May 1 (Reuters) - Sensodyne toothpaste maker Haleon ( HLN )

said on Thursday it expects high single-digit percentage

growth in its operating profit from 2026, due to strength in key

markets and expected costs cuts within its supply chain.

The consumer goods firm had earlier forecast adjusted

operating profit growing "ahead of" the 4%-6% organic revenue

growth at constant currency rate. Thursday's more definite

outlook sent its shares as much as 3.8% higher.

"We've delivered on the commitments we made since

demerger and have established strong foundations as a standalone

company," Haleon ( HLN ) CEO Brian McNamara said in a statement.

"We are now focused on unlocking the full potential of

this company."

The consumer healthcare group said it expects 800 million

pounds ($1.07 billion) in gross productivity savings over the

next five years.

The outlook was given by Haleon ( HLN ) as part of its first ever

Capital Markets Day, and comes a day after the company, which

also makes Advil painkillers, said it was confident about

meeting its 2025 targets despite U.S. demand uncertainty.

The company was formed in 2019 with the merger of GSK and

Pfizer's consumer healthcare businesses and later spun out and

listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2022.

($1 = 0.7498 pounds)