Kimberly-Clark Corp. - KMB STOCK NEWS

Kleenex, celebrating its 100th anniversary, is partnering with Jenna Bush Hager to support schools in need. The initiative will award $500,000 in school supplies to assist educators and schools in low-income communities during the back-to-school season. Consumers can nominate deserving schools at kleenex100years.com until August 26, 2024, for a chance to win $100,000 in supplies, with an additional 100 schools receiving $4,000 in DonorsChoose credits.

The campaign aims to address the issue of teachers spending their own money on classroom resources, averaging $610 per year. Kleenex has already donated over $4.5 million through its partnership with DonorsChoose, benefiting more than 13,000 schools. This year, Kleenex is donating $750,000 to be distributed among winning schools and through an on-pack promotion.

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $1.22 per share, payable on October 2, 2024, to stockholders of record as of September 6, 2024. This marks the 90th consecutive year of dividend payments and the 52nd consecutive year of dividend increases for the company. Kimberly-Clark, known for brands like Huggies, Kleenex, and Scott, operates in over 175 countries and holds top market positions in approximately 70 countries. The company is recognized for its ethical practices and innovation, having been named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for six consecutive years and one of Fortune's Most Innovative Companies in America in 2024.

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) reported strong Q2 2024 results, with net sales of $5.0 billion and 4% organic sales growth. Despite a 2% decrease in reported sales due to currency impacts, the company achieved significant EPS expansion. Diluted EPS was $1.61, while adjusted EPS increased 19% to $1.96. The company's performance was driven by innovation-led volume gains, effective cost management, and productivity improvements.

Highlights include:

• Gross margin improvement of 290 basis points to 36.9%
• Operating profit of $655 million, with adjusted operating profit up 16%
• Strong performance in Personal Care segment with 8% organic sales growth
• Improved outlook for 2024, expecting mid-to-high teens percentage growth in adjusted EPS

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) has appointed Craig Slavtcheff as Chief Research and Development Officer, effective July 29, succeeding Robert Long, who is retiring after 45 years in the CPG industry. Slavtcheff brings over 30 years of R&D experience, most recently serving as Executive VP, Chief R&D and Innovation Officer at Campbell Soup Company. He has been named as an inventor on more than 70 U.S. and global patents.

Slavtcheff will lead an R&D team focused on proprietary innovation to build differentiated consumer preference and brand equity. The company aims to leverage science as a competitive advantage and increase investment in category-shaping technology to enhance consumer products in areas such as absorbency, comfort, skin health, and sustainable solutions.

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) is set to announce its second quarter 2024 financial results on July 23, 2024. The company's earnings release and supplemental materials will be available at 6:30 a.m. EDT, followed by a live Q&A session with analysts at 8:00 a.m. EDT. Stakeholders can access these materials and the webcast on the Kimberly-Clark Investor website. A replay of the webcast will be available post-event on the same platform.

Kimberly-Clark announced the awarding of Bright Futures college scholarships to 47 children of its employees across North America. Selected based on academic achievement, leadership, work experience, and extracurricular activities, the scholarships are valued at up to $20,000 each. The Bright Futures program, in its 32nd year, has granted $47 million in scholarships to over 2,300 students since inception. The current scholarship class has an average GPA of 3.97, with recipients attending top-tier institutions such as Cornell University, Georgia Tech, and Stanford. Past recipients have pursued careers in various fields, including medicine and engineering.

Kimberly-Clark has released its annual sustainability report, highlighting progress towards its 2030 goals. Key achievements include a 40.9% reduction in GHG emissions, surpassing water footprint targets, and a 16.4% reduction in plastics. The company aims to be 100% Natural Forest Free beyond 2030. New sustainable products were introduced, including Kotex® paper pouches and reusable menstrual solutions. Social impact programs reached 101 million people globally. Lisa Morden was appointed Chief Sustainability Officer, emphasizing the company's commitment to sustainability and innovation.

Kimberly-Clark has partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) in Latin America as part of their Changemakers volunteer program. This initiative involves 150 employees across seven countries, aiming to improve the well-being of vulnerable and underserved communities. The partnership has impacted over 800 children and families, aligning with Kimberly-Clark's mission of Better Care for a Better World.

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) will participate in the Deutsche Bank Global Consumer Conference on June 4, 2024, at 2 pm CEST (8 am ET). Mike Hsu, Chairman and CEO, along with Nelson Urdaneta, CFO, will represent the company. The presentation will be available via webcast through the Investors section of Kimberly-Clark's website.