attributed this decline to higher tax payments, increased capital expenditure, and outflows related to strategic announcements. Net debt decreased by £1,356 million to £6,558 million as of December 31, 2025, aided by the £1,786 million proceeds from the Essential Home disposal.

Reckitt provides medium-term guidance for Core Reckitt to consistently deliver like-for-like net revenue growth between 4% and 5%.