Kimberly-Clark Pre-Announces Q3 Sales Decline, Reaffirms 2026 Outlook
KMB is trading near its 52-week low of $92.42 (9.0% above the low).
Summary
Kimberly-Clark pre-announced Q3 2026 net sales of $4.13B (down 0.4%, organic down 1.3%) and adjusted EPS from continuing operations of $1.70, while reaffirming its full-year 2026 outlook. Shares rose 4.69% to $104.07 on the preliminary results and reaffirmed outlook. Final results are due November 5.
Updated with a Benzinga report · What changed
Updates
· Benzinga — Operating profit fell to $516 million from $621 million, while diluted EPS surged to $5.37 from $1.34 on a one-time gain.
- Profitability — Operating profit fell to $516 million from $621 million. Adjusted operating profit edged down to $677 million from $683 million.
- Earnings Per Share — Diluted EPS attributable to Kimberly-Clark surged to $5.37 from $1.34. The gain largely reflected a one-time gain from the International Family Care and Professional business transaction.
- Cash Position — Cash and cash equivalents increased to $1.874 billion from $617 million.
- Category Growth — Weighted average category growth was approximately 1.7% on a trailing 12-month basis.
- Outlook Exclusions — The outlook excludes the potential impact of acquisitions, including the pending Kenvue acquisition.
All 7 details
- Operating profit fell to $516 million from $621 million
- Adjusted operating profit edged down to $677 million from $683 million
- Diluted EPS attributable to Kimberly-Clark surged to $5.37 from $1.34
- Diluted EPS gain largely reflected one-time gain from International Family Care and Professional business transaction
- Cash and cash equivalents increased to $1.874 billion from $617 million
- Weighted average category growth approximately 1.7% on trailing 12-month basis
- Outlook excludes potential impact of acquisitions, including pending Kenvue acquisition
Key Events · Earnings and Guidance · KMB
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New · · Benzinga
Operating Profit Falls, Adjusted Edges Down
Operating profit fell to $516 million from $621 million, while adjusted operating profit edged down to $677 million from $683 million.
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New · · Benzinga
Cash and Equivalents Increase
Cash and cash equivalents increased to $1.874 billion from $617 million.
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New · · Benzinga
Shares Rise on Preliminary Results
Kimberly-Clark shares were up 4.69% at $104.07 on Thursday after preliminary third-quarter results and a reaffirmed full-year 2026 outlook.
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Updated · · Benzinga
Q3 Sales Slip, Organic Down 1.3%
Preliminary Q3 2026 net sales of $4,134M fell 0.4% year-over-year, with organic sales down 1.3% versus +2.5% growth in Q3 2025. Weighted average category growth was approximately 1.7% on a trailing 12-month basis.
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Updated · · Benzinga
Adjusted EPS Mixed Versus Year Ago
Adjusted EPS from continuing operations rose to $1.70 from $1.45, but adjusted EPS attributable to Kimberly-Clark fell to $1.70 from $1.82. Diluted EPS attributable to Kimberly-Clark surged to $5.37 from $1.34, largely reflecting a one-time gain from the International Family Care and Professional business transaction.
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Updated · · Benzinga
2026 Outlook Reaffirmed
Full-year 2026 guidance unchanged: organic sales ~100bps below weighted average category growth, adjusted operating profit mid-single-digit constant-currency growth, adjusted EPS from continuing operations high-single-digit growth, adjusted EPS attributable to Kimberly-Clark low-single-digit decline. The outlook excludes the potential impact of acquisitions, including the pending Kenvue acquisition.
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China Disruption Weighs on Sales
Previously disclosed China social media disruptions account for roughly 100bps of the total company organic sales drag.
Analysis · KMB · Manufacturing
Kimberly-Clark gave an early look at Q3 2026, and the numbers are mixed. Net sales slipped 0.4% to $4.13B, while organic sales fell 1.3% — a sharp reversal from +2.5% growth a year ago — with roughly 100bps of the drag tied to previously disclosed China social media disruptions. Adjusted EPS from continuing operations rose to $1.70 from $1.45, but adjusted EPS attributable to Kimberly-Clark fell to $1.70 from $1.82. Operating profit fell to $516 million from $621 million, while adjusted operating profit edged down to $677 million from $683 million. Diluted EPS attributable to Kimberly-Clark surged to $5.37 from $1.34, largely reflecting a one-time gain from the International Family Care and Professional business transaction. Management reaffirmed its full-year 2026 outlook, so the quarter's soft top line is not changing guidance; that outlook excludes the potential impact of acquisitions, including the pending Kenvue acquisition. The company also carries $1.87B of cash versus $617M a year ago, and the quarter included $106M of Kenvue acquisition costs. Weighted average category growth was approximately 1.7% on a trailing 12-month basis. Final Q3 results land November 5, which is the next hard checkpoint for whether the sales weakness is a one-quarter blip or a trend.
How filings like this one have moved
In the 30 days to Oct 30, 2026, 30.6% of the 1584 measured filings Wiseek scored 7 moved their stock by 5% or more by the next session's close. The median move was -0.02%. These are measured outcomes after filings of this importance, not a forecast for this one.
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At the time of this filing, KMB was trading at $100.72 on NASDAQ in the Manufacturing sector, with a market capitalization of approximately $33.1B. The 52-week trading range was $92.42 to $123.09. This filing was assessed with neutral market sentiment and an importance score of 7 out of 10.