Core Insights - Kimberly-Clark Corporation reported strong second quarter results driven by innovation-led volume growth, effective cost management, and resilient consumer demand [1][2][4] - The company is executing its "Powering Care" transformation strategy, which has led to one of the strongest quarters in recent history [2][3] Financial Performance - Net sales for Q2 2025 were $4.2 billion, a decrease of 1.6% from the previous year, impacted by divestitures and foreign currency translation [4][10] - Organic sales increased by 3.9%, primarily due to a 5.0% volume-led growth, partially offset by a 1.2% investment in pricing [4][10] - Gross margin was reported at 35.0%, with an adjusted gross margin of 36.9%, down 180 basis points year-over-year due to pricing pressures and cost inflation [5][10] - Operating profit for Q2 was $592 million, up from $539 million in the prior year, with adjusted operating profit at $713 million, a decline of 2.2% [6][10] Year-to-Date Results - For the first half of 2025, sales totaled $8.2 billion, down 4.0% compared to the same period last year, with organic sales growth of 1.2% [11][12] - Year-to-date gross margin was 36.1%, with an adjusted gross margin of 37.7%, reflecting a decline of 120 basis points year-over-year [12] - Year-to-date operating profit was $1.2 billion, including $196 million in transformation initiative costs, with adjusted operating profit at $1.4 billion, down 4.7% from 2024 [13] Business Segment Performance - North America net sales decreased by 1.9% to $2.7 billion, while organic sales grew by 4.3% driven by strong volume growth [19][20] - International Personal Care (IPC) net sales increased by 0.4% to $1.4 billion, with organic sales growth of 3.3% [21][22] Cash Flow and Balance Sheet - Year-to-date cash provided by operations was $1.1 billion, down from $1.5 billion last year, with capital spending at $401 million [23] - The company returned $944 million to shareholders through dividends and stock repurchases, with total debt at $7.2 billion as of June 30, 2025 [23] 2025 Outlook - The company adjusted its full-year outlook, expecting organic sales growth to outpace the average growth in its categories, which are currently at approximately 2% [24][25] - Adjusted operating profit is anticipated to grow at a low-to-mid single-digit rate on a constant-currency basis, with a negative impact from divestitures and currency translation [26][27] - Adjusted earnings per share are expected to grow at a low-to-mid single-digit rate, factoring in various impacts including higher net interest expense and a higher effective tax rate [27]

Group 1 - In the first half of 2025, the Nasdaq exchange welcomed 142 IPOs, raising a total of $19.2 billion, marking the highest number of listings and fundraising since 2021 [1] - Among the new listings, 83 were operating companies, while 59 were SPACs (Special Purpose Acquisition Companies) [1] - Additionally, 11 companies transferred from the NYSE to Nasdaq during the same period, with a total valuation of $271 billion, including notable firms like Shopify and Kimberly-Clark [1] Group 2 - The months of April and May saw the highest activity for new listings, with a total of 60 new stocks launched [3] - China accounted for the largest number of foreign companies listed, representing 32% of the total [3] - The Nasdaq's "IPO Pulse Index" has been rising, indicating improved market returns and valuations, which are expected to correlate with continued IPO activity in the second half of the year [3]

Group 1 - Kimberly-Clark will release its second quarter 2025 results on August 1, 2025, at approximately 6:30 a.m. EDT [1] - A live Q&A session with analysts will follow the earnings release, starting at 8:00 a.m. EDT [1] - The earnings release and supplemental materials will be accessible through Kimberly-Clark's Investor Relations website, along with a replay of the webcast [2] Group 2 - Kimberly-Clark operates in over 175 countries and territories, providing essential products under trusted brands [3] - The company's portfolio includes well-known brands such as Huggies, Kleenex, and Scott, which hold No. 1 or No. 2 market share positions in approximately 70 countries [3] - Kimberly-Clark has been recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies® for seven consecutive years and was listed among Fortune's Most Innovative Companies in America in 2024 [3]

Core Viewpoint - Investors in the Consumer Products - Staples sector should consider Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. (GO) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) for potential value investment opportunities [1] Group 1: Company Rankings and Performance - Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a positive earnings outlook, while Kimberly-Clark has a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) [3] - The Zacks Rank system emphasizes companies with positive earnings estimate revisions, suggesting that GO is likely experiencing a more favorable earnings outlook compared to KMB [3] Group 2: Valuation Metrics - GO has a forward P/E ratio of 17.91, while KMB has a forward P/E of 18.58, indicating that GO may be more attractively priced relative to its earnings [5] - The PEG ratio for GO is 3.35, compared to KMB's PEG ratio of 4.47, suggesting that GO's valuation is more favorable when considering expected earnings growth [5] - GO's P/B ratio is 1.1, significantly lower than KMB's P/B of 35.69, further supporting GO's position as a better value option [6] - Based on these valuation metrics, GO has a Value grade of A, while KMB has a Value grade of C, reinforcing the conclusion that GO is the superior value investment at this time [6]

Core Viewpoint - Investing in high-yielding stocks can be attractive for income investors, but it is essential to consider the stability and growth potential of the companies behind these dividends [1][2]. Group 1: Verizon Communications - Verizon offers a dividend yield of 6.3%, significantly higher than the S&P 500 average of 1.2% [4]. - The company reported sales of $134.8 billion in 2024, showing minimal growth from $133.6 billion in 2021 [4]. - Verizon has a profit margin exceeding 13% and trades at 10 times its trailing earnings, making it a solid income investment [5]. - The company has increased its dividend for 18 consecutive years, with a sustainable payout ratio of 64% [5][6]. Group 2: Duke Energy - Duke Energy provides a dividend yield of 3.5% and operates in essential utility services, offering stability [7]. - The company generated $30.9 billion in revenue and $4.7 billion in earnings over the past 12 months, resulting in a profit margin of 15% [8]. - Duke has paid dividends for 99 straight years, with a 31% increase in its quarterly per-share dividend over the past decade [9]. - The payout ratio of 69% indicates potential for future dividend increases, making it a strong long-term investment [9]. Group 3: Kimberly-Clark - Kimberly-Clark, known for brands like Huggies and Kleenex, has maintained sales around $20 billion for the past three years with profit margins typically around 10% [10][11]. - The company has raised its dividend for 53 consecutive years, earning the title of Dividend King, indicating a commitment to growing its payouts [12]. - With a dividend yield of 3.9% and a payout ratio of approximately 67%, Kimberly-Clark is positioned as a low-volatility stock suitable for long-term investment [12][13].

Group 1 - Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. (GO) has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a positive earnings outlook, while Kimberly-Clark (KMB) has a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) [3] - The Zacks Rank system favors stocks with strong earnings estimate revisions, which is a key consideration for value investors [2][3] - Value investors analyze various traditional metrics to assess whether a company is undervalued, including P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, and cash flow per share [4] Group 2 - GO has a forward P/E ratio of 17.47, while KMB has a forward P/E of 18.20, suggesting GO may be more attractively priced [5] - The PEG ratio for GO is 3.53, compared to KMB's PEG ratio of 4.37, indicating GO has a better earnings growth outlook relative to its valuation [5] - GO's P/B ratio is 1.07, significantly lower than KMB's P/B of 34.95, further supporting GO as the superior value option [6]

Group 1 - U by Kotex® has partnered with Anna Leigh Waters, the number one pickleball player, to challenge the stigma surrounding menstruation in sports [1][2][3] - A study indicates that some women's mental agility may improve during menstruation, with faster reaction times and better accuracy [2] - More than 84% of teenage girls aged 11-16 report a decrease in interest in sports after starting their period, and nearly 25% feel embarrassed to participate in physical activities during their menstrual cycle [3] Group 2 - The partnership aims to empower women to continue participating in sports regardless of their menstrual cycle, promoting the message that periods should not hinder athletic performance [3][4] - U by Kotex® emphasizes the importance of showcasing female athletes' resilience and strength, aligning with their mission to normalize conversations about menstruation in sports [4]

Group 1: Joint Venture Announcement - Suzano S.A. and Kimberly-Clark Corporation are forming a $3.4 billion joint venture to manufacture consumer and professional tissue products, with Suzano owning 51% and Kimberly-Clark holding 49% [1][7] - The joint venture will be incorporated in the Netherlands and will operate 22 manufacturing facilities across 14 countries, with an annual tissue production capacity of approximately 1 million tons and projected net sales of $3.3 billion in 2024 [2][3][7] Group 2: Market and Employment Impact - The joint venture will market and distribute various tissue products in over 70 countries and is expected to create more than 9,000 job opportunities [3] - The transaction is anticipated to close in mid-2026, with Suzano set to pay $1.734 billion in cash at closing, subject to standard post-closing adjustments [4][7] Group 3: Suzano's Financial Performance - In Q1 2025, Suzano reported net sales of $1.97 billion, an increase from $1.91 billion in the same quarter of the previous year, with adjusted earnings rising to 87 cents compared to 3 cents in the prior year [5] - Over the past year, Suzano's shares have increased by 5.9%, while the industry has seen an 18.4% growth [6]

Core Insights - Kimberly-Clark has formed a strategic partnership with Suzano to create a leading international tissue and professional products company, focusing on higher growth and margin segments [1][2][3] - The new venture will allow Kimberly-Clark to enhance its operational efficiency and improve its growth trajectory by concentrating on its iconic global brands [3][4] - The transaction is expected to generate significant shareholder returns through upfront cash proceeds and share repurchases [3][4][6] Company Strategy - The partnership sharpens Kimberly-Clark's focus on proprietary spaces that enhance growth, with approximately two-thirds of net revenues projected to come from personal care categories post-transaction [3][4] - The collaboration with Suzano is anticipated to reduce product costs and improve supply chain efficiency, benefiting both consumers and customers [3][4] Financial Details - Kimberly-Clark will contribute its International Family Care and Professional (IFP) business, which generated approximately $3.3 billion in net sales in 2024, to the new venture [5][6] - The implied enterprise value for the IFP business is approximately $3.4 billion, subject to adjustments at closing [6] - The transaction is expected to be dilutive to Adjusted Earnings Per Share by approximately $0.30-0.40 in the first full year following the close [7][8] Operational Impact - The new venture will encompass sales in over 70 countries, 22 manufacturing facilities, and around 9,000 employees, with more than 40 regional brands being owned by the new entity [5][6] - Kimberly-Clark's interests in Mexico and its joint venture in South Korea are excluded from this transaction [5] Timeline and Approvals - The transaction has been unanimously approved by Kimberly-Clark's Board of Directors and is expected to close in mid-2026, pending regulatory approvals [10]

Core Viewpoint - Kimberly-Clark Corp. is nearing a deal to sell its international Kleenex business and other tissue operations outside North America for approximately $3.5 billion, with the transaction potentially being finalized soon [1][2] Group 1: Business Overview - Kimberly-Clark is a leading consumer tissue company headquartered in Dallas, established in 1872, and operates in over 175 countries with more than 40,000 employees [2] - The company's core business segments include North American consumer paper products, global personal care products, and international tissue operations, the latter being the smallest segment with annual sales of less than $3.5 billion and the lowest profit margins [1][2] Group 2: Transaction Details - The sale includes the Kleenex brand facial tissue, Scottex brand tissues, Andrex toilet paper, and WypAll cleaning cloths, with interest from major companies like Royal Golden Eagle Pte and Asia Pulp & Paper Co. [2] - Kimberly-Clark plans to retain its North American tissue business, which generates annual revenue of $11 billion, and its international personal care business with approximately $5.7 billion in revenue [2] Group 3: Strategic Focus - The divestiture aligns with Kimberly-Clark's strategy to focus on high-return core brands, similar to its previous exit from the personal protective equipment business valued at about $640 million [2] - The company intends to invest $2 billion in its U.S. manufacturing network over the next five years to enhance profit margins and supply chain resilience [2]