Kimberly-Clark (NASDAQ: KMB) reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings that exceeded expectations, supported by productivity gains and cost discipline.
Adjusted earnings came in at $1.86 per share, topping analyst estimates of $1.81. Revenue totaled $4.08 billion, slightly below the $4.09 billion consensus and down 0.6% year over year. Organic sales grew 2.1%, driven by volume and mix growth of 3.0%, partially offset by pricing investments of 1.1%.
Adjusted operating profit rose 13.1% to $629 million, reflecting productivity improvements and lower planned marketing, research, and overhead spending. The International Personal Care segment delivered organic sales growth of 4.5%, while North America posted 0.8% organic growth despite a 3.7% drag from exiting the private-label diaper business.
For 2026, Kimberly-Clark said it expected organic sales growth to be in line with or slightly above category averages of roughly 2%. Adjusted operating profit was forecast to grow at a mid-to-high single-digit rate on a constant-currency basis, while adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations were expected to rise at a double-digit pace.
