Kimberly-Clark shares rose Thursday after the Huggies parent reported better-than-feared third-quarter results. Revenue fell 0.4% year over year to $4.13 billion, while adjusted earnings per share declined 7% to $1.70, exceeding analyst expectations. The analyst reiterates a buy-equivalent rating and a $120 price target, citing the stock’s defensive characteristics and the acquisition of Kenvue, the owner of Tylenol and Band-Aid. For 2026, Kimberly-Clark expects approximately 0.7% organic sales growth, a mid-single-digit increase in adjusted operating profit, and no more than mid-single-digit adjusted earnings-per-share dilution from the Kenvue integration. From 2028, the company anticipates double-digit earnings-per-share growth, while demand for Huggies diapers in China is stabilizing after claims about their composition were debunked.
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