Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB) Given New $132.00 Price Target at Barclays

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB - Free Report) had its price objective increased by Barclays from $124.00 to $132.00 in a report released on Friday morning, Benzinga reports. Barclays currently has an equal weight rating on the stock.

A number of other research firms have also recently commented on KMB. Piper Sandler lifted their price target on shares of Kimberly-Clark from $145.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, March 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on shares of Kimberly-Clark from $127.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, March 28th. HSBC lifted their price target on shares of Kimberly-Clark from $134.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, March 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of Kimberly-Clark in a research note on Friday, March 1st. They set a buy rating and a $135.00 price target for the company. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Kimberly-Clark from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $132.43.

Kimberly-Clark Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:KMB traded down $2.16 on Friday, reaching $123.92. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,660,852 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,105,772. Kimberly-Clark has a 52-week low of $116.32 and a 52-week high of $147.87. The company has a market cap of $41.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.09, a PEG ratio of 3.83 and a beta of 0.40. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $123.71 and a 200 day simple moving average of $122.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.94, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 0.82.

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 24th. The company reported $1.51 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.53 by ($0.02). Kimberly-Clark had a return on equity of 260.47% and a net margin of 8.63%. The business had revenue of $5 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.99 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.54 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Kimberly-Clark will post 6.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Kimberly-Clark Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 8th were issued a $1.22 dividend. This is an increase from Kimberly-Clark's previous quarterly dividend of $1.18. This represents a $4.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.94%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 7th. Kimberly-Clark's dividend payout ratio is 93.85%.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Tristram Wilkinson sold 3,720 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $121.00, for a total transaction of $450,120.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 17,229 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,084,709. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, Director Mark T. Smucker acquired 827 shares of Kimberly-Clark stock in a transaction on Monday, January 29th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $120.98 per share, for a total transaction of $100,050.46. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 827 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $100,050.46. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Tristram Wilkinson sold 3,720 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $121.00, for a total transaction of $450,120.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 17,229 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,084,709. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.62% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Kimberly-Clark

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in KMB. First National Bank of Mount Dora Trust Investment Services raised its position in shares of Kimberly-Clark by 1.7% in the first quarter. First National Bank of Mount Dora Trust Investment Services now owns 4,817 shares of the company's stock valued at $623,000 after buying an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC raised its position in shares of Kimberly-Clark by 2.2% in the fourth quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 3,860 shares of the company's stock valued at $456,000 after buying an additional 84 shares during the last quarter. Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Kimberly-Clark by 1.8% in the second quarter. Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLC now owns 4,750 shares of the company's stock valued at $656,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Arcus Capital Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Kimberly-Clark by 3.8% in the third quarter. Arcus Capital Partners LLC now owns 2,341 shares of the company's stock valued at $283,000 after buying an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its position in shares of Kimberly-Clark by 5.3% in the fourth quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,745 shares of the company's stock valued at $212,000 after buying an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. 76.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Kimberly-Clark Company Profile

Kimberly-Clark Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets personal care and consumer tissue products in the United States. It operates through three segments: Personal Care, Consumer Tissue, and K-C Professional. The company's Personal Care segment offers disposable diapers, training and youth pants, swimpants, baby wipes, feminine and incontinence care products, reusable underwear, and other related products under the Huggies, Pull-Ups, Little Swimmers, GoodNites, DryNites, Sweety, Kotex, U by Kotex, Intimus, Thinx, Poise, Depend, Plenitud, Softex, and other brand names.