Adds details on North America performance in paragraphs 3, 4 and 6, analysts comments in 7 and 8, shares in 2

By Raechel Thankam Job

Oct 30 (Reuters) - Consumer healthcare group Haleon's HLN.L third-quarter organic revenue growth narrowly beat forecasts on Thursday as U.S. sales unexpectedly returned to growth on the back of high demand for its oral health products Sensodyne and parodontax.

Shares in the company rose 2.5%, helping to pare losses for the year so far to about 6%.

North America organic revenue - excluding currency moves and recent deals - rose 0.4%, reversing the previous quarter's fall and well above analysts' forecast for a 1.4% drop. Haleon said it was outperforming in the United States, its largest market.

The company, which also makes Advil painkillers and Centrum multi-vitamins, said oral health revenue jumped 6.9% globally, with Sensodyne growing by a high-single-digit percentage and gaining market share in the U.S. and India.

"EMEA & LatAm performed well, and we continued to grow market share in North America despite a challenging consumer environment," CEO Brian McNamara said in a statement.

Slower spending in the U.S amid economic uncertainty, a government shutdown and rising competition has weighed on demand for its seasonal and discretionary brands like Smokers' Health products as consumers shift to cheaper alternatives.

JPMorgan analysts said expectations for a rebound in U.S. growth in 2026 would likely drive Haleon's shares now that the headwinds from inventory adjustments appear to be easing.

"The weak U.S. market consumption remains a concern while the weakening growth in APAC, EMEA/LA is also a watch for FY26," they added.

Haleon reported organic revenue growth of 3.4% for the three months ended September 30, compared with analysts' estimate of 3.3% in a company-compiled poll.

It kept its forecast for growth of 3.5% for 2025, assuming a normal cold and flu season.

(Reporting by Raechel Thankam Job and Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru. Editing by Alexander Smith and Mark Potter)

((RaechelThankam.Job@thomsonreuters.com;))