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Kimberly Clark (KMB)
NASDAQ:KMB

Kimberly Clark (KMB) AI Stock Analysis

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KMB

Kimberly Clark

(NASDAQ:KMB)

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Neutral 61 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:61Neutral
Price Target:
$117.00
▲(7.13% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:01/30/26
The score is primarily supported by strong cash generation, resilient margins, and constructive 2026 guidance, with valuation helped by a high dividend yield. These positives are tempered by elevated leverage and negative revenue momentum, while technical signals remain weak with the stock below key long-term moving averages and MACD negative.
Positive Factors
Cash generation
Kimberly‑Clark's sustained ~$2.8B TTM operating and free cash flow with roughly 100% FCF conversion (and FCF +~15% vs prior period) provides durable internal funding. This supports dividends, productivity investments, voluntary deleveraging, and M&A funding without reliance on capital markets.
Margin resilience & targets
Staples-level gross (~35.6%) and net (~11.7%) margins are resilient and supported by industry-leading productivity. Management’s medium-term ambition (gross ≥40% and operating profit 18–20% pre-2030) and expected productivity sustain structural upside to cash flow and return generation.
Market share gains & international momentum
Consistent market share gains across key markets and positive international organic growth diversify revenue and drive higher-margin expansion. Durable share improvement, especially in faster-growing markets, supports premiumization, scale economics, and a healthier long-term revenue mix.
Negative Factors
Elevated leverage
An elevated debt-to-equity of ~4.0x and thin equity reduce financial flexibility and raise interest and refinancing exposure. High leverage constrains the company's ability to pursue sizable strategic investments or absorb shocks unless strong FCF is sustained over multiple years.
Negative revenue momentum
TTM revenue decline (~4.7%) and multi-year flat-to-down top-line trend indicate structural demand or mix challenges. Persistent revenue weakness limits operating leverage, forces reliance on productivity and pricing actions, and makes meeting longer-term growth targets more execution-dependent.
Merger & litigation execution risk
Ongoing shareholder litigation and disclosure disputes around the Kenvue deal create execution risk. Legal challenges and potential regulatory scrutiny can delay closings, increase costs, distract management, and jeopardize timely realization of expected synergies and strategic benefits.

Kimberly Clark (KMB) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Kimberly Clark Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionKimberly-Clark Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets personal care and consumer tissue products worldwide. It operates through three segments: Personal Care, Consumer Tissue, and K-C Professional. The Personal Care segment offers disposable diapers, swimpants, training and youth pants, baby wipes, feminine and incontinence care products, and other related products under the Huggies, Pull-Ups, Little Swimmers, GoodNites, DryNites, Sweety, Kotex, U by Kotex, Intimus, Depend, Plenitud, Softex, Poise, and other brand names. The Consumer Tissue segment provides facial and bathroom tissues, paper towels, napkins, and related products under the Kleenex, Scott, Cottonelle, Viva, Andrex, Scottex, Neve, and other brand names. The K-C Professional segment offers wipers, tissues, towels, apparel, soaps, and sanitizers under the Kleenex, Scott, WypAll, Kimtech, and KleenGuard brands. The company sells household use products directly to supermarkets, mass merchandisers, drugstores, warehouse clubs, variety and department stores, and other retail outlets, as well as through other distributors and e-commerce; and away-from-home use products directly to manufacturing, lodging, office building, food service, and public facilities, as well as through distributors and e-commerce. Kimberly-Clark Corporation was founded in 1872 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
How the Company Makes MoneyKimberly-Clark makes money primarily through the sale of its consumer and professional products. The company generates revenue through various key streams, including sales of personal care products (diapers, feminine care), consumer tissue products (toilet paper, paper towels), and professional products (commercial tissue, incontinence products). The company's revenue model is driven by a combination of direct sales to retailers, distributors, and wholesalers, as well as e-commerce channels. Additionally, Kimberly-Clark benefits from significant brand loyalty and market penetration, allowing it to maintain competitive pricing. Strategic partnerships with retailers and a focus on expanding its product offerings and geographic presence further contribute to its earnings.

Kimberly Clark Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue by Geography
Revenue by Geography
Breaks down revenue across different regions, revealing where Kimberly Clark is strongest and where it may face risk or growth potential due to local economic conditions or market share shifts.
Chart InsightsKimberly-Clark's North American revenue shows a steady upward trend, contrasting with a decline in revenue from outside North America. The earnings call highlights challenges such as tariffs and cost pressures impacting profitability. Despite these, the company is optimistic about its Powering Care strategy and product innovations, like Huggies Snug & Dry, which are expected to drive growth. However, organic sales growth in North America is slightly below expectations, influenced by strategic pricing and shipment factors. The focus on SG&A savings and consumer value propositions aims to bolster future performance.
Data provided by:The Fly

Kimberly Clark Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jan 27, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 28, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call was optimistic and execution-focused: management highlighted sustained volume-plus-mix momentum, meaningful market share gains, industry-leading productivity (targeting ~6% productivity in 2026), a strong innovation pipeline, and strategic M&A (Kenview and IFP) that management expects will drive higher-growth, higher-margin outcomes. Offsets include near-term pricing/promotional pressure in North America, a quantified ~60 bps headwind from lost club distribution, prior-year input-cost shocks (~$200 million) that depressed 2025 margins, and choppy category demand in late 2025. Overall, management conveyed confidence in margin recovery and annual growth pacing (with acceleration in the back half of 2026) and reiterated medium-term margin targets (40% adjusted gross margin and 18–20% operating profit before decade-end).
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Consistent Volume + Mix Growth
Eighth consecutive quarter of solid volume-plus-mix performance: Q4 volume-plus-mix up ~1.7% (two-year stack +3.6%). North America showed stronger momentum in Q4 (volume-plus-mix ~+2.1%; two-year stack ~+4.1%).
Market Share Gains Across Key Markets
Enterprise-weighted share gains reported across multiple markets: North America share +~100 bps in Q4; China diapers large share gains (management cited +210–270 bps in different comments); Indonesia share gains of ~+200–230 bps; Korea, Brazil and Australia also recorded multi-decade-basis-point improvements.
Industry-Leading Productivity
Company delivered industry-leading productivity for a second straight year, with Q4 the strongest quarter; management expects gross productivity to hover around ~6% in 2026 (building on strong 2024–2025 performance).
Robust Innovation Pipeline and Commercial Strategy
Management emphasized a strong pipeline of consumer-directed, science-based innovations across good/better/best tiers, faster rollout into value tiers, and improved marketing effectiveness to drive premiumization and category development throughout 2026 (expected to accelerate organic growth in the back half of the year).
Kenview and Strategic M&A Progress
Pending acquisition of Kenview progressing: shareholder vote scheduled (late January) with favorable early indications; expected regulatory close in the back half of 2026. IFP transaction on track for mid-year closing. Management views Kenview as value-creating and accretive to higher-growth, higher-margin trajectory.
Guidance and Medium-Term Margin Ambition
Company expects 2026 organic sales growth to be in line with to ahead of global category growth (management uses ~2% weighted global category growth as a baseline). Targets on-path to long-term margin goals: at least 40% adjusted gross margin and 18–20% operating profit 'before the end of the decade.'
International Momentum and Opportunity
International business gained share and delivered positive organic growth across many markets (examples: Brazil, South Korea, Indonesia, Australia). Management identified international gross margin expansion as a meaningful opportunity driven by premiumization and scale leverage.
Stabilizing Input Cost Outlook
Management expects input costs to be largely flat in 2026 after roughly $200 million of incremental input cost/headwinds in 2025 (including tariffs), supporting margin recovery.
Negative Updates
North America Pricing and Promo Pressure
Price/mix deceleration in North America observed in 2025: management noted promotional dynamics and strategic price-pack investments that reduced price realization in the year; club mix (larger pack sizes) also dragged price per unit.
Partial Loss of Club Distribution (Costco) — Headwind
A major U.S. club retailer moved away from branded exclusivity for diapers, resulting in a partial loss of diapers and pull-ups distribution in North America club channel beginning in Q1 2026; management quantified the headwind at ~60 basis points to full-year growth.
2025 Gross Margin Pressure and One-Time Input Cost
Gross margin took a step back in 2025 partly due to approximately $200 million of input-cost headwinds (including unexpected tariffs). Management expects this factor not to repeat in 2026, but it weighed on 2025 results.
Choppiness in Category Growth and Near-Term Demand
Weighted global category growth was uneven: Q4 showed slowdown (management noted a drop to ~0.6% at one point versus the ~2% baseline). Consumption and purchase frequency varied by market and month, creating choppy demand patterns and less visibility in the near term.
Short-Term Earnings Offsets and EPS Pacing
Adjusted EPS expected to be roughly in line with 2025 (constant currency), but reduced income from discontinued operations (IFP transaction) is expected to be roughly half of 2025 levels and offsets some underlying growth; management also expects non-linear margin progress and near-term reinvestments around M&A.
Company Guidance
Management guided 2026 organic sales to be in line with to ahead of the weighted global category (around 2% y/y), with North America and international personal care expected to grow in line with or ahead of their categories; net sales are expected to be roughly 50/50 H1/H2 with organic growth accelerating into the back half. They expect operating profit growth at the higher end of mid- to high-single digits, adjusted EPS (constant currency) roughly in line with 2025, gross productivity of about 6% in 2026, input costs largely flat (no repeat of the ~ $200m headwind from 2025), and expansion of gross and operating margins in 2026 while absorbing an approximate 60 basis‑point headwind from partial loss of North America club diaper distribution; longer‑term targets remain gross margin ≥40% and operating profit 18–20% before 2030. Management also reiterated an expected mid‑year close for the IFP transaction and a back‑half close for Kenview, subject to approvals.

Kimberly Clark Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Strong and improving free cash flow (~$2.8B TTM; ~100% of net income) and solid staples-level profitability (TTM gross margin ~35.6%, net margin ~11.7%) support the score. Offsetting these strengths are negative near-term revenue momentum (TTM revenue down ~4.7%) and a highly leveraged balance sheet with thin equity (debt-to-equity ~4.0x), limiting financial flexibility.
Income Statement
67
Positive
Profitability remains solid for a staples business, with TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) gross margin around 35.6% and net margin about 11.7%, supported by healthy operating and EBITDA margins. However, growth has turned negative: TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) revenue is down ~4.7% versus the prior period, and revenue has been essentially flat-to-down since 2022. Earnings also appear to have come off 2024 levels, signaling some pressure on the top line and overall momentum despite resilient margins.
Balance Sheet
34
Negative
Leverage is the key weakness. Total debt remains high and equity is thin, resulting in an elevated debt-to-equity of ~4.0x in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) (and far higher in recent annual periods). While equity improved versus 2024 and leverage looks better than the unusually stretched 2021–2024 range, the capital structure is still aggressive and leaves less balance-sheet flexibility. Returns on equity are very high, but they are amplified by the low equity base rather than purely driven by operating strength.
Cash Flow
71
Positive
Cash generation is a strength. TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) operating cash flow is strong at ~$2.8B and free cash flow is also ~$2.8B, with free cash flow up ~15% versus the prior period. Free cash flow conversion is robust at ~100% of net income in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months), improving meaningfully from recent annual levels. A watch item is that operating cash flow relative to debt remains moderate, implying debt reduction capacity is good but not exceptional given the leverage profile.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue17.22B20.06B20.43B20.18B19.44B
Gross Profit6.13B7.18B7.03B6.22B5.99B
EBITDA3.11B3.98B3.07B3.38B3.25B
Net Income2.02B2.54B1.76B1.93B1.81B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets17.23B16.55B17.34B17.97B17.84B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments688.00M1.02B1.09B427.00M270.00M
Total Debt7.17B7.92B8.11B8.55B8.70B
Total Liabilities15.57B15.57B16.28B17.27B17.10B
Stockholders Equity1.50B840.00M915.00M547.00M514.00M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.64B2.51B2.78B1.86B1.72B
Operating Cash Flow2.78B3.23B3.54B2.73B2.73B
Investing Cash Flow-951.00M-100.00M-418.00M-785.00M-1.06B
Financing Cash Flow-2.18B-3.17B-2.37B-1.76B-1.70B

Kimberly Clark Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price109.21
Price Trends
50DMA
102.52
Positive
100DMA
106.23
Positive
200DMA
117.32
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
2.37
Negative
RSI
61.65
Neutral
STOCH
79.52
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For KMB, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 109.21 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 105.60, above the 50-day MA of 102.52, and below the 200-day MA of 117.32, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 2.37 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 61.65 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 79.52 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for KMB.

Kimberly Clark Risk Analysis

Kimberly Clark disclosed 16 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Kimberly Clark reported the most risks in the "Production" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Kimberly Clark Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
74
Outperform
$384.11B24.4931.58%2.92%1.23%17.97%
73
Outperform
$24.87B34.8417.62%1.38%1.45%42.04%
69
Neutral
$161.94B23.6832.63%3.74%-0.30%-14.60%
65
Neutral
$78.64B37.331602.26%2.67%-0.05%2.49%
62
Neutral
$20.33B14.63-3.31%3.23%1.93%-12.26%
62
Neutral
$15.31B20.695.05%-9.35%123.06%
61
Neutral
$36.88B18.32147.22%5.03%-10.04%-23.41%
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
KMB
Kimberly Clark
109.21
-25.47
-18.91%
CHD
Church & Dwight
103.63
-4.34
-4.02%
CLX
Clorox
126.24
-22.06
-14.87%
CL
Colgate-Palmolive
96.67
8.64
9.81%
PG
Procter & Gamble
163.39
-3.99
-2.38%
UL
Unilever
73.20
14.71
25.14%

Kimberly Clark Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyM&A TransactionsShareholder Meetings
Kimberly-Clark Shareholders Approve Kenvue Acquisition Plan
Positive
Jan 29, 2026

At virtual special meetings on January 29, 2026, Kimberly-Clark and Kenvue shareholders overwhelmingly approved the stock issuance and merger agreement underlying Kimberly-Clark’s planned acquisition of Kenvue, with 96% of K-C votes cast backing the deal and roughly 99% of Kenvue votes adopting the merger terms. The strong support clears a crucial milestone toward closing the transaction in the second half of 2026, signaling investor confidence in the strategic rationale of combining the companies’ complementary consumer brands to accelerate growth, integration planning, and value creation, pending regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

The most recent analyst rating on (KMB) stock is a Hold with a $105.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Kimberly Clark stock, see the KMB Stock Forecast page.

Legal ProceedingsM&A TransactionsRegulatory Filings and ComplianceShareholder Meetings
Kimberly-Clark updates merger proxy amid shareholder lawsuits
Negative
Jan 16, 2026

Kimberly-Clark and Kenvue, which signed a merger agreement on November 2, 2025, have progressed their planned two-step merger structure, with the SEC declaring effective on December 16, 2025, a registration statement covering Kimberly-Clark shares to be issued in the deal and both companies mailing a joint proxy statement/prospectus ahead of special shareholder meetings scheduled for January 29, 2026. Since early December 2025, multiple lawsuits and shareholder demand letters have been filed in Wisconsin federal court, New Jersey state court, New York state court and the Delaware Court of Chancery by purported stockholders of both Kenvue and Kimberly-Clark, alleging material disclosure omissions in the merger-related proxy and prospectus materials and seeking, among other remedies, to block the shareholder votes or the merger until additional information is provided. In response, Kimberly-Clark has voluntarily supplemented the joint proxy statement/prospectus with extensive additional detail on the background of negotiations, adviser relationships and fees, valuation work, financial projections and comparable company analyses, explicitly to reduce the risk of delay or disruption to the merger and to minimize the costs and distraction of defending the litigation, while its board continues to unanimously recommend that shareholders vote in favor of the share issuance and related adjournment proposals needed to complete the Kenvue transaction.

The most recent analyst rating on (KMB) stock is a Hold with a $102.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Kimberly Clark stock, see the KMB Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyM&A Transactions
Kimberly-Clark Announces Joint Venture with Suzano
Neutral
Dec 4, 2025

Kimberly-Clark Corporation announced on June 5, 2025, a strategic joint venture with Suzano S.A. for its International Family Care and Professional segment, marking a significant operational shift. The transaction, expected to close in mid-2026, involves Suzano acquiring a 51% interest for approximately $1.7 billion, with Kimberly-Clark retaining a 49% stake, and will result in the IFP Business being reported as discontinued operations in financial statements, reflecting a major impact on the company’s financial results and strategic direction.

The most recent analyst rating on (KMB) stock is a Buy with a $162.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Kimberly Clark stock, see the KMB Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jan 30, 2026