LONDON (Reuters) - Shares in consumer goods company Unilever (>> Unilever plc) (>> UNILEVER) opened down 4 percent on Tuesday after the group warned that a slowdown in its emerging markets had accelerated in the third quarter.

The group said in a statement after the market close on Monday that it now expected underlying sales growth of just 3 to 3.5 percent in the period.

"In the light of the sharp slowdown in top line, we expect consensus to be cautious on margin expansion," analysts at JP Morgan said in a note to clients. "We continue to believe that Unilever's premium rating is unjustifiable in the wake of subpar top-line growth and lower visibility."

Shares in Unilever were down 4 percent in early trading at 2340 pence.

(Reporting by Kate Holton; editing by Sarah Young)

Stocks treated in this article : UNILEVER, Unilever plc