Kimberly-Clark Corporation $KMB Shares Sold by KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS

Key Points

• KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS reduced its stake in Kimberly‑Clark by 19.6%, selling 31,600 shares and leaving it with 129,468 shares valued at about $13.2 million.
• Kimberly‑Clark raised its quarterly dividend to $1.28 (from $1.26), an annualized $5.12 giving a ~5.2% yield while the payout ratio is high at 84.35%.
• The company reported $1.86 EPS (beating estimates by $0.05) but missed revenue at $4.08B versus $4.11B expected, and several analysts have trimmed price targets leaving the consensus rating at "Hold" with an average target of $114.86.

KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS lowered its stake in Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NASDAQ:KMB - Free Report) by 19.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 129,468 shares of the company's stock after selling 31,600 shares during the period. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS's holdings in Kimberly-Clark were worth $13,201,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators increased its holdings in shares of Kimberly-Clark by 3.5% in the third quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators now owns 2,585 shares of the company's stock valued at $321,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares during the period. Greatmark Investment Partners Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Kimberly-Clark by 2.9% in the fourth quarter. Greatmark Investment Partners Inc. now owns 3,533 shares of the company's stock valued at $356,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Bill Few Associates Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Kimberly-Clark by 2.2% in the third quarter. Bill Few Associates Inc. now owns 4,787 shares of the company's stock valued at $595,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares during the period. NTV Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Kimberly-Clark by 4.1% during the third quarter. NTV Asset Management LLC now owns 2,640 shares of the company's stock worth $328,000 after acquiring an additional 103 shares during the period. Finally, Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc. grew its holdings in Kimberly-Clark by 1.8% during the third quarter. Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc. now owns 5,729 shares of the company's stock worth $712,000 after acquiring an additional 104 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.29% of the company's stock.

Kimberly-Clark Trading Up 1.2%

Shares of KMB stock opened at $97.93 on Friday. The business's fifty day moving average price is $101.40 and its 200 day moving average price is $104.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.97, a current ratio of 0.75 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The firm has a market capitalization of $32.51 billion, a PE ratio of 16.13, a P/E/G ratio of 3.72 and a beta of 0.28. Kimberly-Clark Corporation has a 1-year low of $92.42 and a 1-year high of $144.30.

Kimberly-Clark (NASDAQ:KMB - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The company reported $1.86 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.81 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $4.08 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.11 billion. Kimberly-Clark had a return on equity of 170.48% and a net margin of 11.73%.Kimberly-Clark's quarterly revenue was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.50 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Kimberly-Clark Corporation will post 7.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Kimberly-Clark Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 6th were given a dividend of $1.28 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 6th. This is a positive change from Kimberly-Clark's previous quarterly dividend of $1.26. This represents a $5.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.2%. Kimberly-Clark's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 84.35%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

KMB has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Kimberly-Clark from $110.00 to $100.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 8th. Zacks Research lowered Kimberly-Clark from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on Kimberly-Clark from $110.00 to $109.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 30th. Barclays dropped their price objective on Kimberly-Clark from $105.00 to $99.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 14th. Finally, UBS Group dropped their price objective on Kimberly-Clark from $110.00 to $105.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 7th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $114.86.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Kimberly-Clark news, VP Andrew Scribner sold 3,049 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.29, for a total transaction of $317,980.21. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.75% of the company's stock.

Kimberly-Clark Company Profile

Kimberly-Clark Corporation is a U.S.-based multinational manufacturer of personal care and consumer tissue products. The company develops, produces and markets a range of consumer brands and professional products, including facial and bathroom tissues, disposable diapers and training pants, feminine care, incontinence products and workplace hygiene solutions. Known for consumer-facing names such as Kleenex, Huggies, Kotex, Cottonelle and Scott, as well as professional offerings under Kimberly-Clark Professional and KleenGuard, the company supplies goods to retail, healthcare and institutional customers.

Founded in 1872 in Neenah, Wisconsin, Kimberly-Clark has expanded from its 19th-century paper-making roots into a global household and workplace products company.

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