KMB

Consumer Defensive

Kimberly-Clark Corporation · Household & Personal Products · $33B

UQS Score — Balanced Preset
47.5
Below Average

Kimberly-Clark Corporation scores 47.5/100 using the Balanced preset.

UQS vs Consumer Defensive Sector
KMB
47.5
Sector avg
38.4
Quality
Good
Moat
Weak
Growth
Weak
Risk
Weak
Valuation
Good

What is Kimberly-Clark Corporation?

Kimberly-Clark Corporation is a global consumer goods company best known for household staples like Huggies diapers, Kleenex tissues, and Depend incontinence products. Founded in 1872 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, it sells products in markets around the world.

Kimberly-Clark operates across three segments: Personal Care, Consumer Tissue, and K-C Professional. Personal Care covers diapers, baby wipes, feminine care, and incontinence products. Consumer Tissue includes facial tissues, bathroom tissue, paper towels, and napkins sold under well-known retail brands. K-C Professional supplies businesses — from offices to food-service facilities — with wipers, apparel, soaps, and sanitizers. Revenue flows through supermarkets, mass merchandisers, warehouse clubs, e-commerce channels, and direct business-to-business distribution.

Kimberly-Clark was founded in 1872 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

  • Disposable diapers and baby care under Huggies and Pull-Ups
  • Facial and bathroom tissue under Kleenex, Scott, and Cottonelle
  • Feminine and incontinence care under Kotex, Poise, and Depend
  • Professional workplace hygiene products under WypAll and KleenGuard
  • Away-from-home tissue and towel solutions under Scott and Kimtech

Is KMB a Good Stock to Buy?

UQS Score rates KMB as Below Average overall, reflecting meaningful headwinds across several key pillars.

The Quality pillar stands out as the clearest positive — Kimberly-Clark's established brands and broad distribution give it a degree of operational consistency that many peers lack. Valuation is rated Attractive, suggesting the market may already be pricing in the company's challenges, which could interest value-oriented investors.

The Moat, Growth, and Risk pillars all register as Weak, pointing to competitive pressure on brand pricing power, limited near-term expansion prospects, and balance-sheet or operational risks that warrant careful attention.

See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →

Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.

Does KMB pay dividends?

Yes — Kimberly-Clark Corporation pays a dividend.

Kimberly-Clark pays a regular dividend, a hallmark of mature consumer staples companies with predictable cash generation. The company has a long history of returning capital to shareholders through dividends, making it a common holding for income-focused investors. Its consumer-defensive business model — selling everyday essentials — supports consistent cash flow that underpins the dividend program.

When does KMB report earnings?

Kimberly-Clark reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed large-cap companies.

The company's recent results reflect the tension between resilient consumer demand for essential products and ongoing cost pressures across its supply chain. Volume trends and pricing dynamics in both developed and emerging markets continue to shape quarterly outcomes. Segment performance across Personal Care, Consumer Tissue, and K-C Professional can vary meaningfully by geography.

For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Kimberly-Clark's investor relations page directly.

KMB Price History

-10.9% over 5Y

Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.

Return Calculator

What if I invested in Kimberly-Clark Corporation?

$
Today it would be worth
$8,175
That's a -18.3% total return, or -3.9% annualized.

Based on Kimberly-Clark Corporation's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

KMB Long-term Outlook

The UQS Growth pillar is rated Weak, indicating that meaningful top-line or earnings acceleration is not strongly supported by current fundamentals. The Risk pillar is also Weak, suggesting investors should weigh potential headwinds — including input cost volatility, competitive private-label pressure, and currency exposure in international markets — against the company's defensive positioning. The Attractive Valuation rating does indicate that risk may be partially reflected in the current price.

Growth drivers

  • Emerging market expansion in personal care and diaper categories
  • Premiumization of tissue and hygiene brands in developed markets
  • K-C Professional segment growth tied to workplace hygiene demand

Key risks

  • Private-label competition eroding brand pricing power
  • Raw material and supply chain cost inflation
  • Currency headwinds from significant international revenue exposure

KMB vs Peers

Kimberly-Clark competes across consumer health, personal care, and household products with several large-cap peers.

KVUESimilar UQS
Kenvue Inc.

Kenvue focuses on consumer health brands spun out of Johnson & Johnson, competing directly in personal care and hygiene with a portfolio skewed toward over-the-counter health products.

ELKMB scores higher
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Estée Lauder operates in the prestige beauty and skincare segment, targeting a higher-income consumer demographic than Kimberly-Clark's mass-market household staples focus.

CHDSimilar UQS
Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

Church & Dwight competes in household and personal care with brands like OxiClean and Arm & Hammer, emphasizing value-oriented consumer products across overlapping retail channels.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Kimberly-Clark do?

Kimberly-Clark manufactures and sells personal care and consumer tissue products worldwide. Its portfolio spans diapers, baby wipes, feminine care, incontinence products, facial tissues, paper towels, and professional hygiene solutions. Products are sold through supermarkets, mass retailers, e-commerce, and direct business channels under brands like Huggies, Kleenex, Kotex, and Depend.

Does KMB pay dividends?

Yes, Kimberly-Clark pays a regular dividend. The company has a long track record of dividend payments, which is typical for mature consumer staples businesses with steady cash generation. Income-focused investors often include KMB in dividend-oriented portfolios. For current yield and payment details, check the company's investor relations page.

When does KMB report earnings?

Kimberly-Clark reports financial results on a quarterly basis, in line with standard US-listed company practice. Exact upcoming earnings dates are best confirmed on the company's investor relations page or through a financial data provider, as schedules can shift.

Is KMB a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates KMB as Below Average overall. While the Quality pillar is rated Good and Valuation is Attractive, the Moat, Growth, and Risk pillars are all rated Weak. This profile may suit value-oriented or income-focused investors, but the weak growth and risk ratings are meaningful considerations. The full pillar breakdown is available to UQS Pro members.

Is KMB overvalued?

The UQS Valuation pillar for KMB is rated Attractive, suggesting the stock is not considered expensive relative to its fundamentals at current levels. This may reflect the market already pricing in the company's growth and moat challenges. For detailed valuation metrics, the complete analysis is available to Pro members.

How does KMB compare to its competitors?

Kimberly-Clark competes with consumer health and household staples companies including Kenvue, Estée Lauder, and Church & Dwight. KMB's mass-market positioning and global tissue and personal care scale differentiate it, though private-label competition and limited growth momentum are shared challenges across the sector. UQS Pro members can view side-by-side pillar comparisons.

What is KMB's market cap bracket?

Kimberly-Clark is classified as a large-cap company. This places it among the more established, widely followed names in the consumer defensive sector, typically associated with greater liquidity and institutional ownership relative to smaller peers.

Who founded Kimberly-Clark?

Kimberly-Clark was founded in 1872. The company's founding history and early leadership are well documented in publicly available corporate histories and its investor relations materials.

Is KMB a long-term quality investment?

From a long-term quality standpoint, KMB's UQS Quality pillar is rated Good, reflecting operational consistency supported by its global brand portfolio and distribution reach. However, the Weak Moat and Weak Growth ratings suggest that durable competitive advantage and earnings expansion are not strongly supported by current fundamentals — factors that matter significantly over a long investment horizon.

What is the main competitive advantage of Kimberly-Clark?

Kimberly-Clark's primary competitive advantages lie in its globally recognized brand names — Huggies, Kleenex, Depend, and others — and its extensive retail distribution network. However, the UQS Moat pillar is rated Weak, indicating that these advantages may not be as durable or defensible as they once were, particularly given private-label competition in core categories.

What sector does KMB belong to?

Kimberly-Clark belongs to the Consumer Defensive sector. Companies in this sector sell everyday essential goods — like tissues, diapers, and hygiene products — that consumers tend to purchase regardless of economic conditions, providing a degree of revenue stability through market cycles.

Is KMB a growth stock or value stock?

Based on UQS pillar ratings, KMB leans toward value rather than growth. The Growth pillar is rated Weak, suggesting limited near-term earnings or revenue acceleration. The Valuation pillar is rated Attractive, which is more consistent with a value-oriented profile. It is not typically characterized as a high-growth investment.

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Pro Analysis

KMB — Score History

40455055Apr 2Apr 12Apr 22May 2May 12May 22May 24v5
Score changes· 20 most recent
DateUQSQualityMoatGrowthRiskValueChange
May 7, 202648.176.439.018.723.080.3-0.1
May 6, 202648.276.439.018.723.080.9+0.1
May 2, 202648.176.439.018.423.080.8-0.1
May 1, 202648.276.439.018.623.080.9-0.7
Apr 26, 202648.976.439.022.423.080.6+0.1
Apr 25, 202648.876.439.022.423.080.2-0.1
Apr 20, 202648.976.439.022.823.080.5-0.1
Apr 19, 202649.076.439.023.023.080.7-0.1
Apr 18, 202649.176.739.023.023.081.0-0.8
Apr 17, 202649.976.739.023.023.086.10.0

KMB — Pillar Breakdown

Quality

76.3/100 (25%)

Kimberly-Clark Corporation demonstrates outstanding capital efficiency and profitability, placing it among the highest-quality businesses in the market.

Capital Efficiency (ROIC)Moderate

How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.

Return on EquityStrong

Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Operating ProfitabilityModerate

Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.

Net ProfitabilityModerate

Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.

Gross Profit / AssetsStrong

Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.

Cash GenerationStrong

Free cash flow relative to market value.

Growth

18.6/100 (20%)

Kimberly-Clark Corporation faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.

Recent Revenue TrendWeak

Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.

3Y Revenue CAGRWeak

Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.

EPS GrowthWeak

Year-over-year earnings per share growth.

Forward Revenue OutlookWeak

Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.

Forward EPS GrowthStrong

Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.

Risk

20.4/100 (15%)

Kimberly-Clark Corporation presents elevated risk with concerns around leverage or financial stability.

Financial LeverageWeak

Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.

Debt/EquityWeak

Total debt relative to shareholder equity.

Current RatioWeak

Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.

Interest CoverageModerate

Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.

Valuation

79.0/100 (15%)

Kimberly-Clark Corporation appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.

Earnings YieldStrong

Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.

Price to Free Cash FlowStrong

How many years of FCF the market cap represents.

PEG RatioStrong

P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.

EV/EBITDA vs SectorModerate

Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.

Moat

39/100 (25%)

Kimberly-Clark Corporation possesses some competitive advantages but faces meaningful competition. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for KMB.

Score Composition

Quality
76.3×25%19.1
Growth
18.6×20%3.7
Risk
20.4×15%3.1
Valuation
79.0×15%11.8
Moat
39.0×25%9.8
Total
47.5Below Average

Financial Data

More Stock Analysis

How is the KMB UQS Score Calculated?

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Kimberly-Clark Corporation is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses Kimberly-Clark Corporation's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether Kimberly-Clark Corporation is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.