Unilever strategy set to pay off-Barron's

NEW YORK, March 2 (Reuters) - With its sights set on sales growth in emerging markets, consumer goods group Unilever PLC/NV (ULVR.L: Quote, Profile, Research) could see its shares climb about 25 percent over the next year, according to Barron's financial weekly.

The Anglo-Dutch company expects to boost its sales in emerging markets such as Eastern Europe, Russia, Latin American, Africa and Asia from 44 percent to 50 percent within a few years, outpacing its peers such as Procter & Gamble, the newspaper said.

"If the company keeps making inroads into those regions, it could handily beat its competitors in total sales as sales growth tapers off in more mature markets," Barron's said in its March 3 edition.

The stock is also cheaper than its U.S. peers and reasonably priced compared to European competitors, trading at only 14.9 times expected earnings for the year, the newspaper said. (Reporting by Bill Berkrot, editing by Maureen Bavdek)