Financial Performance - Third quarter 2025 net sales were $4.2 billion, consistent with the prior year, with organic sales growth of 2.5% driven by 2.4% volume growth [4]. - Year-to-date sales totaled $12.4 billion, a decrease of 2.6%, primarily due to a 3.0% negative impact from divestitures and foreign currency translation [12]. - Net sales for Q3 2025 were $4,150 million, a slight increase of 0.1% compared to $4,144 million in Q3 2024 [40]. - For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, net sales were $12,367 million, a decrease of 2.6% from $12,701 million in the same period of 2024 [42]. - Total net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, were $12,367 million, down 2.6% from $12,701 million in 2024 [48]. Profitability - Gross margin for the quarter was 36.0%, with an adjusted gross margin of 36.8%, down 170 basis points year-over-year due to pricing pressures and cost inflation [5]. - Diluted earnings per share (EPS) attributable to Kimberly-Clark were $1.34, down from $2.69 in the prior year, while adjusted EPS were $1.82, broadly in line with the previous year [11]. - Operating profit decreased by 39.5% to $621 million in Q3 2025 from $1,026 million in Q3 2024 [40]. - Net income attributable to Kimberly-Clark Corporation fell by 50.8% to $446 million in Q3 2025, down from $907 million in Q3 2024 [40]. - Operating profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was $1,844 million, down 19.1% from $2,280 million in 2024 [42]. - Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was $1,539 million, a decrease of 27.6% compared to $2,126 million in 2024 [46]. Cash Flow and Capital Expenditures - Adjusted free cash flow is expected to be approximately $2 billion in 2025 [30]. - Cash provided by operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was $1,805 million, down 25.4% from $2,417 million in 2024 [46]. - Capital spending for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was $741 million, an increase of 44.7% compared to $512 million in 2024 [46]. - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period were $634 million, down 43% from $1,111 million at the end of the same period in 2024 [46]. Debt and Assets - Total debt as of September 30, 2025, was $7.3 billion, down from $7.4 billion as of December 31, 2024 [25]. - Total assets as of September 30, 2025, were $16,888 million, an increase from $16,546 million at the end of 2024 [44]. - Current liabilities increased to $7,077 million as of September 30, 2025, compared to $7,004 million at the end of 2024 [44]. Taxation - The Effective Tax Rate as reported for Q3 2025 was 45.4%, significantly higher than 19.4% in Q3 2024 [62]. - The Adjusted Effective Tax Rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was 22.6%, compared to 21.7% in the same period of 2024 [62]. Transformation Initiative - The company initiated a 2024 Transformation Initiative aimed at improving growth trajectory and profitability [56]. - The company is focusing on its 2024 Transformation Initiative to enhance operational efficiency and drive future growth [61]. - The 2024 Transformation Initiative contributed $62 million to income from continuing operations in Q3 2025, compared to $(12) million in Q3 2024 [62].

Core Insights - Kimberly-Clark Corporation reported third quarter 2025 results driven by resilient consumer demand, innovative product introductions, and effective cost management [1][2][3] Financial Performance - Net sales for Q3 2025 were $4.2 billion, consistent with the prior year, with organic sales increasing by 2.5% due to a 2.4% volume growth [3][11] - Gross margin was reported at 36.0%, with an adjusted gross margin of 36.8%, reflecting a decline of 170 basis points year-over-year due to cost inflation and pricing pressures [4][10] - Operating profit for Q3 was $621 million, with adjusted operating profit at $683 million, remaining in line with the previous year despite challenges [5][12] - Diluted EPS attributable to Kimberly-Clark was $1.34, down from $2.69 in the prior year, while adjusted EPS was $1.82, broadly in line with the previous year [8][15] Year-to-Date Results - For the first nine months of 2025, sales totaled $12.4 billion, a decrease of 2.6%, primarily due to divestitures and foreign currency translation impacts [9][12] - Year-to-date gross margin was 36.0%, with an adjusted gross margin of 37.4%, down 130 basis points compared to the prior year [10][12] - Year-to-date operating profit was $1.8 billion, including $258 million in costs related to the 2024 Transformation Initiative, with adjusted operating profit at $2.1 billion, a decline of 3.2% [12][13] Business Segment Performance - North America net sales decreased by 0.8% in Q3, while organic sales grew by 2.7%, driven by strong volume growth [18][19] - International Personal Care (IPC) net sales increased by 1.9% in Q3, with organic sales growth of 2.1%, reflecting improvements in consumer value propositions [20][21] Cash Flow and Balance Sheet - Year-to-date cash provided by operations was $1.8 billion, down from $2.4 billion last year, attributed to lower operating profit [22][23] - Total debt as of September 30, 2025, was $7.3 billion, a decrease from $7.4 billion at the end of 2024 [23] 2025 Outlook - The company expects 2025 organic sales growth to align with the average growth in its competitive categories, projected at approximately 2% [25][26] - Adjusted operating profit is anticipated to grow at a low single-digit rate on a constant-currency basis, with a negative impact from divestitures and currency translation [26][27] - Adjusted free cash flow is expected to be approximately $2 billion in 2025 [28]

Nationally ranked stock picker for 30 years. Victory Formation and Bottom Fishing Club quant-sort pioneer.....Paul Franke is a private investor and speculator with 39 years of trading experience. Mr. Franke was Editor and Publisher of the Maverick Investor® newsletter during the 1990s, widely quoted by CNBC®, Barron’s®, the Washington Post® and Investor’s Business Daily®. Paul was consistently ranked among top investment advisors nationally for stock market and commodity macro views by Timer Digest® during ...

We recently published Top 10 Trending Stocks and ETFs as Analyst Predicts $9 Trillion Productivity Gains Due to AI. Kimberly-Clark Corp (NASDAQ:KMB) is one of the top trending stocks. Jenny Harrington, CEO and Portfolio Manager at Gilman Hill Asset Management, said in a recent program on CNBC that KMB is currently one of her favorite stocks. Here is why: “The reason I like it is because I don’t like anything else. I don’t like cash. I don’t like bonds. I don’t like areas of the market that have done well ...

The talk of a potential AI bubble is prevailing on Wall Street as investors await big tech earnings. Some analysts believe the promise of AI is huge when it comes to productivity gains and spending on the technology is justified. Jon Gray, Blackstone president and COO, talked about AI investments during a latest program on CNBC and said that his company’s AI investments are long term and backed by solid plans: “We’re very focused on who our counterparty is and the length of the leases we signed. We’re not b ...

Core Insights - Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) is expected to report a decline in both revenue and earnings for Q3 2025, with revenues estimated at $4.08 billion, reflecting a 17.6% decrease year-over-year [1] - The earnings consensus has dropped from $1.59 to $1.45, indicating a 20.8% decrease compared to the previous year [2] Factors Impacting Performance - The company faces a challenging operating environment, with softening demand in key international markets and economic pressures in emerging markets, including currency volatility and inflation [3] - Kimberly-Clark anticipates a nearly 100 basis point negative impact on net sales for the full year due to unfavorable currency rates, alongside a 290 basis point headwind from divestitures [4] - Operating profit growth is projected to be negatively impacted by approximately 100 basis points from currency translation, with earnings per share (EPS) expected to reflect a 150 basis point adverse impact [4] Margin and Cost Considerations - Margin performance may be strained due to ongoing cost pressures and increased brand investments, with advertising and promotional costs expected to rise to nearly 7% of sales in the second half of the year [5] - Despite these challenges, Kimberly-Clark's Powering Care strategy has led to 5.8% productivity savings in Q2, contributing to a multiyear savings target of $3 billion [6] Earnings Outlook - The current model does not predict an earnings beat for Kimberly-Clark, as it holds a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) and an Earnings ESP of -4.99% [7] - The company enters Q3 2025 earnings amid soft demand and a cautious retail environment, with external pressures likely impacting sales, margins, and EPS growth [9]

Image source: Getty ImagesGilman Hill Asset Management, LLC disclosed a new stake in Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB +0.13%) as of its October 15, 2025, SEC filing, with an estimated trade value of $9.92 million.What happenedAccording to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission dated October 15, 2025, Gilman Hill Asset Management, LLC reported a new position in Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB +0.13%). The fund acquired 79,790 shares in the third quarter of 2025, with an estimated transaction val ...

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Companies with a long history of paying dividends and consistently hiking them remain appealing to income-focused investors. CareTrust REIT, Hess Midstream, and Kimberly-Clark have rewarded shareholders for years and recently announced dividend increases. These companies currently offer dividend yields of up to around 8%. CareTrust REIT CareTrust REIT Inc. (NYSE:CTRE) is a real estate investment trust that ...

We recently published 10 Trending Stocks This Week. Kimberly-Clark Corp (NASDAQ:KMB) is one of the trending stocks this week. Jenny Harrington, CEO at Gilman Hill Asset Management, said in a recent program on CNBC that she likes Kimberly-Clark amid the company’s dividend yield and strong business. She believes the stock could be a good buy for investors who are looking for stocks outside of the AI trade, where she sees “froth.” “The most consumer staple of all consumer staples names. It’s trading at 16 a ...

Core Viewpoint - The consumer staples sector, including companies like Procter & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, and Kimberly-Clark, is facing challenges due to weak consumer confidence and spending, but these companies remain reliable for long-term investors seeking passive income through dividends [1][2][5][16]. Group 1: Industry Overview - The consumer staples sector is roughly flat year-to-date, with Walmart's performance helping to mitigate losses [1]. - Procter & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, and Kimberly-Clark are major players in household and personal care products, with P&G leading in various categories [3][4]. - The current operating environment is challenging due to high raw material costs, geopolitical issues, and consumer uncertainty [10]. Group 2: Consumer Behavior and Market Dynamics - Weak consumer confidence is leading to cautious spending, with consumers opting for smaller packs or promotions to manage costs [7][9]. - There is a notable disconnect between stock market gains and consumer spending, with record AI spending benefiting corporations rather than consumers [8]. - Companies are adapting by offering larger package sizes or multipacks to provide better value, even if it results in lower margins [11]. Group 3: Financial Performance and Valuation - P&G and Colgate-Palmolive have seen less than 25% sales growth over the last decade, while Kimberly-Clark's sales are roughly flat [12]. - Operating margins for P&G and Colgate-Palmolive are high at 24.2% and 22%, respectively, but face pressure from inflation [13]. - All three companies are trading at steep discounts to their historical average valuations, making them attractive for long-term investors [18]. Group 4: Dividend Reliability - All three companies are recognized as Dividend Kings, having raised dividends for over 50 consecutive years, with current yields of 4.2% for Kimberly-Clark, 2.8% for P&G, and 2.7% for Colgate-Palmolive [17]. - These companies can support their dividends with earnings and free cash flow, even during periods of slower growth [20][22]. - Long-term investors are encouraged to focus on fundamentals and the potential for consistent passive income from these reliable dividend stocks [16][23].