Is Kimberly-Clark Stock Underperforming the S&P 500?

Company Overview - Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) has a market cap of $43.1 billion and is a leading consumer products company known for its personal care and tissue brands, operating in over 175 countries since its founding in 1872 [1][2] Business Model and Performance - The company is classified as a "large-cap" stock, focusing on essential consumer products, which contributes to its resilient business model. It is recognized as a dividend aristocrat, consistently returning capital to shareholders through dividends for decades [2] - Despite its strengths, KMB shares have retreated 13% from their 52-week high of $150.45 and have declined 1.3% over the past three months, underperforming the S&P 500 Index, which returned 8.4% in the same period [3][4] Stock Performance - Year-to-date, KMB stock is down marginally, underperforming the S&P 500's 10.7% rise, and has dipped 11% over the past 52 weeks compared to the S&P 500's 19% increase [4] - The stock has fallen below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages since early June, indicating a downtrend [4] Recent Earnings Report - On August 1, KMB shares rose 4.8% following the Q2 earnings report, which showed strong operational performance with exceptional volume gains and organic growth, particularly in North America. The adjusted EPS was $1.92, exceeding Wall Street expectations of $1.68, while revenue was $4.2 billion, down 1.6% year over year [5] Competitive Landscape - In comparison, rival Procter & Gamble (PG) has also faced challenges, with shares decreasing 9.4% over the past 52 weeks and 4.9% year-to-date. PG has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from analysts, with a mean price target of $142.89, indicating a potential upswing of 9.1% from current prices [6]