Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Money Moves

Q1 2026 earnings beat estimates; maintaining 2026 outlook while restructuring supply chains to reduce tariff exposure

Three major US household-goods makers have now reported how the combined tariff and oil-cost shock hits their books. Kimberly-Clark beat Q1 estimates on April 28, with adjusted EPS of $1.97 against an expected $1.92, but still carries $300 million in tariff exposure representing about 20% of its US cost base. Colgate-Palmolive beat Q1 expectations on May 1 and immediately flipped its full-year gross margin guidance from expansion to decline, citing $300 million in higher raw-material and logistics costs from crude oil and tariffs.

Updated May 31

Money Moves

Acquirer

Johnson & Johnson spun off its consumer health division as Kenvue in May 2023, creating the world's largest pure-play consumer health company. In less than three years, Kimberly-Clark and Kenvue shareholders approved a $48.7 billion acquisition absorbing Kenvue into Kimberly-Clark, the Kleenex and Huggies maker—with 96% and 99% voting in favor. On January 30, 2026, The Lancet published a study finding no evidence linking acetaminophen use during pregnancy to autism, contradicting Trump administration concerns that sent Kenvue's stock tumbling in late 2025.

Updated May 23