Kenvue získala souhlas akcionářů i americké antimonopolní povolení pro plánovanou dohodu s Kimberly-Clark, která má být uzavřena ve 4. čtvrtletí 2026. Další rizika zůstávají v podobě regulatorních schválení, dluhu 8,5 miliardy USD a soudních sporů.
Key Takeaways Kenvue secured shareholder approval and U.S. antitrust clearance for its planned Q4 2026 deal.Kenvue's Q2 sales rose 3%, but EPS missed estimates and adjusted gross margin fell 70 basis points.Kenvue faces Self Care weakness, $8.5B debt, restructuring costs and ongoing litigation risks. Kenvue Inc. (KVUE - Free Report) is moving closer to its planned combination with Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB - Free Report) , with shareholder approvals secured and the U.S. antitrust waiting period expired. The cash-and-stock transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to remaining foreign regulatory approvals and customary conditions.
Kenvue shareholders are expected to receive 0.14625 Kimberly-Clark shares plus $3.50 in cash for each Kenvue share. They are expected to own about 46% of the combined company on a fully diluted basis after closing.
Kimberly-Clark has already announced a post-closing organizational structure that would become effective once the acquisition is completed. The buyer, which describes itself as a global personal care leader, is preparing for integration even as the transaction still depends on outstanding approvals.
Those remaining conditions matter because Kenvue is not providing forward-looking financial guidance while the deal is pending. Expected transaction benefits may not be realized or may take longer than expected, while the pending transaction could also disrupt the business.
Recent results show why execution remains important. Second-quarter 2026 net sales rose 3% to $3,955 million and organic sales increased 1.6%, but adjusted earnings of 31 cents per share fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 32 cents. Adjusted gross margin fell 70 basis points to 60.2% as inflation, tariffs and unfavorable transactional foreign exchange outweighed pricing and supply-chain productivity benefits.
Self Care remains a pressure point. First-half organic sales in the segment declined 0.9% as volumes fell 2.3%, reflecting lower illness incidence in pediatric pain and cough-and-cold categories. Skin Health and Beauty provided a stronger offset, with first-half organic sales up 4.4% and segment adjusted operating income rising 46.9% to $354 million.
Competition across these categories remains broad. The Procter & Gamble Company (PG - Free Report) operates Beauty, Health Care and Grooming businesses, including skin and personal care and oral care, which overlap with several Kenvue markets. PG's portfolio breadth makes it a relevant competitive reference point for Kenvue's brand-led categories.
The balance sheet adds another layer of risk. Kenvue had $8.5 billion of total debt and $1.1 billion of cash as of June 28, 2026. First-half operating cash flow improved 12.2% to $1.2 billion and free cash flow reached $1 billion, but the 2026 restructuring program is expected to carry approximately $250 million of pre-tax charges before delivering approximately $200 million of annualized pre-tax gross cost savings upon completion.
Legal and macro pressures have not disappeared. The Second Circuit vacated the prior acetaminophen judgment in July 2026 and remanded the litigation for further proceedings. Kenvue also remains responsible for certain talc-related liabilities outside the United States and Canada, while annualized gross tariff exposure was estimated at approximately $80 million.
Bottom line, major shareholder and U.S. antitrust milestones are complete, but the expected fourth-quarter closing still carries regulatory, operational and financial risk. Weak Self Care volumes, margin pressure, debt, restructuring execution and litigation keep the near-term picture balanced despite stronger cash generation and improving Skin Health and Beauty trends.
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Kenvue currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), a Value Score of C, a Growth Score of C, a Momentum Score of D and a VGM Score of D. Within the Style Score framework, A and B grades are more favorable than C and D grades, while the Zacks Rank remains the first screen for near-term earnings-estimate trends. Kenvue's C and D scores therefore do not add a strong style-based tailwind to its #3 Rank.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Kimberly-Clark ve 2. čtvrtletí 2026 dosáhla rekordní produktivity 6,4 %, která spolu s vrácením cel ve výši 45 mil. USD vyrovnala vyšší investice do značek. Firma čeká, že tato opatření z velké části vykompenzují 150 mil. USD hrubých nákladových tlaků ve druhé polovině roku.
Key Takeaways KMB reached its highest-ever productivity level of 6.4% in the second quarter of 2026.A $45 million tariff refund and productivity gains helped offset higher brand investment.KMB expects mitigating actions to largely offset $150 million of second-half input-cost headwinds. Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB - Free Report) delivered its highest productivity level ever in the second quarter of 2026, reaching 6.4%. The strong productivity performance, together with a tariff refund received in the second quarter, more than offset the higher level of brand investment compared with the prior year. This reflects the company’s ability to generate productivity gains while continuing to invest in its brands.
The company remains focused on managing its entire toolkit to navigate cost pressures, with productivity serving as a key area of emphasis. Management believes there is still significant room to improve productivity in North America, particularly as the company continues its $2 billion investment in supply-chain restructuring. The investment is expected to provide additional productivity opportunities, with the restructuring program continuing through 2027 and 2028.
The company expects around $150 million of gross input-cost headwinds in the second half, based on current oil prices and actions already underway. These impacts are fully incorporated into the company’s outlook.
To manage these pressures, Kimberly-Clark is taking a comprehensive approach that goes beyond revenue growth management. Alongside productivity and pricing actions, the company is also managing negotiations and contracts with its vendors and suppliers as part of its broader toolkit.
Management expects mitigating actions, together with the $45 million tariff refund received in the second quarter, to offset these incremental costs. As a result, the company expects pricing, net of cost inflation, to remain roughly neutral for the full year despite the additional input-cost pressures.
Overall, Kimberly-Clark’s productivity gains are an important part of the company’s efforts to manage rising costs, while pricing actions, supplier negotiations and other measures are also being used to offset inflationary pressures. This approach allows Kimberly-Clark to address cost pressures while continuing to prioritize innovation and brand-building initiatives.
The Zacks Rundown for KMBShares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 10.8% in the past three months compared with the industry’s growth of 4.4%.
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From a valuation standpoint, KMB trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 14.88, lower than the industry’s average of 18.75.
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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KMB’s current fiscal-year earnings implies a year-over-year decline of 1.5%, and the same for next fiscal year earnings implies growth of 1.7%.
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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WDFC’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings suggests growth of 9.9% and 7.2%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures. WDFC reported a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 18.3%.
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Advisors Capital Management koupila ve 2. čtvrtletí nový podíl v Kimberly-Clark: 247 826 akcií za zhruba 27,2 milionu USD. Akcie KMB v pátek otevřely o 1,1 % níže.
Advisors Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NASDAQ:KMB – Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 247,826 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $27,204,000. Advisors Capital Management LLC owned 0.07% of Kimberly-Clark as of its most recent SEC filing.
Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in Kimberly-Clark by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 40,846,734 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,121,027,000 after purchasing an additional 315,981 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Kimberly-Clark during the 2nd quarter valued at $3,547,915,000. State Street Corp raised its stake in shares of Kimberly-Clark by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. State Street Corp now owns 21,125,118 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,157,746,000 after buying an additional 294,228 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Kimberly-Clark by 2.6% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 11,917,154 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,202,322,000 after buying an additional 299,382 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Kimberly-Clark by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 8,322,198 shares of the company’s stock valued at $836,216,000 after buying an additional 65,619 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.29% of the company’s stock.
Analysts Set New Price Targets KMB has been the topic of several research reports. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Kimberly-Clark from $101.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 21st. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Kimberly-Clark from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of Kimberly-Clark from $96.00 to $104.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Piper Sandler reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of Kimberly-Clark in a report on Wednesday. Finally, UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Kimberly-Clark from $115.00 to $116.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $117.93.
View Our Latest Analysis on KMB Kimberly-Clark Stock Down 1.1% KMB stock opened at $108.69 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.45, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $36.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.48, a P/E/G ratio of 5.23 and a beta of 0.26. Kimberly-Clark Corporation has a 52-week low of $92.42 and a 52-week high of $134.38. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $108.75 and its 200-day simple moving average is $103.39.
Kimberly-Clark (NASDAQ:KMB – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The company reported $1.80 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.01 by ($0.21). Kimberly-Clark had a return on equity of 143.92% and a net margin of 11.79%.The firm had revenue of $4.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.22 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.92 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Kimberly-Clark Corporation will post 7.43 EPS for the current year.
Kimberly-Clark Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 4th will be given a $1.28 dividend. This represents a $5.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 4th. Kimberly-Clark’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 87.07%.
Kimberly-Clark Profile (Free Report)
Kimberly-Clark Corporation is a U.S.-based multinational manufacturer of personal care and consumer tissue products. The company develops, produces and markets a range of consumer brands and professional products, including facial and bathroom tissues, disposable diapers and training pants, feminine care, incontinence products and workplace hygiene solutions. Known for consumer-facing names such as Kleenex, Huggies, Kotex, Cottonelle and Scott, as well as professional offerings under Kimberly-Clark Professional and KleenGuard, the company supplies goods to retail, healthcare and institutional customers.
Founded in 1872 in Neenah, Wisconsin, Kimberly-Clark has expanded from its 19th-century paper-making roots into a global household and workplace products company.
See Also Five stocks we like better than Kimberly-Clark 3 Energy Stocks Raising Dividends as the Sector Surges 5 Reasons the S&P 500 Could Keep Rallying Through Year-End Walmart’s Post-Earnings Drop Could Be a Buying Opportunity The Trade Desk’s Earnings Miss Raises a Bigger Question About Its AI Future Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KMB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NASDAQ:KMB – Free Report).
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Kimberly-Clark oznámila desáté čtvrtletí v řadě se solidním objemem a mixem. Nový program alternativních přírodních vláken má zlepšit výkon produktů a snížit nákladovou volatilitu.
Key Takeaways A new alternative natural fiber program aims to boost product performance and reduce cost volatility.Kimberly-Clark delivers its 10th consecutive quarter of solid volume and mix performance.The company sees a strong innovation pipeline supported by greater discipline and faster execution. Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB - Free Report) highlighted the durability of the growth engine built through Powering Care. The company delivered its 10th consecutive quarter of solid volume and mix performance while maintaining global weighted share and achieving another quarter of industry-leading gross productivity. This performance came despite continued pressure on consumers and moderating category growth. The company also continued to invest for impact, while its teams maintained disciplined execution amid a challenging operating environment.
Kimberly-Clark continues to advance science-backed innovation and compelling value propositions through its proven, repeatable playbook. As the company moves into the next phase of its transformation, it is sharpening its focus on proprietary right-to-win spaces. The newly unveiled alternative natural fiber innovation program has the potential to reshape the future of the industry. The program represents the culmination of more than two decades of materials and plant science investment and development brought to life through Powering Care.
The program is expected to enhance product performance, strengthen the company’s long-term growth trajectory, reduce exposure to natural forest fiber cost volatility and advance its natural forest fiber-free ambition. The company also sees a strong pipeline ahead, with management expressing confidence in the company’s innovation pipeline over the next several years. This progress reflects greater organizational discipline and a faster, more agile approach that brings markets and functions together while placing greater focus on future pipeline development.
Overall, Kimberly-Clark’s Powering Care strategy continues to underpin a durable growth engine, supported by scientific innovation, differentiated product technologies and disciplined execution. Its focus on proprietary solutions and continued innovation could further strengthen its long-term growth trajectory.
The Zacks Rundown for KMBShares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 11.6% in the past three months compared with the industry’s growth of 3.6%.
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From a valuation standpoint, KMB trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 14.44, lower than the industry’s average of 18.12.
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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KMB’s current fiscal-year earnings implies a year-over-year decline of 1.3%, and the same for next fiscal year earnings implies growth of 1.7%.
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WD-40 Company (WDFC - Free Report) engages in the provision of maintenance products and homecare and cleaning products in North America, Central and South America, Asia, Australia, Europe, India, the Middle East, and Africa. At present, WDFC carries a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WDFC’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings suggests growth of 9.9% and 7.2%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures. WDFC reported a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 18.3%.
BBB Foods Inc. (TBBB - Free Report) provides spot products comprising food and non-food products, such as clothing, electronics, household goods, and others. At present, TBBB carries a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TBBB’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 44.6% and 52.7%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures. TBBB delivered a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of 44%, on average.
Purple Innovation, Inc. (PRPL - Free Report) designs, manufactures, and sells sleep and other products in the United States and internationally. PRPL currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PRPL's current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 0.4% and 17.1%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. PRPL delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 21.3%, on average.
Kimberly-Clark těží z růstu objemu a mixu i vyšších marží, ale Čína, slabší poptávka a snížený výhled pro rok 2026 brzdí rychlejší oživení. Akcie KMB se obchodují pod klíčovými valuacemi, ale zůstává rating Hold.
Key Takeaways KMB trades below key market and industry valuation benchmarks, strengthening its value case.Volume-plus-mix gains and productivity helped KMB expand margins despite slower category growth.China disruption, consumer pressure and a reduced 2026 outlook weigh on the near-term recovery.
Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB - Free Report) offers investors a valuation-versus-execution trade-off. The stock trades below key historical and market benchmarks while the company continues to post volume-and-mix gains and margin improvement.
That discount is balanced by slower category growth, consumer pressure and disruption in China. The current setup supports patience rather than a clear-cut buying case.
KMB's Valuation Discount Strengthens the Bull CaseKMB trades at 14.75X forward 12-month earnings, below 18.28X for the industry, 16.81X for the Zacks Consumer Staples sector and 20.69X for the S&P 500. Its multiple is also below the one-year median of 14.63X, though above the one-year low of 12.52X.
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The discount gives investors a lower entry valuation relative to those benchmarks, but it does not erase execution risk. Consumer-staples peers Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL - Free Report) and Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (CHD - Free Report) provide useful comparison points for investors weighing KMB's valuation, growth profile and execution risks.
Kimberly-Clark's Volume-Mix Engine Is HoldingKimberly-Clark delivered its 10th consecutive quarter of positive volume-plus-mix performance. In the first half of 2026, organic sales rose 1.2%, supported by 1.3% volume growth and a 0.4% mix benefit, partly offset by a 0.5% decline in net pricing.
North America has generated volume-plus-mix-led growth in eight of the past 10 quarters. Trailing 12-month share gains covered 70% of its North American sales base, giving the company a demand foundation as category growth moderates.
KMB's Productivity Is Protecting MarginsGross productivity reached 6.4% in the second quarter of 2026. Adjusted gross margin expanded 190 basis points year over year to 38.8%.
Adjusted operating profit increased 6.2% to $757 million as productivity savings, one-time tariff refunds and favorable currency effects outweighed other pressures. That cost discipline is important because Kimberly-Clark continues to invest in product trial, brand support and supply-chain initiatives.
KMB's EPS Picture Shows Growth, but Estimates Stay SoftKimberly-Clark reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings from continuing operations of $1.80 per share, up 10.4% year over year, but below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.00. Adjusted earnings attributable to Kimberly-Clark were $2.12 per share, also up 10.4%, helped by higher adjusted operating profit and income from discontinued operations.
For 2026, Kimberly-Clark expects adjusted EPS from continuing operations to grow at a high-single-digit rate on a constant-currency basis, including an approximately 30% increase in income from equity companies. However, adjusted EPS attributable to Kimberly-Clark is expected to decline at a low-single-digit rate, reflecting a more complicated earnings mix following portfolio changes.
China and Consumer Pressure Cloud KMB's OutlookThe China diaper disruption reduced consolidated organic sales growth by about 50 basis points and created an approximately 440-basis-point headwind to International Personal Care operating profit. Management expects the issue to continue affecting sales and profits in the near term.
North American weighted category growth slowed to 1.9% from 3.7% sequentially, while lower-income consumers remain pressured.
KMB's Financial Position Supports Its TransformationKimberly-Clark ended the quarter with $956 million in cash and cash equivalents and $6.474 billion in long-term debt. Cash provided by operations totaled $1.653 billion in the first six months of 2026.
Capital spending reached $776 million during the period, while dividends returned $843 million to shareholders. The cash generation gives Kimberly-Clark resources to fund investment while it advances portfolio and operational changes.
KMB's Ranking Picture Remains IncompleteThe bottom line is balanced. KMB's valuation discount, sustained volume-and-mix momentum and productivity gains support the case for holding the shares, but China disruption, softer category growth and a reduced 2026 outlook limit the near-term argument for aggressive buying.
KMB currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), along with a Value Score of C, a Growth Score of C, a Momentum Score of F and a VGM Score of C. Rank #3 can support holding an existing position, while the middling Value, Growth and VGM Scores and weak Momentum Score do not add a strong style-based buying signal. Investors may prefer to wait for clearer evidence of sales normalization and steadier category trends. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Kimberly-Clark snížila výhled na rok 2026 kvůli narušení v Číně, které má v druhé polovině roku znamenat zhruba 200 bazických bodů dopadu na tržby a asi 70 milionů USD tlaku na provozní zisk. Firma zároveň čeká oživení v Severní Americe.
Key Takeaways KMB sees China driving a 200-basis-point second-half sales headwind and about $70 million in profit pressure.KMB expects North America to grow with categories in the second half as innovation and easier comparisons aid.KMB says Kenvue integration progress boosts confidence in the existing $1.9 billion cost-synergy target. Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB - Free Report) used its second-quarter 2026 earnings call to stress that a China diaper disruption and other discrete pressures have changed the 2026 outlook, while management emphasized the underlying business remains strong.
The call focused on China’s recovery, softer category growth, North American shipment volatility and KMB’s ability to offset inflation while advancing Kenvue and innovation.
KMB Lowers 2026 Outlook on China DisruptionSenior vice president, CFO and interim principal accounting officer Nelson Urdaneta said organic sales were about 100 basis points below internal expectations, mainly due to China, North American trade inventory reductions and softer category growth.
Adjusted EPS from continuing operations was $1.80, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.00. Net sales of $4.19 billion missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.23 billion.
CFO Urdaneta said 2026 organic sales growth should run about 100 basis points below weighted category growth, currently 2% on a trailing-12-month basis. Adjusted operating profit is expected to grow mid-single digits, while adjusted EPS from continuing operations is expected to grow high single digits, both on a constant-currency basis.
Kimberly-Clark Sees a Gradual China RecoveryPresident and COO Russell Torres said independent third-party testing found the company’s products safe, while management is working with Chinese authorities, retailers and consumers after social-media allegations hurt diaper sales.
Torres said sellout trends had not deteriorated sequentially but had not turned higher. Management therefore assumed modest improvement rather than a clear inflection.
Answering a UBS analyst, Urdaneta said China should create about a 200-basis-point sales headwind in the second half and roughly $70 million of operating profit pressure, split about evenly between the third and fourth quarters.
KMB Backs a Second-Half North America PickupA Goldman Sachs analyst pressed management on weaker North American results and the basis for a stronger second half. Urdaneta said consumer-category shipments fell 1.4% while consumption rose 0.3%.
Urdaneta attributed the gap mainly to the Los Angeles distribution-center fire and retailer inventory movements. The fire reduced second-quarter sales by about $22 million, while inventory changes cut shipment growth by roughly 100 basis points year over year.
Torres said KMB expects North America to grow in line with its categories in the second half, supported by innovation, activation plans, revenue-growth-management actions and easier comparisons.
Kimberly-Clark Uses Pricing and ProductivityA Barclays analyst asked about pricing as promotions evolve. COO Torres said low-single-digit pricing actions are primarily being taken in North America to address inflation.
Urdaneta said second-half gross input-cost headwinds are estimated at about $150 million. He expects mitigating actions and the second-quarter tariff refund to keep pricing net of cost inflation roughly neutral for the full year.
Urdaneta also said KMB received a $45 million North American tariff refund and delivered 6.4% productivity, helping adjusted operating profit and earnings exceed internal expectations.
KMB Advances Kenvue and Its Fiber PlatformA Deutsche Bank analyst asked whether integration work implied higher or faster Kenvue synergies. Torres said progress mainly increases confidence in achieving the existing $1.9 billion cost-synergy target, without committing to more synergies or a revised cadence.
Chairman and CEO Michael Hsu said closer review has increased confidence in growth opportunities across Kenvue’s consumer-health categories. Urdaneta said a specific 2027 earnings view will wait for more clarity on China, commodities and transaction timing.
Hsu highlighted Kimberly-Clark’s alternative natural-fiber program, while Urdaneta said related spending and capital needs are already reflected in strategic plans. Hsu said the company is breaking ground on a pilot facility.
Kimberly-Clark Keeps Execution in FocusHsu described the operating environment as choppy but continued to emphasize differentiated product technology, brand investment and productivity as KMB’s operating approach.
Torres reinforced that stance, pointing to innovation and value propositions across price tiers rather than heavier promotion. Management remains focused on China, inflation and North American volatility while preparing for Kenvue.
KMB's Zacks Rank and Style ScoresKMB carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), with Value and Growth Scores of C, a Momentum Score of F and a VGM Score of C. Under the Zacks A-to-F hierarchy, those grades sit below the preferred A and B range.
The Zacks framework gives its strongest short-term emphasis to Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) stocks paired with A or B Style Scores. KMB does not have that combination, and its Zacks Rank can change as earnings estimates are revised following the just-reported results. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Empowered Funds LLC ve 1. čtvrtletí snížila podíl v Kimberly-Clark o 58,6 % a prodala 37 181 akcií. Firma zároveň oznámila čtvrtletní zisk na akcii 1,80 USD, pod odhadem 2,01 USD.
Empowered Funds LLC trimmed its position in shares of Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NASDAQ:KMB – Free Report) by 58.6% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 26,276 shares of the company’s stock after selling 37,181 shares during the quarter. Empowered Funds LLC’s holdings in Kimberly-Clark were worth $2,535,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of KMB. Greatmark Investment Partners Inc. boosted its stake in Kimberly-Clark by 2.9% in the fourth quarter. Greatmark Investment Partners Inc. now owns 3,533 shares of the company’s stock valued at $356,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund grew its holdings in Kimberly-Clark by 0.3% in the fourth quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 37,999 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,834,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board increased its position in shares of Kimberly-Clark by 0.7% during the fourth quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board now owns 15,093 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,523,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc lifted its holdings in shares of Kimberly-Clark by 18.3% during the 1st quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 665 shares of the company’s stock valued at $64,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Core Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Kimberly-Clark by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Core Wealth Partners LLC now owns 4,352 shares of the company’s stock valued at $439,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares during the last quarter. 76.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Kimberly-Clark Price Performance Shares of KMB opened at $112.37 on Thursday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $106.43 and its two-hundred day moving average is $102.73. The company has a market capitalization of $37.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.11, a P/E/G ratio of 5.02 and a beta of 0.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.45, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 0.91. Kimberly-Clark Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $92.42 and a fifty-two week high of $137.46.
Kimberly-Clark (NASDAQ:KMB – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The company reported $1.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.01 by ($0.21). Kimberly-Clark had a net margin of 11.79% and a return on equity of 143.92%. The company had revenue of $4.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.22 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.92 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Kimberly-Clark Corporation will post 7.45 earnings per share for the current year.
Kimberly-Clark Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 4th will be issued a $1.28 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 4th. This represents a $5.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.6%. Kimberly-Clark’s payout ratio is presently 87.07%.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth KMB has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Kimberly-Clark from $100.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. UBS Group increased their price target on Kimberly-Clark from $115.00 to $116.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Bank of America dropped their price target on Kimberly-Clark from $130.00 to $120.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 10th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Kimberly-Clark from $101.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 21st. Finally, Piper Sandler boosted their target price on shares of Kimberly-Clark from $115.00 to $121.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 17th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $117.93.
View Our Latest Research Report on Kimberly-Clark
Key Headlines Impacting Kimberly-Clark Here are the key news stories impacting Kimberly-Clark this week:
Positive Sentiment: Second-quarter adjusted operating profit rose 6.2% year over year, supported by productivity savings, volume-plus-mix gains and gross-margin expansion. Adjusted EPS was $1.80, although results remained below analysts’ expectations. Kimberly-Clark second-quarter results Positive Sentiment: Kimberly-Clark declared a quarterly dividend of $1.28 per share, reinforcing its income appeal with an indicated annualized yield of approximately 4.6%. Kimberly-Clark dividend announcement Positive Sentiment: A plant-based fiber initiative could eventually reduce reliance on traditional wood fibers in paper towels, offering potential long-term manufacturing and sustainability benefits. Kimberly-Clark plant-based fiber initiative Neutral Sentiment: Management said the pending Kenvue acquisition remains on track to close by year-end, but investors will continue to assess the transaction’s execution risks and effect on leverage. Kimberly-Clark 2026 second-quarter presentation Negative Sentiment: Revenue of roughly $4.19 billion increased only 0.6% year over year and missed the $4.22 billion consensus estimate. Reported profit also declined, while adjusted EPS of $1.80 fell short of the $2.01 analyst consensus cited in the company coverage. Kimberly-Clark second-quarter sales report Negative Sentiment: Kimberly-Clark lowered its 2026 sales and profit outlook, saying organic sales growth should trail weighted-average category growth by about 100 basis points. False social-media allegations regarding Huggies diaper quality significantly disrupted China sales and remain the main near-term overhang. Reuters report on Kimberly-Clark guidance Negative Sentiment: TD Cowen analyst Robert Moskow maintained a Hold rating despite raising his price target to $104, citing near-term volatility and operational challenges. TD Cowen Kimberly-Clark rating Kimberly-Clark Profile (Free Report)
Kimberly-Clark Corporation is a U.S.-based multinational manufacturer of personal care and consumer tissue products. The company develops, produces and markets a range of consumer brands and professional products, including facial and bathroom tissues, disposable diapers and training pants, feminine care, incontinence products and workplace hygiene solutions. Known for consumer-facing names such as Kleenex, Huggies, Kotex, Cottonelle and Scott, as well as professional offerings under Kimberly-Clark Professional and KleenGuard, the company supplies goods to retail, healthcare and institutional customers.
Founded in 1872 in Neenah, Wisconsin, Kimberly-Clark has expanded from its 19th-century paper-making roots into a global household and workplace products company.
Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Kimberly-Clark SpaceX: Love the Company, But the Stock Is a Harder Call Ulta’s Growth Is Real, But So Are the Risks BWX Technologies Is Turning the AI Power Problem Into a Nuclear Growth Story Meta’s Earnings Drop Shows Wall Street Wants More Than Ad Growth Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KMB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NASDAQ:KMB – Free Report).
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Arrowstreet Capital v 1. čtvrtletí otevřel novou pozici v Kimberly-Clark a získal 16 789 akcií za zhruba 1,62 mil. USD. Kimberly-Clark zároveň oznámila čtvrtletní dividendu ve výši 1,28 USD na akcii.
Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership acquired a new stake in Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NASDAQ:KMB – Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 16,789 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,620,000.
Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position in shares of Kimberly-Clark by 26,997.7% during the fourth quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 7,368,407 shares of the company’s stock worth $743,399,000 after purchasing an additional 7,341,215 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Kimberly-Clark during the 4th quarter valued at $521,184,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its stake in Kimberly-Clark by 50.4% during the 4th quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 7,839,572 shares of the company’s stock worth $790,934,000 after buying an additional 2,628,206 shares during the period. KBC Group NV lifted its holdings in Kimberly-Clark by 459.9% in the 1st quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 1,695,768 shares of the company’s stock worth $163,591,000 after buying an additional 1,392,873 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp boosted its position in Kimberly-Clark by 5.0% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 20,830,890 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,615,382,000 after buying an additional 997,397 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.29% of the company’s stock.
Kimberly-Clark Trading Up 0.7% Shares of NASDAQ KMB opened at $112.37 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $37.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.02 and a beta of 0.26. Kimberly-Clark Corporation has a 12-month low of $92.42 and a 12-month high of $137.46. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.45. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $106.43 and its 200 day simple moving average is $102.73.
Kimberly-Clark (NASDAQ:KMB – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The company reported $1.80 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.01 by ($0.21). Kimberly-Clark had a return on equity of 143.92% and a net margin of 11.79%.The company had revenue of $4.19 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.22 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.92 earnings per share. Kimberly-Clark’s quarterly revenue was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Kimberly-Clark Corporation will post 7.45 EPS for the current year.
Kimberly-Clark Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 4th will be given a dividend of $1.28 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 4th. This represents a $5.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.6%. Kimberly-Clark’s dividend payout ratio is currently 87.07%.
Key Stories Impacting Kimberly-Clark Here are the key news stories impacting Kimberly-Clark this week:
Positive Sentiment: Second-quarter adjusted operating profit rose 6.2% year over year, supported by productivity savings, volume-plus-mix gains and gross-margin expansion. Adjusted EPS was $1.80, although results remained below analysts’ expectations. Kimberly-Clark second-quarter results Positive Sentiment: Kimberly-Clark declared a quarterly dividend of $1.28 per share, reinforcing its income appeal with an indicated annualized yield of approximately 4.6%. Kimberly-Clark dividend announcement Positive Sentiment: A plant-based fiber initiative could eventually reduce reliance on traditional wood fibers in paper towels, offering potential long-term manufacturing and sustainability benefits. Kimberly-Clark plant-based fiber initiative Neutral Sentiment: Management said the pending Kenvue acquisition remains on track to close by year-end, but investors will continue to assess the transaction’s execution risks and effect on leverage. Kimberly-Clark 2026 second-quarter presentation Negative Sentiment: Revenue of roughly $4.19 billion increased only 0.6% year over year and missed the $4.22 billion consensus estimate. Reported profit also declined, while adjusted EPS of $1.80 fell short of the $2.01 analyst consensus cited in the company coverage. Kimberly-Clark second-quarter sales report Negative Sentiment: Kimberly-Clark lowered its 2026 sales and profit outlook, saying organic sales growth should trail weighted-average category growth by about 100 basis points. False social-media allegations regarding Huggies diaper quality significantly disrupted China sales and remain the main near-term overhang. Reuters report on Kimberly-Clark guidance Negative Sentiment: TD Cowen analyst Robert Moskow maintained a Hold rating despite raising his price target to $104, citing near-term volatility and operational challenges. TD Cowen Kimberly-Clark rating Wall Street Analyst Weigh In KMB has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Bank of America dropped their target price on Kimberly-Clark from $130.00 to $120.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 10th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Kimberly-Clark from $100.00 to $110.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Kimberly-Clark from $101.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 21st. Seaport Research Partners raised shares of Kimberly-Clark to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Piper Sandler increased their price objective on shares of Kimberly-Clark from $115.00 to $121.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 17th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $117.93.
Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on KMB
Kimberly-Clark Profile (Free Report)
Kimberly-Clark Corporation is a U.S.-based multinational manufacturer of personal care and consumer tissue products. The company develops, produces and markets a range of consumer brands and professional products, including facial and bathroom tissues, disposable diapers and training pants, feminine care, incontinence products and workplace hygiene solutions. Known for consumer-facing names such as Kleenex, Huggies, Kotex, Cottonelle and Scott, as well as professional offerings under Kimberly-Clark Professional and KleenGuard, the company supplies goods to retail, healthcare and institutional customers.
Founded in 1872 in Neenah, Wisconsin, Kimberly-Clark has expanded from its 19th-century paper-making roots into a global household and workplace products company.
Further Reading Five stocks we like better than Kimberly-Clark SpaceX: Love the Company, But the Stock Is a Harder Call Ulta’s Growth Is Real, But So Are the Risks BWX Technologies Is Turning the AI Power Problem Into a Nuclear Growth Story Meta’s Earnings Drop Shows Wall Street Wants More Than Ad Growth
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Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) Q2 2026 Earnings Call August 4, 2026 8:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
Christopher Jakubik - Investor Relations Contact
Michael Hsu - Chairman & CEO
Russell Torres - President & COO
Nelson Urdaneta - Senior VP, CFO & Interim Principal Accounting Officer,
Conference Call Participants
Nik Modi - RBC Capital Markets, Research Division
Christopher Carey - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division
Bonnie Herzog - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
Michael Lavery - Piper Sandler & Co., Research Division
Stephen Robert Powers - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division
Lauren Lieberman - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
Robert Moskow - TD Cowen, Research Division
Peter Grom - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
Javier Escalante Manzo - Evercore ISI Institutional Equities, Research Division
Presentation
Operator
Good morning, and welcome to the Kimberly-Clark Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Call. [Operator Instructions]
I will now hand the floor over to Chris Jakubik, Vice President, Investor Relations. Please go ahead.
Christopher Jakubik
Investor Relations Contact
Good morning, everyone. This is Chris Jakubik, Head of Investor Relations at Kimberly-Clark, and thank you for joining us.
I would like to remind everyone that during our comments today, we will make some forward-looking statements that are based on how we see things today. Actual results may differ due to risks and uncertainties, and these are discussed in our earnings release and our filings with the SEC. We will also discuss some non-GAAP financial measures during these remarks. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a replacement for and should be read together with GAAP results. And you can find the GAAP and the reconciliations within our earnings release and the supplemental materials posted at investor.kimberly-clark.com.
With that, I'll turn it over to Mike for a few opening comments.
Michael Hsu
Chairman & CEO
Thank you, Chris, and thank you all for joining us today. As I mentioned
Kimberly-Clark vykázala ve 2. čtvrtletí tržby 4,19 miliardy USD, což je meziročně o 0,6 % více, ale pod odhady. EPS činil 1,80 USD a zaostal za očekáváním 2,00 USD.
Kimberly-Clark (KMB - Free Report) reported $4.19 billion in revenue for the quarter ended June 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 0.6%. EPS of $1.80 for the same period compares to $1.92 a year ago.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.23 billion, representing a surprise of -1.02%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of -10%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $2.00.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how Kimberly-Clark performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Net Sales - North America (NA) - Volume impact - YoY change: -0.3% compared to the -0.4% average estimate based on two analysts.Net Sales - North America (NA) - Net Price impact - YoY change: -0.7% versus -0.1% estimated by two analysts on average.Net Sales - North America (NA) - Mix/Other impact - YoY change: 0.2% compared to the 0.3% average estimate based on two analysts.Net Sales - North America (NA) - Currency Translation - YoY change: 0.1% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 0.1%.Net Sales - North America (NA) - Organic - YoY change: -0.7% versus -0.2% estimated by two analysts on average.Net Sales - International Personal Care (IPC) - Volume impact - YoY change: 0.3% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 1.3%.Net Sales - Consolidated - Organic - YoY change: -0.1% compared to the 0.6% average estimate based on two analysts.Net Sales - International Personal Care (IPC) - Currency Translation - YoY change: 3.1% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 1.7%.Net Sales - International Personal Care (IPC) - Organic - YoY change: 1% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 2%.Net Sales - Consolidated - Currency Translation - YoY change: 1.1% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 0.6%.Net Sales- International Personal Care (IPC): $1.49 billion compared to the $1.49 billion average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +4.1% year over year.Net Sales- North America (NA): $2.7 billion compared to the $2.72 billion average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of -1.2% year over year.View all Key Company Metrics for Kimberly-Clark here>>>
Shares of Kimberly-Clark have returned -4.8% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.7% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Kimberly-Clark snížila celoroční výhled tržeb i zisku kvůli slabším prodejům plen v Číně po virálních nepravdivých tvrzeních o kvalitě Huggies. Firma čeká, že tlak potrvá i v blízkém období.
A package of Huggies brand diapers, made by Kimberly-Clark, is shown in Boca Raton, Florida October 22, 2013. REUTERS/Joe Skipper/ File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
Aug 4 (Reuters) - Kimberly-Clark (KMB.O), opens new tab cut its annual sales and profit forecasts on Tuesday, citing a significant hit to second-quarter sales in China that stemmed from what it said were false viral claims about the quality of some of its diaper brands.
The Kleenex maker said claims circulating on Chinese social media that its Huggies diapers contained formamide, a substance banned in multiple countries, weighed on demand despite independent testing by a government-certified third party confirming their quality and safety.
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Beijing-based media outlet Economic Times Daily reported in June that Chinese brands Babycare Bibabebe and Kimberly-Clark's Huggies tested positive for formamide, according to the Hong Kong Free Press. The toxic substance can irritate the skin, eyes and breathing if inhaled.
The allegations emerged just ahead of China's annual "618" shopping festival, one of the country's biggest e-commerce events. Kimberly-Clark said the disruption would continue to pressure sales and earnings in the near term.
On June 22, China's market regulator said it had established a joint investigation team to look into "formamide issues in infant diapers", without naming any company or brand. Authorities have not provided an update on the status of the probe.
"We're disappointed but remain confident in the underlying quality of our global innovation and commercial plans," CEO Mike Hsu said in a statement.
The unexpected challenges in a key international market overshadowed cost-saving efforts, resetting expectations for investors who had been guided for stronger growth.
Kimberly-Clark, on track to complete its roughly $40 billion acquisition of Kenvue (KVUE.N), opens new tab by the year-end, now expects 2026 organic sales growth to trail the weighted average growth of its categories and markets by about 100 basis points. Those categories grew about 2% over the last 12 months.
It had previously forecast growth in line with or above the then weighted category average of about 2.5%.
The company expects annual adjusted earnings per share to grow at a high-single-digit rate on a constant-currency basis, compared with its earlier forecast for double-digit growth.
Kimberly-Clark labeled the disruption a "one-time external impact". It will temper organic growth in International Personal Care segment this year by three to four percentage points and hold back operating profit growth by 10 to 12 percentage points, COO Russ Torres said, "as we invest aggressively to defend our franchise".
Last month, Kimberly-Clark finalized the sale of a 51% stake in its international tissue business to Suzano (SUZB3.SA), opens new tab, creating the $3.4 billion Arbex joint venture to compete with rivals Procter & Gamble (PG.N), opens new tab and Essity.
Net sales rose 0.6% to $4.19 billion for the three months ended June 30. Analysts on average expected $4.22 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.
Adjusted operating profit increased 6.2% to $757 million, helped by tariff refunds, productivity savings and favorable currency effects.
Shares of the company were flat in premarket trading.
Reporting by Neil J Kanatt in Bengaluru and Alexander Marrow in London; Editing by Joyjeet Das
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Kimberly-Clark ve 2. čtvrtletí vykázala téměř beze změny organické čisté tržby, ale snížila celoroční výhled kvůli slabšímu růstu v Číně a vyšším nákladovým tlakům. Upravený zisk na akcii vzrostl meziročně o 10,4 %.
5 Baby Boomer Stock Favorites Now Trading at a DiscountKimberly-Clark NASDAQ: KMB reported broadly flat organic net sales in the second quarter of 2026 as a more cautious consumer environment, retailer inventory changes, a North American distribution-center fire and a social media disruption in China weighed on results. The company maintained its full-year free-cash-flow outlook but lowered several growth expectations, primarily due to the China diaper-business disruption.
Chairman and CEO Mike Hsu said the company delivered its 10th consecutive quarter of volume-plus-mix-led performance, held global weighted market share on a trailing 12-month basis and generated industry-leading gross productivity. However, he described the quarter as one marked by consumer pressure, moderating category growth and several one-time impacts.
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Starbucks Gets a Jolt After Earnings, But Will the Buzz Last?“Despite discrete headwinds, the fundamentals of our business remain strong,” Hsu said, citing innovation, marketing, productivity programs and the company’s operating model.
Second-Quarter Results and Updated Outlook Chief Financial Officer Nelson Urdaneta said second-quarter organic net sales were broadly flat, including an approximately 50-basis-point negative effect from the China social media disruption. For the first half, organic net sales increased 1.2%, supported by growth in South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, India and Brazil.
Bullseye Bounce: Toms Capital Takes a Stake in TargetAdjusted operating profit rose 6.2% in the second quarter and 4.9% during the first six months. Results benefited from one-time tariff refunds and productivity savings, though those gains were partially offset by business exits, the China diaper disruption, unfavorable pricing net of input costs and investments intended to improve consumer value propositions.
Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations increased 10.4% year over year in the quarter, aided by operating-profit growth, lower net interest expense and higher income from equity companies. The company generated approximately $1.1 billion of adjusted free cash flow in the first half and said it remains on track to produce about $2 billion for the full year.
Kimberly-Clark reduced its 2026 outlook as weighted average category growth now appears to be pacing at 2%, compared with its prior estimate of 2.5%. The company also expects its China diaper business disruption to create an approximately 100-basis-point headwind to full-year growth.
Full-year organic growth is now expected to be roughly 100 basis points below weighted average category growth. Constant-currency adjusted operating profit growth is expected in the mid-single digits, down from a previous outlook of mid- to high-single-digit growth. Constant-currency adjusted EPS growth from continuing operations is expected in the high single digits, reduced from a prior double-digit growth outlook. Adjusted EPS attributable to Kimberly-Clark is now expected to decline by a low single-digit percentage on a constant-currency basis, compared with the prior expectation of results in line with 2025. Urdaneta said the company has incorporated an expected $150 million of additional second-half gross input-cost headwinds into its outlook. Kimberly-Clark expects mitigating actions and tariff-refund benefits to offset those costs, leaving pricing net of cost inflation roughly neutral relative to the previously cited input-cost pressures.
China Disruption Pressures International Personal Care Chief Operating Officer Russ Torres said false and misleading allegations regarding the quality of multiple diaper brands appeared on social media in China shortly before the country’s 618 Shopping Festival. The claims spread rapidly, he said, though multiple independent tests from certified third-party labs confirmed the safety of Kimberly-Clark’s products.
The company is cooperating with Chinese authorities and said the matter affected second-quarter results and could continue to affect the full year. Torres said the disruption reduced International Personal Care organic growth by approximately 140 basis points in the second quarter. Segment operating-profit growth still exceeded 2 percentage points, despite a roughly 440-basis-point headwind from the issue.
For the full year, Kimberly-Clark said the China disruption could reduce International Personal Care organic growth by 3 to 4 percentage points and reduce the segment’s operating-profit growth by 10 to 12 percentage points as the company invests to defend its franchise.
Elsewhere in international personal care, Torres highlighted market-share gains in diapers and pants in Indonesia, China and Brazil, as well as gains in Indonesia feminine care and Australia adult care. Vietnam and India posted high-double-digit organic growth in the first half, with e-commerce and premium products contributing to momentum.
North America Faces Temporary Sales Pressures North America organic growth declined 0.7% in the quarter. Torres said retailer inventory changes reduced growth by about 100 basis points year over year, while the Los Angeles distribution-center fire represented an additional 80-basis-point impact. The comparison also included approximately 5% North American volume growth in the second quarter of 2025.
North American consumer tissue delivered volume-plus-mix-led growth, while North America Professional recorded its seventh consecutive quarter of volume growth. Consumer tissue gained 10 basis points of weighted value share from a year earlier and improved volume share by 70 basis points sequentially.
Personal-care share was more muted. A previously disclosed club distribution loss in diapers and training pants reduced diaper share by approximately 240 basis points and training-pants share by approximately 290 basis points during the quarter, according to Torres. The company’s weighted share in North America declined 40 basis points from the prior year, with the distribution loss accounting for substantially all of the decline.
North America operating profit increased approximately 11% in the second quarter, aided by productivity, revenue-growth-management actions and a one-time refund benefit. Operating profit rose about 1% in the first half, and segment operating margin increased 50 basis points.
Transformation Initiatives Advance Kimberly-Clark said it launched Arbex, its joint venture with Suzano, on July 1 as an independent operating company comprising substantially all assets of its former international family care and professional business. Hsu said the transaction sharpens the company’s focus on personal care, enhances its financial profile and is expected to reduce future earnings volatility.
The company also said its pending Kenvue acquisition remains on track for an anticipated fourth-quarter close following regulatory clearance. Kimberly-Clark has approximately 50 teams and 600 employees involved in integration planning. Torres said the company is tracking ahead of expectations in building a three-year pipeline to achieve its $1.9 billion cost-synergy goal, while its four-year revenue-opportunity pipeline has surpassed $1 billion compared with a $1.4 billion target.
In addition, Hsu highlighted a proprietary alternative natural-fiber innovation program, including a pilot plant in Yuma, Arizona. He said the initiative could reduce exposure to natural-forest-fiber cost volatility and support the company’s natural-forest-fiber-free ambitions over the long term.
About Kimberly-Clark (NASDAQ:KMB)Kimberly-Clark Corporation is a U.S.-based multinational manufacturer of personal care and consumer tissue products. The company develops, produces and markets a range of consumer brands and professional products, including facial and bathroom tissues, disposable diapers and training pants, feminine care, incontinence products and workplace hygiene solutions. Known for consumer-facing names such as Kleenex, Huggies, Kotex, Cottonelle and Scott, as well as professional offerings under Kimberly-Clark Professional and KleenGuard, the company supplies goods to retail, healthcare and institutional customers.
Founded in 1872 in Neenah, Wisconsin, Kimberly-Clark has expanded from its 19th-century paper-making roots into a global household and workplace products company.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
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, /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NASDAQ: KMB) has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $1.28 per share. The dividend is payable in cash on October 2, 2026, to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 4, 2026.
Kimberly-Clark has paid a dividend for 92 consecutive years and has increased its dividend for 54 consecutive years.
About Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark (NASDAQ: KMB) and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries and territories. Our portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Pull-Ups, Goodnites, Intimus, Plenitud, Sweety, Softex, Viva and WypAll, hold No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in approximately 70 countries. Our company's purpose is to deliver Better Care for a Better World. We are committed to using sustainable practices designed to support a healthy planet, build strong communities, and enable our business to thrive for decades to come. To keep up with the latest news and learn more about the company's more than 150-year history of innovation, visit the Kimberly-Clark website.
[KMB-F]
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Kimberly-Clark očekává výsledky za 2Q fiskálního roku 2026; tržby mají dosáhnout 4,2 miliardy USD a EPS 2,00 USD. Firma těžila z inovací, ale čelila vyšším nákladům na energie.
Key Takeaways KMB's innovation-led portfolio likely supported volume, mix and demand across key product categories.KMB's productivity initiatives and supply chain investments likely improved efficiency and funded innovation.KMB likely faced higher energy-related input costs tied to Middle East geopolitical developments. As Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB - Free Report) prepares to unveil its second-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Aug. 04, after market close, investors are eager to see if the company can beat market expectations.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $4.2 billion, implying 1.7% growth from the prior year. Meanwhile, the consensus mark for earnings has remained unchanged at $2.00 per share in the past seven days, indicating 4.2% growth from the year-ago period. KMB has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 19.1%, on average.
Key Factors to Note for KMB's Q2 EarningsKimberly-Clark’s performance is likely to have been supported by continued execution of its innovation-led strategy, with differentiated, science-backed products across its good, better and best portfolio helping address a broad range of consumer needs and price points. In the last earnings call, the company highlighted that innovation was driving organic growth and improving volume and mix trends. Continuation of these trends is likely to have supported performance during the second quarter.
The company’s focus on expanding its presence across key growth categories is also likely to have remained a positive contributor. The continued innovation in Baby Care, Women’s Health and Active Aging might have helped the company strengthen its market share and broaden the company’s product portfolio. These initiatives were designed to reinforce Kimberly-Clark’s value propositions and sustain its underlying business momentum.
Productivity initiatives might have provided an additional tailwind during the quarter. Kimberly-Clark’s strong productivity pipeline, progress on its previously announced $2 billion investment in the North American supply chain and broader Powering Care efficiency initiatives might have supported operational efficiency and helped fund continued investments in innovation and brand building.
That said, the company likely continued to face cost headwinds from geopolitical developments in the Middle East.
What the Zacks Model Says About KMBOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for KMB this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is the case here.
KMB has an Earnings ESP of +1.43% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Other Stocks With Favorable CombinationHere are three other companies you may also want to consider, as our model shows that these too have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this season:
The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +3.08% and a Zacks Rank of 2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 earnings per share is pegged at 53 cents, implying a 23.2% year-over-year decline. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues is pegged at $6.2 billion, which indicates a decrease of 3% from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter. KHC has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 10.2%, on average.
US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.10% and a Zacks Rank of 2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings per share is pegged at $1.37, implying a 15.1% year-over-year decline.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues is pegged at $10.5 billion, which indicates growth of 3.8% from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter. USFD has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 1.4%, on average.
Sysco Corporation (SYY - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.56% and a Zacks Rank of 3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings per share is pegged at $1.51, implying a 2% year-over-year increase.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues is pegged at $21.9 billion, which indicates an increase of 3.7% from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter. SYY has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 2.1%, on average.
Johnson & Johnson zvýšila čtvrtletní dividendu o 3,1 % na 1,34 USD na akcii a má za sebou 64 let růstu dividend. Zároveň zvedla výhled pro fiskální rok 2026 na tržby 100,3 až 101,3 miliardy USD a upravený EPS 11,45 až 11,65 USD.
Baby boomers heading into retirement face a specific math problem: They need income that grows faster than inflation, drawn from businesses stable enough to survive whatever the next decade throws at them. With the 10-Year Treasury yielding 4.56% as of July 10, 2026 and Core PCE inflation still climbing (index at 130.08 in May 2026, up 0.3% month over month), fixed-rate bonds alone will not preserve purchasing power over a 25-year retirement. Dividend Kings, companies with 50-plus years of consecutive dividend hikes, remain the workhorse solution.
Here are three durable-income names built for the long haul, each with a specific bull case and a risk worth respecting.
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ | JNJ Price Prediction) is the healthcare anchor almost every retirement portfolio needs. The company just posted Q1 2026 revenue of $24.06 billion (up 9.9% year over year) and adjusted EPS of $2.70, both ahead of Street expectations, and management raised FY2026 guidance to revenue of $100.3 billion to $101.3 billion and adjusted EPS of $11.45 to $11.65.
The dividend track record is the headline. The board approved a 3.1% dividend increase to $1.34 per share quarterly, marking 64 consecutive years of dividend growth, verified by the payment record showing the Q2 2026 ex-dividend date of May 26, 2026 at $1.34 versus $1.30 the prior quarter. The annualized forward payout of $5.36 gives retirees a concrete income figure to plan around.
Growth is accelerating too. DARZALEX delivered $3.96 billion in the quarter (up 22.5%), TREMFYA grew 68.3%, and CARVYKTI expanded 62.1%. CEO Joaquin Duato called this “a strong start to 2026” delivering on the promise of “a year of accelerated growth and impact.” Shares reflect that momentum: JNJ is up around 52% over the past year and 23.23% year to date through July 22, with a beta of 0.235 that still qualifies as defensive.
Risk/caveat: STELARA biosimilar erosion hit hard, with sales down 59.7% to $656M, and the planned Orthopaedics separation carries execution risk. At a forward P/E near 22, this is no longer a bargain-bin buy.
Kimberly-Clark (KMB) Kimberly-Clark (NASDAQ:KMB) is the consumer-staples version of this trade: Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise and Depend all sit in cabinets that get restocked whether the economy is booming or contracting.
The Q1 2026 print was solid: adjusted EPS of $1.97, which beat the $1.93 estimate, on revenue of $4.16 billion. The company reaffirmed 2026 guidance for organic sales growth of ~2.5% and double-digit adjusted EPS growth on a constant-currency basis, with International Personal Care up 9.1% to $1.51 billion.
The dividend? The Q1 2026 quarterly rose to $1.28 from $1.26 in Q4 2025, extending a streak the data confirms has run every single year from 1999 through 2026. The 4.7% trailing yield is one of the highest available in blue-chip staples.
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Valuation looks reasonable too: forward P/E of 15 versus a trailing 22, with a beta of 0.279. CEO Mike Hsu framed the pending Kenvue acquisition as a “generational value creation opportunity.” For retirees hunting income, this is a Dividend King built to weather cycles.
If maximizing income across a full portfolio is the objective, 24/7 Wall St.’s 10 Dividend Kings research report drills into how these multi-decade compounders fit alongside other steady-payer names.
Risk/caveat: Reported net sales fell 14% year over year due to IFP discontinued operations and the US private label diaper exit, and the consumer tissue restructuring plus Kenvue integration risk are real. As of July 22, shares are down 15.52% over the past year — a reminder that even Kings have off years.
Genuine Parts Company (GPC) Genuine Parts Company (NYSE:GPC) owns NAPA Auto Parts and one of the strongest industrial distribution networks in North America. Q1 2026 delivered adjusted EPS of $1.77, revenue of $6.26B (up 6.8% YoY), and comparable sales up 2.4%. Management reaffirmed FY2026 guidance for sales growth of 3% to 5.5%, adjusted diluted EPS of $7.50 to $8 and free cash flow of $550 million to $700 million.
The dividend streak here is the longest of the three. Data confirms 70 consecutive years of dividend increases announced with Q4 2025, with the annual rate up 3.2% to $4.25 per share. Payment records verify the Q1 2026 quarterly at $1.0625 (up from $1.03 through 2025), annualized forward of $4.25, with the latest payment on July 2, 2026. The 3.53% yield gives income a running start, and the planned tax-free separation into Global Automotive and Global Industrial businesses is targeted for Q1 2027, which could unlock trapped value.
CEO Will Stengel noted the team “delivered first quarter results ahead of expectations” while progressing on the separation.
Risk/caveat: Q4 2025 posted a GAAP net loss of $609.5 million driven by a $742 million pension settlement charge and a $150.5 million First Brands supplier bankruptcy credit loss. Add tariff exposure, separation execution risk, and a Q1 2026 free cash flow deficit of $33.6 million and the near-term picture is choppier than the streak suggests.
The Bottom Line All three names are Dividend Kings in defensive sectors, and all three have raised payouts through recessions, wars, and rate cycles. For baby boomers building an income base to draw from for decades, that consistency is the point. The forward-looking question is whether each company can navigate its current transition (JNJ’s Orthopaedics spin, KMB’s Kenvue integration, and GPC’s separation) without disrupting cash flow to shareholders. History says the odds favor the Kings.
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Kimberly-Clark uvedla, že inovace místo promoakcí táhly růst objemu i mixu a pomohly k růstu organických tržeb. V 1. čtvrtletí fiskálního 2026 se objem plus mix zlepšil na 3 %.
Key Takeaways Kimberly-Clark is expanding its portfolio with innovation across multiple price points and categories.KMB said that innovation, not promotions, drove volume and mix growth while supporting market share gains.KMB's enhanced Snug & Dry launch improved household penetration and product velocities. Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB - Free Report) continues to strengthen its portfolio through differentiated, science-backed innovation across its good, better, best product ladder, enabling it to address a broad range of consumer needs and price points. In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, these innovation efforts supported solid organic sales growth, with volume plus mix growth improving to 3%, extending two consecutive years of broad-based gains in this metric
The company highlighted that it is building market share across its key focus areas of Baby Care, Women’s Health and Active Aging as it continues to execute its innovation-led strategy. By consistently introducing differentiated products that address evolving consumer needs, Kimberly-Clark is expanding its product portfolio and strengthening its position across these key categories.
Kimberly-Clark emphasized that recent volume and mix improvements have been driven primarily by product innovation rather than promotional activity, highlighting the strength of the company’s innovation-focused growth model. Promotional programs are designed to support product launches by encouraging consumer trial and accelerating adoption, rather than serving as the primary driver of sales. This disciplined approach supports sustainable volume and mix growth while reinforcing the company’s innovation-led strategy.
In the first quarter, promotional efforts were centered on the enhanced Snug & Dry offering, which feature a softer feel enabled by a redesigned absorbent core. According to the company, this innovation has delivered encouraging results, contributing to higher household penetration and improved product velocities.
Overall, Kimberly-Clark’s continued investment in consumer-centric innovation is reinforcing its competitive position across key categories. As the company expands its pipeline of differentiated products, it is well-positioned to build on its market share momentum and support sustainable, profitable organic growth over the long term.
The Zacks Rundown for KMBShares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 7.6% in the past six months compared with the industry’s growth of 1.8%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, KMB trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 14.24, lower than the industry’s average of 18.43.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KMB’s current fiscal-year earnings implies a year-over-year decline of 0.8% and the same for next fiscal year earnings implies growth of 0.9%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked stocks have been discussed below:
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (CHD - Free Report) develops, manufactures and markets household, personal care and specialty products. At present, CHD carries a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CHD’s current fiscal-year sales implies a decline of 1% and the same for current fiscal-year earnings suggests growth of 6.2% from the year-ago reported figures. CHD reported a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 6.5%.
Krispy Kreme, Inc. (DNUT - Free Report) produces doughnuts in the United States, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Canada, Japan and internationally. At present, DNUT carries a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DNUT’s current fiscal-year sales indicates a decline of 14%, and the same for earnings implies growth of 30% from the year-ago reported figures. DNUT delivered a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of 6.3%, on average.
Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd. (RYKKY - Free Report) engages in the retail of household goods and food items in Japan and internationally. RYKKY currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RYKKY's current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 6.9% and 8.3%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals.
As of market close on July 7, the S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.42%) and Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC 0.23%) are up 9.6% and 11.1% year to date (YTD), respectively, and hovering around all-time highs. The tech sector -- which makes up 38% of the index -- is largely responsible for the strong gains because it is up 24.5% YTD.
However, some noteworthy value stocks are doing even better than the tech-heavy S&P 500. Kimberly-Clark (KMB 2.75%) is up 13.7% YTD, and that's without even factoring in two $1.28 per share dividend payments. Earlier this year, Kimberly-Clark raised its dividend for the 54th consecutive year, retaining its spot on the list of Dividend Kings, which have at least 50 consecutive years of dividend increases.
Here's why Kimberly-Clark remains a great dividend stock to buy for the second half of the year.
Image source: Getty Images.
1. Kimberly-Clark is recession-resistant Kimberly-Clark has a portfolio of leading household and personal care brands, many of which are paper-based. Its crown jewel is Huggies, which is the No. 2 diaper brand in the world behind Pampers. Other notable brands include Kleenex, Kotex, Scott, and Cottonelle.
Demand for these products tends to be consistent across economic cycles, though Kimberly-Clark's margins have been under pressure due to rising costs and inflationary pressures on consumer spending. In Kimberly-Clark's first-quarter 2026 earnings call, it forecasted $150 million to $170 million in additional costs if oil remained around $100 per barrel. Oil prices have come down significantly since that late April earnings call, but the months when oil was elevated will affect its full-year margins.
However, Kimberly-Clark is implementing productivity initiatives, new pricing with suppliers, and hedging programs to improve margins. Kimberly-Clark's chief financial officer, Nelson Urdaneta, said the following on the Q1 2026 earnings call:
I'd also remind everyone that we've got a solid track record over the last four years of recovering any input cost inflation and actually expanding margins. If you look at 2023 through 2025, we expanded both gross margins and operating profit margins beyond the levels pre-pandemic. So we're confident in our ability to cover all these input costs over time.
Kimberly-Clark isn't immune to consumer spending trends or macroeconomic factors, but it has done a good job adjusting to the new normal of cost inflation.
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2. A major acquisition is right around the corner In November 2025, Kimberly-Clark announced the acquisition of Kenvue (KVUE 1.80%). The consumer health company spun off from Johnson & Johnson in August 2023 and owns many noteworthy brands, including Aveeno, Neutrogena, Tylenol, Listerine, Johnson's, and BAND-AID.
Since then, Kimberly-Clark and Kenvue shareholders have overwhelmingly approved the acquisition, and Kimberly-Clark has moved forward with key organizational and leadership decisions.
The deal will diversify Kimberly-Clark's revenue streams and enhance its resilience in a recession. Kimberly-Clark expects the transaction to close before the end of the year.
3. Kimberly-Clark is dirt cheap You may think that Kimberly-Clark would command a premium valuation, given that its stock price is outpacing the S&P 500 and Nasdaq in 2026. However, Kimberly-Clark fell 23% last year and is down 18.1% over the last decade.
Kimberly-Clark now trades at just 15.2 times analyst consensus 2026 earnings estimates of $7.54 per share. Its 10-year median price-to-earnings ratio is 21.9.
A top high-yield dividend stock to buy now Investors who believe the Kenvue acquisition is the right move are getting a chance to buy Kimberly-Clark at a dirt cheap valuation. Kimberly-Clark expects the combined company to deliver $2.1 billion in annual run rate synergies by the second year following the acquisition, unlocking operating leverage and boosting margins.
In the meantime, investors can count on Kimberly-Clark's high-yield dividend. Although a high yield can sometimes indicate that a dividend is becoming unsustainable, Kimberly-Clark's earnings and free cash flow still exceed its payout.
With an established and recession-resistant portfolio of brands, Kimberly-Clark stands out as an attractive value stock for investors looking for an alternative to high-flying growth stocks. Unlike hyperscaler cloud computing companies, Kimberly-Clark isn't spending a ton of capital expenditures on big ideas that it needs to pay off. Rather, it is a stable stalwart that has rewarded income investors for decades.
Therefore, Kimberly-Clark can continue to outperform the S&P 500 and Nasdaq because its earnings growth expectations are already low. So even decent results would likely be received well by investors. However, Kimberly-Clark isn't without its risks.
If the Kenvue acquisition doesn't go as smoothly as planned or fails to unlock the cost savings Kimberly-Clark hopes for, it could make its dividend less affordable, which could strain its balance sheet. The combined company must also prove it can extract value from a larger portfolio of brands, which comes with a slew of execution challenges from a new leadership team.
Therefore, some investors may want to wait for the dust to settle after the Kenvue acquisition before buying the stock. Investors who don't mind the uncertainty can scoop up shares at an attractive valuation.
Kimberly-Clark uvedla, že při ceně ropy kolem 100 USD za barel v druhé polovině fiskálního roku 2026 by jí mohly vzrůst hrubé vstupní náklady o 150–170 milionů USD. Firma ale dál cílí na 6% hrubou produktivitu a říká, že asi 80 % celkového nákladového koše má pokryto smlouvami, zajištěním a dalšími opatřeními řízení nákladů.
Key Takeaways KMB could face higher input costs if oil averages about $100 per barrel in the second half of fiscal 2026.KMB targets 6% gross productivity again, backed by efficiency initiatives and supply chain investments.KMB said about 80% of its cost basket is covered through contracts, hedging and cost management. Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB - Free Report) faces near-term challenges related to increased input costs. At its first-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings call, the company indicated that if oil prices average around $100 per barrel in the second half of fiscal 2026, the company could face incremental gross input costs of approximately $150-$170 million. However, this potential impact has not been incorporated into its outlook due to ongoing uncertainty and multiple evolving factors.
KMB is focused on managing rising input costs through strengthened cost management capabilities, pricing discipline and continued industry-leading productivity. The company has also enhanced its Revenue Growth Management discipline, reinforcing its ability to manage pricing effectively. It remains committed to a disciplined approach centered on maintaining pricing net of commodity input cost neutrality over time, while leveraging all available tools to uphold this pricing and cost management framework.
Kimberly-Clark continues to execute a strong pipeline of productivity initiatives, consistently delivering 6% gross productivity for two consecutive years. It has already achieved 6% gross productivity in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, and remains on track to deliver the same level for the full year.
Management highlighted a robust pipeline of efficiency initiatives while continuing to make significant investments in its North America supply chain. The previously announced $2 billion supply chain investment is progressing as planned, supporting its long-term operational priorities.
Additionally, the company noted that approximately 80% of its overall cost basket is covered through contractual arrangements, programmatic hedging and other cost management measures, providing greater visibility into input costs while supporting a disciplined approach to managing cost exposure. Overall, Kimberly-Clark believes its disciplined execution, productivity initiatives and integrated margin management framework support its ability to recover input cost inflation over time while remaining aligned with its long-term margin expansion plans.
The Zacks Rundown for KMBShares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 17% in the past six months compared with the industry’s growth of 4.8%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, KMB trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 15.29, lower than the industry’s average of 17.96.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KMB’s current fiscal year earnings implies a year-over-year decline of 0.7%, while the consensus mark for next fiscal year earnings implies year-over-year growth of 0.5%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked stocks have been discussed below:
ARKO Corp. (ARKO - Free Report) operates a chain of convenience stores in the United States. ARKO currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ARKO's current fiscal-year sales implies a decline of 2.8%, while the same for current fiscal-year earnings implies growth of 93.3% from the year-ago reported figures. ARKO delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 43.2%, on average.
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (CHD - Free Report) develops, manufactures and markets household, personal care and specialty products. At present, CHD carries a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CHD’s current fiscal-year sales implies a decline of nearly 1%, and the same for current fiscal-year earnings implies growth of 6.2% from the year-ago reported figures. CHD reported a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 6.5%.
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings Inc. (OLLI - Free Report) is a retailer of closeout merchandise and excess inventory in the United States. It holds a Zacks Rank #2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ollie Bargain’s current financial-year sales and earnings indicates 12.7% and 17.1% growth from the last year, respectively. OLLI reported a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 4.9%.
Kimberly-Clark zvýšila čtvrtletní dividendu na 1,28 USD na akcii z 1,26 USD a prodloužila sérii ročních zvýšení na 53 let. Přestože volný peněžní tok loni dividendu těsně nepokryl, provozní peněžní tok v 1. čtvrtletí 2026 vyskočil o 128 %.
Kimberly-Clark (NASDAQ:KMB | KMB Price Prediction) just sent another check to shareholders, and the math is making conservative income investors nervous. The consumer staples giant paid out $1.28 per share on July 2, 2026, marking another quarter in a dividend streak that now stretches more than five decades. The problem? On certain adjusted measures, the payout ratio is hovering near 80%, and free cash flow barely covered the dividend last year. For retirees who depend on this Dividend Aristocrat for income, that’s the kind of data point that triggers a portfolio review.
However, if you dig into the balance sheet, a very different story emerges. Kimberly-Clark is actively deleveraging, equity is rebuilding at a pace not seen in years and operating cash flow just exploded in the most recent quarter. The dividend sits on a wider beam than the trailing payout ratio suggests.
The Payment That Sparked the Debate The Q1 2026 declaration lifted the quarterly rate to $1.28 from $1.26, extending Kimberly-Clark’s growth streak to 53 consecutive years of annual increases. At the current price of $110.06, that puts the trailing dividend yield at 5%, well above the broader market and competitive with investment-grade corporate bonds.
The annualized run rate sits at $5.12 per share for 2026, up from $5.04 in 2025 and $4.88 in 2024. The progression has been remarkably mechanical: small, predictable raises that prioritize the streak over flash.
Why Retirees Are Worried: The Coverage Math The case against Kimberly-Clark starts with one statistic that should make any dividend investor pause. In fiscal 2025, the company generated $1.639 billion in free cash flow against $1.660 billion in dividend payments. That’s a coverage ratio of 0.99x, the first time in a decade that free cash flow has not comfortably covered the distribution.
Historical context makes the deterioration look sharper. From 2016 through 2024, free cash flow coverage typically ran between 1.4x and 1.9x. The driver was capital intensity. Capital expenditures jumped to $1.138 billion in 2025 from $721 million in 2024, consuming 41% of operating cash flow, the highest ratio in the 10-year period.
Q1 2026 looks tighter still when isolated. Free cash flow of $321 million fell short of the $418 million dividend payment. Buybacks also pulled back hard: share repurchases dropped to $141 million in 2025 from $1.0 billion in 2024. Management is clearly prioritizing the dividend, which is exactly what raises the question of whether something has to give.
The Balance Sheet Counter-Argument Here’s where the bear case starts breaking down. While free cash flow tightened, Kimberly-Clark used 2025 to materially strengthen its capital structure.
Shareholder equity rose to $1.502 billion at year-end 2025 from $840 million in 2024, a 79% jump. Total debt fell by $620 million to $7.296 billion. The debt-to-equity ratio improved from 9.42x to 4.86x in a single year. By the end of Q1 2026, equity had climbed further to $1.796 billion while total debt continued to drift down to $7.084 billion.
Retained earnings of $9.611 billion provide a substantial accumulated cushion. That’s the profile of a company simultaneously paying down debt, raising distributions, and reinvesting in capacity.
Q1 2026 Cash Flow Tells a Different Story The single most underappreciated data point in this debate is the operating cash flow swing in the latest quarter. Q1 2026 operating cash flow came in at $745 million, up 128% year over year. That’s the kind of working capital release that doesn’t happen at companies on the verge of cash distress.
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Earnings followed the same path. Adjusted EPS of $1.97 beat the $1.93 consensus, the fourth consecutive quarterly beat. Revenue of $4.163 billion topped expectations, and net income jumped 17% year over year to $665 million. The International Personal Care segment posted 9% revenue growth with operating profit up 22%.
CEO Mike Hsu framed the quarter directly: “Our first quarter results highlight the strength and resilience of the growth engine we’ve built through Powering Care…[and] we continue to generate meaningful cost savings that reinforce our strong financial foundation and enable us to invest in our exciting future.”
Dividend Scorecard Metric Value Assessment Current Yield 5% Premium income Consecutive Growth Years 53 Dividend Aristocrat tier Payout Ratio (GAAP EPS) ~67% Elevated but workable FCF Coverage (FY 2025) 0.99x Tight Debt-to-Equity 4.86x Improving sharply Beta 0.302 Low volatility Latest Raise $1.26 to $1.28 On schedule Grade: B+
The free cash flow squeeze is real and worth monitoring, but balance sheet repair, the 27-year uninterrupted payment record, and the operating cash flow acceleration in Q1 2026 outweigh the trailing coverage concern. A pure A would require restored FCF coverage above 1.3x.
The Macro Backdrop Favors the Dividend Retirees evaluating Kimberly-Clark aren’t doing so in a vacuum. The savings rate has compressed to 4% in Q1 2026 from 6% in Q1 2024, suggesting income-dependent households are drawing down reserves. Per-capita disposable income has climbed to $68,391, but Social Security receipts of $1.630 trillion now anchor retiree budgets more than ever.
Demand for Kimberly-Clark’s core categories has held up. Spending on the “Other” nondurable goods category, which captures personal care and household products, ran at $1,810.8 billion in May 2026 versus $1,714.6 billion in May 2025. Tissue, diapers, and feminine care are textbook recession-resistant categories, and the BEA data shows consumers continuing to spend on them through a softening savings environment.
The Kenvue Wild Card Looming over everything is the pending $48.7 billion Kenvue (NYSE:KVUE) acquisition, which shareholders have already approved. Integration risk is real, but so is the strategic logic of combining Kimberly-Clark’s distribution muscle with Kenvue’s branded consumer health portfolio. The IFP joint venture with Suzano (NYSE:SUZ), expected to close mid-2026, further reshapes the asset base. Management has guided to organic sales growth of around 3% and double-digit adjusted EPS growth on a constant-currency basis for 2026.
What to Watch Next The stock has come back to life. Shares are up nearly 8% year to date and more than 11% over the past month, recovering from a tough trailing 12 months that saw the stock fall over 15%. The analyst target sits at $114.80, modest upside from current levels, and the consensus skews toward Hold with nine Hold ratings against six Buy or Strong Buy ratings and just one Sell rating.
For retirees, the key signal posts are clear. First, watch full-year free cash flow coverage restore above 1.2x as the elevated capex cycle normalizes. Second, watch the Kenvue integration cadence for evidence that combined cash flow can fund a larger dividend base. Third, keep an eye on the quarterly raise in early 2027. A skipped or token increase would break the rhythm in a way the bond market would notice immediately.
The 80% payout headline is doing more rhetorical work than the underlying numbers justify. A company actively deleveraging, growing equity at double-digit rates, beating earnings four quarters in a row, and operating in categories with documented stable demand is a Dividend Aristocrat navigating a heavy CapEx cycle while keeping the streak intact.
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