Nestle and Unilever Raise Prices Without Stunting Growth

Nestle SA and Unilever surprised investors with strong starts to the year, reporting first-quarter sales growth that handily topped analysts’ estimates.Unilever rose as much as 4.2 percent in Amsterdam as Nestle traded as much as 1.4 percent higher in Zurich.The companies delivered a counterpoint to the cost-cut-driven performance of U.S. rival Kraft Heinz Co., which has slumped since a profit warning and asset writedown in February -- about two years after it made an unsuccessful approach