Revenue for the six months to June 30 reached £5.602 billion. That was up 2.2% on a reported basis and 2.6% organically. Haleon shares edged lower in morning trading, despite profit coming in above expectations.
Oral health led the company's growth, with Sensodyne and parodontax at the forefront. Organic growth accelerated to 3.1% in the second quarter from 2.2% in the first, but remained below Haleon's medium-term ambition of 4% to 6%.
Haleon kept its full-year guidance unchanged and raised its interim dividend. It also completed most of its share buyback allocation for the year.
The company's consumer-health portfolio spans oral care and pain relief. It also includes respiratory health, vitamins and supplements. Sensodyne and parodontax are among its brands, alongside Polident and Biotene.
Growth picked up across emerging markets, including China. Haleon also reported faster growth in India and Latin America. Productivity programmes helped expand gross margin and supported strong operating profit growth, leaving the company room to reinvest in its brands and capabilities.
The productivity programme was associated with a 140-basis-point improvement in gross margin. Haleon also reduced its number of SKUs and optimized formulations, according to Simply Wall St.
Statutory pretax profit fell. Higher selling and administrative costs weighed on the result, as did an adverse currency effect.
Chief executive Brian McNamara said he remained confident in Haleon's annual and medium-term guidance. He pointed to strategic initiatives and a new operating model, while acknowledging an uncertain external environment. The company left its full-year outlook unchanged.
JPMorgan expected third-quarter like-for-like sales growth of about 3%, at the lower end of Haleon's 3% to 5% full-year range. On September 28, the bank retained its Underweight rating and cut its price target from 315p to 295p. It also placed the shares on Negative Catalyst Watch, according to the JPMorgan report.
Haleon is part of the FTSE 100 consumer-health and pharma cluster, alongside its former parent GSK plc and Hikma Pharmaceuticals. Currency movements and consumer demand affect companies across the group. Haleon's next results will show whether growth extends beyond oral health and whether productivity gains continue to support margins.
MarketWatch reported that the shares closed on October 12 at 14.73% below their 52-week high of £4.16, reached on February 18. Haleon's third-quarter trading update is scheduled for October 29, 2026.
