Kenvue (KVUE) - 2025 Q4 - Annual Report
Kenvue Kenvue (US:KVUE)2026-02-20 12:13

Company Transformation and Growth - The company has significantly transformed since the separation from J&J, focusing on modernizing systems and enhancing commercial capabilities to drive sustainable and profitable growth [22]. - The company completed its IPO in May 2023, trading on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "KVUE," marking its transition to a fully independent public company [24]. - The company operates a global portfolio of iconic brands, prioritizing targeted operations to deliver sustainable and profitable growth [26]. - The company has established a sustainability strategy, the Healthy Lives Mission, which includes public targets to manage impacts and risks while driving innovation and growth [48]. Manufacturing and Supply Chain - Approximately 60% of the company's sales volume during fiscal year 2025 was delivered through in-house manufacturing, enhancing operational flexibility [40]. - The company maintains a diverse supplier base for raw materials, with no single supplier providing a significant portion of total material requirements, mitigating supply chain risks [39]. - The company's distribution network is designed to respond to complex consumer demands, leveraging partnerships with third-party operators for efficiency [41]. Innovation and Employee Engagement - The company has a global team of approximately 1,600 scientists and professionals dedicated to product development and innovation, ensuring a continuous pipeline of meaningful innovations [34]. - The company emphasizes innovation to meet evolving consumer needs and aims to create an inclusive environment that reflects the diversity of its global consumer base [53]. - Talent practices focus on transparency, empowerment, and accountability to drive superior performance and engagement among employees [54]. - The company invests in learning and development to ensure employees' skills remain relevant in a rapidly evolving marketplace [55]. - Engagement surveys are regularly conducted to gauge employee sentiment on strategic alignment, execution, and career development [56]. - The company supports communities through strategic investments and its global employee volunteer program, Kenvue Cares [57]. - Total rewards programs are designed to attract and retain top talent, aligning compensation with company and individual performance [58]. - Competitive benefits packages vary by country and region, supporting the physical, emotional, and financial well-being of employees [59]. Regulatory Compliance - The company is subject to extensive government regulations, which may impact business strategies and operational costs [67]. - The company is subject to various regulations for medical devices, requiring premarket clearance (510(k) clearance) for certain products in the U.S. and compliance with EU Medical Device Regulation [76]. - In China, locally manufactured medical devices gain market authorization through municipal authorities, while imported devices are reviewed by the NMPA [77]. - Dietary supplements marketed in the U.S. are governed by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, with similar regulations in the EU [78]. - The company must comply with various labeling and product claims laws, ensuring marketing claims are substantiated and not misleading [79]. - The company faces potential investigations and penalties related to compliance with advertising regulations, including the FTC's Endorsement Guides [80]. - The company is subject to extensive environmental, health, and safety regulations, including the EPA and OSHA standards in the U.S. [84][85]. - Privacy and data protection laws, including the EU GDPR and China's PIPL, impose compliance obligations on the company regarding personal data processing [86][87]. Financial Risks - The company is exposed to foreign currency risk, with a hypothetical 10% unfavorable change in exchange rates potentially resulting in a decline in net income of approximately $122 million [442]. - A hypothetical 10% unfavorable change in exchange rates would result in an unrealized loss of approximately $182 million related to forward foreign exchange contracts and cross currency swap contracts [443]. - Inflationary pressures have increased, with higher costs for raw materials, packaging, and supply chain disruptions potentially affecting operations in 2023, 2024, and 2025 [444]. - The company has partially offset inflationary increases through price hikes and supply chain optimization initiatives [444]. - If inflationary pressures or tariffs continue to rise, the company may struggle to manage costs effectively, impacting business and financial condition [445]. - Interest rate risk is managed through a portfolio of variable and fixed-rate debt, with a focus on maintaining a cost-effective mix [446]. - As of December 28, 2025, the company's long-term debt portfolio is primarily fixed-rate, minimizing the impact of market interest rate fluctuations on operations [447]. - New floating rate debt may expose the company to interest rate changes, influenced by various economic factors [448]. - The company is exposed to commodity price risks from various inputs, including resins, silicon, and transportation costs, and employs strategic pricing mechanisms to manage these exposures [449]. - Credit risk is mitigated through diverse customer bases and credit evaluations, although macroeconomic factors may complicate receivable collections [450]. - Nonperformance by counterparties is considered unlikely due to the company's policy of contracting with creditworthy entities [451].