Kimberly-Clark Releases Quarterly Results

Kimberly-Clark’s net sales of $4.2 billion in the third quarter were in line with the prior year, including negative impacts of approximately 2.2% from the exit of the company’s private label diaper business in the U.S. Organic sales increased 2.5%, driven by 2.4% volume growth, while portfolio mix and price were broadly in line with a year ago.

North America net sales of $2.7 billion decreased 0.8% in the quarter, driven by the exit of the company’s private label diaper business in the U.S., partially offset by organic sales growth. Organic sales increased 2.7%, primarily driven by strong volume growth of 2.6% reflecting the strength of innovations and activations in the quarter. Year-to-date organic sales increased 2.1%, with volume led growth at 2.6% partially offset by declines in price and mix. Personal Care categories value market share were up 30 basis points for the year-to-date period, with volume share up 80 basis points.

International Personal Care (“IPC”) net sales of $1.4 billion increased 1.9% with organic sales growth of 2.1%, driven by strong volume led growth of 2% reflecting improvements in consumer value propositions across the portfolio, and enhanced portfolio mix of 1.6%, partially offset by price investments. Year-to-date organic sales were up 0.8% versus a year ago, led by volume growth and improved portfolio mix growth of 2% and 1%, respectively, partially offset by price investments. Personal Care categories gained weighted share in the quarter with strong gains in Diapers and Pants.