Unilever achieved slightly better than expected underlying quarterly sales after winning back more shoppers with product innovations and slower price increases.

Unilever shares gained 2.6% in overnight trading.

The consumer goods giant said on Thursday it was keeping its full-year outlook for 3-5% underlying sales growth and an underlying operating margin of at least 18%.

The maker of Dove soap and Hellmann's condiments reported a 4.5% rise in third-quarter underlying sales, beating analysts' average forecast of a 4.2% increase, according to a company-provided consensus.

Underlying price growth for the quarter was 0.9% while underlying volume sales growth was 3.5%. Analysts had expected a 1% increase in prices and a 3.2% rise in volumes.