Kimberly-Clark reaffirms outlook on robust Q1

28th Apr 2026 11:49

(Sharecast News) - Kimberly-Clark reiterated its full-year outlook on Tuesday, after robust demand for its personal care and hygiene brands helped lift first-quarter earnings.

The American owner of Huggies, Andrex, Kleenex and Kotex, among others, saw sales rise 2.7% in the first three months of the year, to $4.16bn, surpassing consensus for $4.09bn. Prices dipped 0.5% while organic sales rose 2.5%.

Adjusted operating profits sparked 3.7% at $732m.

Mike Hsu, chief executive, said: "We continue to deliver solid volume-plus-mix performance while building share momentum despite continued geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty.

"We accomplished this by driving consumer-inspired innovation, growing brand love and executing exceptionally well as a team."

Looking to the rest of the year, the Dallas-based company said it expected 2026 organic sales growth "in line to ahead of the weighted average growth in the categories and countries it competes, which for the latest 12 months grew at approximately 2.5%".

Adjusted operating profits were forecast to grow at a mid-to-high single digit rate.

As at 1300 BST, the stock had put on 1% in pre-market trading.