Sarasin & Partners LLP Lowers Holdings in Kimberly-Clark Corporation $KMB

Key Points

• Sarasin & Partners cut its stake in Kimberly‑Clark by 29.4% in Q4, selling 602,647 shares and ending the quarter with 1,445,897 shares (about 0.44% of KMB) worth roughly $145.9 million.
• Kimberly‑Clark raised its quarterly dividend to $1.28 (annualized $5.12) for a yield of 5.2%; the ex‑dividend date is March 6 and payment is scheduled for April 2.
• Analysts are mixed: the consensus rating is a Hold with an average price target of $116.42 (three Buy, ten Hold, one Sell), and several firms have recently trimmed targets or ratings.

Sarasin & Partners LLP decreased its holdings in shares of Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NASDAQ:KMB - Free Report) by 29.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,445,897 shares of the company's stock after selling 602,647 shares during the quarter. Kimberly-Clark comprises 1.5% of Sarasin & Partners LLP's holdings, making the stock its 26th largest holding. Sarasin & Partners LLP owned approximately 0.44% of Kimberly-Clark worth $145,877,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in KMB. Cloud Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Kimberly-Clark during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Kimberly-Clark in the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. True Wealth Design LLC raised its holdings in Kimberly-Clark by 177.6% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 211 shares of the company's stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 135 shares during the period. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC lifted its position in Kimberly-Clark by 105.8% in the second quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 247 shares of the company's stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 127 shares during the last quarter. Finally, West Oak Capital LLC boosted its stake in Kimberly-Clark by 69.7% during the third quarter. West Oak Capital LLC now owns 280 shares of the company's stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 115 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.29% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Kimberly-Clark

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 shares were sold at an average price of $104.29, for a total value of $317,980.21. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.64% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on KMB shares. Piper Sandler dropped their price target on shares of Kimberly-Clark from $133.00 to $114.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 13th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Kimberly-Clark from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 3rd. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Kimberly-Clark from $107.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. BNP Paribas Exane reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $110.00 target price on shares of Kimberly-Clark in a research report on Monday, December 1st. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price target on Kimberly-Clark from $95.00 to $90.00 and set a "sell" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $116.42.

Kimberly-Clark Stock Down 0.3%

Shares of NASDAQ:KMB opened at $98.25 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $32.61 billion, a PE ratio of 16.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.49 and a beta of 0.24. Kimberly-Clark Corporation has a 1 year low of $96.26 and a 1 year high of $147.12. 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's 50-day moving average is $103.45 and its two-hundred day moving average is $109.06.

Kimberly-Clark (NASDAQ:KMB - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The company reported $1.86 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.81 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $4.08 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.11 billion. Kimberly-Clark had a net margin of 11.73% and a return on equity of 170.48%. The business's revenue for the quarter was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.50 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Kimberly-Clark Corporation will post 7.5 EPS for the current year.

Kimberly-Clark Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be given a $1.28 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th. This represents a $5.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.2%. This is a boost from Kimberly-Clark's previous quarterly dividend of $1.26. Kimberly-Clark's dividend payout ratio is 84.35%.

Kimberly-Clark 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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