Kimberly-Clark Corporation $KMB Shares Sold by Vest Financial LLC

Key Points

• Vest Financial LLC reduced its Kimberly-Clark position by 10.5% in the third quarter, selling 52,615 shares and retaining 450,061 shares valued at approximately $43.85 million. Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 76.29% of KMB.
• Kimberly-Clark reported quarterly earnings of $1.80 per share, below the $2.01 analyst consensus, while revenue of $4.19 billion was also slightly below expectations. Analysts project full-year earnings of $6.83 per share.
• The company paid a quarterly dividend of $1.28 per share, representing a 4.8% annualized yield, but its 87.07% payout ratio leaves limited flexibility. Wall Street’s consensus rating is “Hold,” with an average price target of $116.50 versus the share price of $106.64.

Vest Financial LLC cut its position in shares of Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NASDAQ:KMB - Free Report) by 10.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 450,061 shares of the company's stock after selling 52,615 shares during the quarter. Vest Financial LLC owned 0.14% of Kimberly-Clark worth $43,849,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Kimberly-Clark during the second quarter valued at approximately $3,547,915,000. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its position in shares of Kimberly-Clark by 3.3% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 6,881,641 shares of the company's stock valued at $755,398,000 after acquiring an additional 219,742 shares in the last quarter. Thornburg Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Kimberly-Clark in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $632,373,000. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC boosted its stake in Kimberly-Clark by 8.7% in the 2nd quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 3,116,768 shares of the company's stock worth $342,128,000 after purchasing an additional 249,832 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new position in Kimberly-Clark in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $239,612,000. 76.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Kimberly-Clark Price Performance

Shares of KMB opened at $106.64 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $35.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.54, a P/E/G ratio of 5.86 and a beta of 0.25. Kimberly-Clark Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $92.42 and a fifty-two week high of $123.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.45, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.69. The business's 50-day moving average is $102.67 and its 200-day moving average is $102.87.

Kimberly-Clark (NASDAQ:KMB - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The company reported $1.80 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.01 by ($0.21). The company had revenue of $4.19 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.22 billion. Kimberly-Clark had a net margin of 11.79% and a return on equity of 143.92%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.92 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Kimberly-Clark Corporation will post 6.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Kimberly-Clark Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 4th were paid a dividend of $1.28 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 4th. This represents a $5.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.8%. Kimberly-Clark's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 87.07%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

KMB has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Kimberly-Clark from a "hold (c-)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. Piper Sandler reduced their target price on Kimberly-Clark from $121.00 to $118.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 11th. Bank of America reduced their target price on Kimberly-Clark from $122.00 to $120.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 25th. Barclays raised their target price on Kimberly-Clark from $101.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 21st. Finally, Seaport Research Partners upgraded Kimberly-Clark to a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Kimberly-Clark currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $116.50.

More Kimberly-Clark News

Here are the key news stories impacting Kimberly-Clark this week:

• Positive Sentiment: China antitrust approval removes a major regulatory hurdle for Kimberly-Clark’s proposed Kenvue acquisition, improving the deal’s closing prospects and potentially expanding the company’s consumer-health portfolio. Kimberly-Clark’s $40B purchase of Kenvue wins China antitrust approval
• Positive Sentiment: Bank of America maintained a Buy rating and a $120 price target, citing strong execution and earnings momentum. That view provides a bullish counterpoint to concerns surrounding the acquisition and financing. Kimberly-Clark maintained at Buy with $120 price target
• Positive Sentiment: Kimberly-Clark de México reported margin gains and a strong cash position in the third quarter, suggesting improving operating performance in an important regional business. Kimberly-Clark de México third-quarter results
• Neutral Sentiment: Commentary comparing Kimberly-Clark with Clorox highlights that both companies offer yields above 4.5% but are undergoing overhauls, making execution and balance-sheet strength more important than headline yield alone. Kimberly-Clark vs. Clorox dividend comparison
• Negative Sentiment: Kimberly-Clark priced $4.9 billion of senior unsecured notes to help fund the Kenvue transaction. The financing increases leverage and interest obligations, intensifying investor concerns about balance-sheet risk and future dividend flexibility. Kimberly-Clark prices $4.9 billion notes for Kenvue deal
• Negative Sentiment: Recent analysis questions whether Kimberly-Clark’s long dividend record is adequately supported by free cash flow, particularly as payout ratios leave little cushion and the company takes on acquisition debt. Jim Cramer calls Kimberly-Clark a hated Dividend King

Kimberly-Clark Profile

Kimberly-Clark Corporation NASDAQ: KMB is a global consumer products company that develops and markets personal care, tissue and professional hygiene products. Its portfolio includes products for babies and children, feminine care, adult care, family care and workplace hygiene.

The company's well-known brands include Huggies diapers and wipes, Kleenex facial tissue, Cottonelle bathroom tissue, Scott toilet paper and paper towels, Kotex feminine care products, and Depend, Poise and GoodNites products.

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