The British company also said it may achieve its plan to rejuvenate sales following years of difficulties earlier than expected.

"While there is still more work to do, I'm pleased to say that RB today is in much better shape than it was a year ago," Chief Executive Laxman Narasimhan, who has been in the role for a year, told reporters.

He is banking on longer-term elevated use of soap and disinfectants beyond the pandemic, as well as the roll-out of products into new countries and areas, such as on public transport and in hotels.

Reckitt shares were up more than 1% in afternoon trade. They had fallen 8% over the past three months to trade at 23 times expected 2021 earnings, a discount to European peers, according to JP Morgan Cazenove analysts.

The company said quarterly sales on a like-for-like basis rose 13.3%. Analysts on average expected a 9.5% increase, according to a company-provided consensus.

For the full year, Reckitt now sees a low double-digit rise in like-for-like growth, up from a prior forecast of high single-digit growth. It may be able to meet its medium-term target for mid-single-digit growth a year early. Last year's growth was just 0.8%.

Third-quarter like-for-like sales rose 19.5% in the hygiene business, 12.6% in its health business, and 4.1% in its nutrition business.

While relieving overall pressure on a company that has faced intense competition for several years, the COVID-19 pandemic is hurting sales in some areas.

The company said reduced birth rates this year and next would weigh on demand for its baby formula, which includes Enfamil, while social distancing is likely to result in a weak flu season, which will impact cold remedies such as Mucinex.

Social distancing hurt sales of Durex condoms earlier in the year, but a relaxing of restrictions improved demand in the third quarter, the company said.

Despite the strong numbers, Bernstein analysts were cautious about the medium term, due to "below-average growth prospects beyond a COVID world ... and the brand-equity pressure implied in having a new margin target".

Reckitt is preparing to sell some of its personal care brands, including Veet hair removal cream and Clearasil acne cream, Reuters reported last month.

Analysts also wonder if Reckitt might eventually sell its baby formula business, which has struggled since it was acquired in 2017. When asked about further sector consolidation, CEO Narasimhan said: "This is an industry we're watching closely ... but we have nothing new to share".

(Reporting by Martinne Geller; editing by Jason Neely/Keith Weir/Susan Fenton)

By Martinne Geller