This company's short life on the stock market has been a constant challenge.In today's uncertain economic environment, investing in robust dividend stocks can be a great hedge. Companies that can consistently issue growing payouts tend to have strong underlying businesses capable of surviving economic conditions that keep changing. It's even better to scoop up shares of companies that fit that profile while they trade at a significant discount.Take Kenvue (KVUE 4.70%), for example. It's a relatively new com ...

Key Points The stock market, and individual stocks, can be volatile over short periods. A bunch of these value-shedding stocks have posted disappointing quarterly results. Some fallen stocks can present great opportunities. 10 stocks we like better than CarMax › It's fun to follow stocks that soared recently, and it can be sobering to see which ones have plunged -- especially if you're a shareholder. So here's a look at the worst-performing stocks in the S&P 500 index of 500 of America's biggest ...

There hasn't been much good news lately for this Johnson & Johnson spinoff.Johnson & Johnson (JNJ 2.05%) spun off its consumer health unit as a separate entity in 2023. The new business, Kenvue (KVUE -0.77%), inherited a broad lineup of popular products, including Band-Aid adhesive bandages, Listerine mouthwash, Tylenol pain reliever, and Zyrtec allergy medicine. With an arsenal of household names in its lineup and a solid dividend, Kenvue seemed to be the kind of stock many income investors would love. How ...

Core Viewpoint - Kenvue Inc. (KVUE), the parent company of Tylenol, is experiencing a decline in stock price due to concerns raised by the Trump administration linking Tylenol to autism risk, despite existing studies refuting this claim [2][5][6]. Company Overview - Kenvue was spun off from Johnson & Johnson in 2023 and is known for various household products, including Tylenol, Band-Aid, Listerine, and Zyrtec [3]. - Tylenol, containing acetaminophen, has been available over-the-counter in the U.S. since 1960 and is widely used for pain relief and fever reduction [4]. Industry Concerns - Federal health officials are expected to announce concerns regarding the use of acetaminophen by pregnant women, citing research suggesting a potential link to autism [5]. - The CDC reported that the diagnosis rate of autism in American 8-year-olds has increased from one in 150 in 2000 to one in 31 in 2022, highlighting a growing public health concern [8]. Response from Kenvue - Kenvue has stated that acetaminophen does not cause autism, aiming to clarify the safety of their product amidst rising concerns [8].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a decline in organic sales of 4.2% in Q2, which was below expectations, despite global consumption growing year over year [25][34] - Adjusted operating margin contracted by 10 basis points to 22.7%, with adjusted diluted EPS at $0.29 compared to $0.32 in the previous year [34][44] - Adjusted net income for Q2 was $560 million, reflecting an 8.3% decline year over year [44] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Self Care business experienced a significant decline in organic sales of 5.9%, primarily due to lower volumes and unfavorable seasonal dynamics [36] - Skin Health and Beauty saw organic sales decrease by 3.7%, with consumption trends improving sequentially in the U.S. [38] - Essential Health reported a 2.4% decline in organic sales, with challenges in the mouthwash business despite gaining share online [41][42] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the U.S., 83% of the company's business held or gained market share, particularly in the Self Care segment [25][37] - The allergy category faced challenges, with the U.S. experiencing the second-lowest allergy incidences on record [36] - Consumption of skin health and beauty brands stabilized globally for the first time in over a year, driven by growth in EMEA, Latin America, and Asia Pacific [26][39] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is undergoing a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives, focusing on optimizing its brand portfolio and improving operational performance [12][51] - There is a strong emphasis on simplifying operations and reducing complexity to enhance agility and decision-making [14][21] - The leadership team is prioritizing consumer-centric strategies and improving household penetration to drive market share [15][17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged a tough quarter and revised guidance for 2025, expecting organic sales to decline in low single digits [27][45] - The company is committed to improving operational rigor and discipline, with a focus on enhancing efficiencies and driving margin improvements [30][31] - Management expressed confidence in the potential for turnaround, citing strong brand equity and a robust innovation pipeline [10][68] Other Important Information - The company has appointed new leaders to strengthen its leadership team, including a new Chief Technology and Data Officer [20] - The board is actively considering a range of strategic alternatives to unlock shareholder value [12][51] - The company is focused on executing its immediate priorities to drive improved performance and accelerate profitable growth [50] Q&A Session Summary Question: Discussion on complexity and focus on key brands - Management acknowledged the need to focus on the biggest brands and markets to drive growth, emphasizing the importance of execution excellence [56][57] Question: Surprises upon stepping into the role and areas of excitement - Management noted surprise at the self-induced complexity within the organization and expressed excitement about the potential for growth in focused areas like EMEA and LatAm [67][70] Question: Framework for unlocking value in challenging segments - Management confirmed that strategic alternatives and operational excellence efforts are aligned, focusing on consumer understanding and demand creation [76][78] Question: Measuring success in restructuring efforts - Success will be measured by consumer purchasing behavior and sequential improvement in market share, with a focus on leadership and capabilities [81][84]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 4.2% decline in organic sales for Q2, which was below expectations, despite global consumption growing year over year [25][34] - Adjusted operating margin contracted by 10 basis points to 22.7%, with adjusted diluted EPS at $0.29 compared to $0.32 in the previous year [35][45] - Adjusted net income for Q2 was $560 million, reflecting an 8.3% decline year over year [45] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Self Care business experienced a 5.9% decline in organic sales, primarily due to lower volumes and unfavorable seasonal dynamics [37] - Skin Health and Beauty saw a 3.7% decrease in organic sales, with consumption trends stabilizing globally for the first time in over a year [39][40] - Essential Health reported a 2.4% decline in organic sales, with challenges in the mouthwash business despite gaining share online [42][43] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the U.S., 83% of the business held or gained market share, with notable performance in allergy products like Zyrtec [25][38] - Consumption trends improved sequentially in EMEA and Latin America, while North America and Asia Pacific faced challenges [40][72] - The allergy category in the U.S. recorded the second lowest incidences on record, impacting sales negatively [37] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on reducing complexity by streamlining its brand portfolio and prioritizing key markets and products [21][22] - A strategic review committee has been established to explore various alternatives for optimizing the brand portfolio [12] - The leadership aims to enhance operational efficiency and improve execution across major brands and markets [24][48] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the need for a consumer-centric approach and emphasized the importance of household penetration to drive market share [15][16] - The company revised its guidance for 2025, expecting organic sales to decline in low single digits due to current performance and market dynamics [46] - Management expressed confidence in the potential for turnaround, citing strong brand equity and a robust innovation pipeline [30][70] Other Important Information - The company has appointed new leaders to enhance capabilities in marketing, sales, digital, and AI [20][85] - A focus on flawless execution and faster decision-making is emphasized as critical to achieving growth [51][88] Q&A Session Summary Question: Discussion on complexity and focus on major brands - Management agreed on the need to focus on major brands and markets, acknowledging the complexity created within the organization [56][57] Question: Surprises upon stepping into the role and areas of excitement - Management noted surprise at the self-induced complexity and expressed excitement about the potential in EMEA and Latin America [68][72] Question: Framework for unlocking value and addressing low profitability segments - Management confirmed that strategic alternatives and operational excellence efforts are aligned, focusing on consumer understanding and demand creation [78][80] Question: Measuring success in restructuring efforts - Management stated that success will be measured by consumer purchasing behavior and sequential improvement in market share [84][88]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2024, the company achieved year-over-year organic sales growth of 1.5% with an adjusted operating income margin of 21.5% and adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.14 [18] Business Segment Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the healthcare segment, the company expanded its leadership position and gained market share in nearly 80% of the segments, including key brands like Tylenol, Zyrtec, and Nicorette [16] - The essential health segment maintained a healthy mid-single-digit growth rate and delivered volume growth in North America, EMEA, and Latin America [16] - In skin health and beauty, the company grew both volume and value in EMEA and Latin America, despite not meeting expectations in North America and Asia Pacific [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported significant improvements in consumer engagement and brand presence both in-store and online, contributing to overall growth [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company established three strategic priorities for 2024: reaching more consumers, freeing up resources for competitive investment, and fostering a performance-driven culture [15] - The company aims to leverage superior science, expert recommendations, and consumer insights-led innovation to enhance brand growth in 2025 [18][19] - The company is focused on activating new revenue growth management capabilities to improve pricing and promotional strategies [19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the dynamic external environment but expressed confidence in realizing compounding benefits from significant work done to date [21] - The company anticipates exciting opportunities ahead to create value for stakeholders and solidify its position as a consumer health leader [21] Other Important Information - The company is executing a two-year initiative to deliver $350 million of annualized cost savings by 2026 [17] - A new Chief Financial Officer, Amit Banati, has joined the company, expected to contribute to its next chapter [21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Why does the company not use GAAP earnings instead of adjusted non-GAAP earnings? - The company believes that presenting non-GAAP measures is relevant and useful for investors, as it allows for a better understanding of operating performance and easier comparison with peers in the industry [24]

Market Overview - The S&P 500 index is down approximately 9.5% from its high, while the Nasdaq Composite index has fallen 13.5% [1] - The stock market has experienced significant volatility, which may present investment opportunities in companies with strong long-term potential [2] Unity Software - Unity Software provides tools for developers to create video games and digital content, along with digital advertising tools [3] - Despite being a leader in the game-engine services space, Unity's stock has underperformed, down about 89% from its all-time high shortly after its IPO in 2020 [4][5] - In Q4, Unity's sales declined 25% year over year to approximately $457 million, with a net loss of $127 million [6] - However, revenue from Unity's core strategic portfolio increased 4% year over year to $442 million, indicating potential for recovery [7] - The company is undergoing restructuring and strategic shifts, including changes to its digital advertising network and the rollout of a new AI platform [7] - Unity's shares are considered a worthwhile buy ahead of its first-quarter earnings release on May 7 [8] Kenvue - Kenvue, a spinoff from Johnson & Johnson, has not performed as expected, down more than 15% from its all-time high [9] - The company reported 1.9% organic sales growth in its self-care segment and 4.1% growth in essential health, but a decline of 1.9% in the skin health and beauty segment [11] - Kenvue increased its marketing budget to 10.6% of sales in 2024, but recovery is slower than anticipated [12] - There are signs of improvement in the skin health and beauty segment, with organic sales rising 2.6% in Q4 2024 [13] - Kenvue trades at just below 21 times estimated free cash flow for 2025, close to fair value for a mature consumer staple [14] - The stock offers a 3.6% dividend yield, making it attractive for value investors despite low growth prospects [14]