Achieved net sales of $20.4 billion with better-than-anticipated organic sales growth and stronger cost, margin and earnings recovery in 2023

Company initiates financial outlook for 2024 reflecting continued momentum

DALLAS, Jan. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB) today reported fourth quarter and full-year 2023 results and provided its 2024 outlook. Comparisons are made versus the prior year period, unless otherwise noted.

"We had a solid finish to 2023, delivering strong organic growth as well as cost and earnings recovery above our initial expectations," said Kimberly-Clark Chairman and CEO Mike Hsu. "Our fourth quarter results demonstrate topline momentum with more balanced growth across volume, mix and price led by strong Personal Care results. I'm proud of our team's outstanding execution, including enhancing the value proposition of our global brands through consumer-centric innovation and stronger, more integrated commercial capabilities."

Hsu continued, "We enter 2024 having advanced the Company's strategic foundation and financial position, and with confidence this phase of cost recovery and supply chain stabilization is largely behind us. Moving forward, we will continue to invest in differentiating our brands and enhancing our capabilities while we maintain a disciplined cost structure in our next phase of growth. I'm confident we are positioned to accelerate and enhance the performance of our business and create meaningful shareholder value as we deliver our purpose of better care for a better world."

The company intends to hold an Investor Day in late March to detail its strategic priorities and key initiatives underpinning its vision for the future.

Quarter Highlights

• Delivered net sales of $5.0 billion, in line with prior year, with organic sales growth of 3 percent.
• Gross margin was 34.9 percent, up 210 basis points versus the prior year, driven by favorable net revenue realization and productivity.
• Diluted earnings per share were $1.50; adjusted earnings per share were $1.51, down 2 percent versus prior year.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Results

Fourth quarter sales of $5.0 billion were in line with prior year, with organic sales up 3 percent, driven by a 2 percent increase in price from ongoing revenue growth management programs and a 1 percent favorable product mix, with volumes in line with the prior year period and volume trends improving for the fourth consecutive quarter. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates reduced sales by approximately 2 percent and the divestiture of the tissue and K-C Professional business in Brazil reduced sales by approximately 1 percent.

In North America, organic sales increased 3 percent over last year, including increases of 5 percent in Personal Care and 3 percent in Consumer Tissue that were partially offset by a 3 percent decrease in K-C Professional. 

Outside North America, organic sales were up 5 percent in developing and emerging (D&E) markets. Organic sales in developed markets (Australia, South Korea and Western/Central Europe) grew 1 percent versus prior year.

Gross margin improved by 210 basis points to 34.9 percent, with higher net revenue realization, cost savings and favorable input costs partially offset by unfavorable currency impacts and higher other manufacturing costs. Gross profit grew 7 percent including $50 million in FORCE (Focus on Reducing Costs Everywhere) savings and $50 million in lower input costs.

Fourth quarter operating profit was $670 million compared to $712 million last year, resulting in an operating margin of 13.5 percent. Operating profit decreased by 6 percent, driven by currency impacts of $170 million that reflected a combination of  currency translation, transactional currency costs, and net monetary position losses in hyperinflationary markets. Excluding this factor, an underlying increase in gross profit dollars was partially offset by planned increases in marketing, research and general expenses, coupled with higher incentive compensation levels.

Net interest expense was $38 million, 45 percent lower than prior year driven by higher interest income.

Fourth quarter effective tax rate was 25.2 percent, higher than 22.5 percent in the prior year. On an adjusted basis, the effective rate in the fourth quarter was 25.2 percent, compared to 22.6 percent in the prior year period.

Net income of equity companies was $53 million compared to $35 million last year driven by  Kimberly-Clark de Mexico.

Diluted EPS was in line with prior year at $1.50 on a reported basis. On an adjusted basis, EPS decreased 2 percent to $1.51, driven by impact of hyperinflationary economies and higher taxes offset by gross profit expansion and net income of equity companies.

Full-Year 2023 Results

In 2023, sales of $20.4 billion increased 1 percent, with organic sales up 5 percent, driven by approximately 6 percent increase in price from ongoing revenue growth management programs and 1 percent from favorable product mix, offset by a 2 percent decrease in volume, with sequential improvements throughout the year. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates reduced sales by 3 percent, and the exit of its tissue and K-C Professional business in Brazil reduced sales by 1 percent.  

Gross margin improved by 360 basis points to 34.4 percent and adjusted gross margin improved by 370 basis points to 34.5 percent reflecting higher net revenue realization as well as cost savings from its FORCE program of $325 million more than offsetting higher input costs of $65 million and higher other manufacturing costs of $195 million.

Full-year operating profit was $2.34 billion in 2023 versus $2.68 billion in 2022. Results included non-cash impairment charges on intangible assets that were partially offset by a net benefit from the Brazil divestiture in the second quarter 2023.

Full-year adjusted operating profit was $2.96 billion in 2023 versus $2.62 billion in 2022. The increases from organic sales and benefits from productivity-led cost savings were partially offset by higher other manufacturing costs, input costs, and marketing, research and general expenses, and unfavorable impact from foreign currency.

In 2023, diluted earnings per share were $5.21 compared to $5.72 last year. 2023 adjusted earnings per share were $6.57 compared to $5.63 last year.

The company's 2023 results exceeded its initial outlook at the start of its fiscal year and were consistent with its most recent outlook as follows:

Business Segment Net Sales Results

Personal Care Segment

Personal Care sales of $2.6 billion increased 2 percent in the quarter, while organic sales increased 6 percent, driven by healthy contributions from price, mix and volume. Innovation, solid commercial execution and supply improvements contributed to volume growth, led by a 4 percent increase in North America. In 2023, Personal Care grew 1 percent with an organic sales increase of 5 percent with broad-based growth across regions.

Fourth-quarter operating profit of $429 million increased 1 percent, with organic growth and cost savings partially offset by higher marketing, research and general expenses and an unfavorable impact from foreign currency. Operating profit for the year increased 6 percent to $1.9 billion.

Consumer Tissue Segment

Consumer Tissue sales of $1.5 billion decreased 1 percent in the quarter, while organic sales were in line with last year reflecting price gains of 1 percent offset by volume decrease of 1 percent. Organic results were led by 3 percent growth in North America and 1 percent growth in Developed Markets. Sequential improvement in volume trends were led by North America with an increase of 2 percent in the quarter. For the Full-year, Consumer Tissue sales were up 1 percent with an organic increase of 3 percent.

Fourth-quarter operating profit of $269 million increased 13 percent driven by improved revenue realization, lower input costs, and cost savings that were partially offset by higher other manufacturing costs and an unfavorable impact from foreign currency. Operating profit for the year increased 21 percent to $976 million.

K-C Professional (KCP) Segment

KCP sales of $816 million decreased 3 percent in the quarter, with an organic decrease of 1 percent, while the
2-year average organic growth in Q4 was 8 percent. Improved product mix and revenue realization were offset by lower volumes. Strategic investments are driving elevated consumer experiences and healthy demand in the segment. For the full year, sales were up 5 percent driven by an organic increase of 7 percent.

Fourth-quarter operating profit of $151 million decreased 7 percent reflecting greater investments to fuel growth as well as higher incentive compensation levels. Operating profit for the year increased 46 percent to $665 million.

Cash Flow and Balance Sheet

Full-year cash provided by operations was $3.5 billion compared to $2.7 billion last year. 2023 capital spending was $766 million compared to $876 million last year. The company returned $1.8 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. The company completed share repurchases of 1.8 million shares at a cost of $225 million in 2023. Total debt was $8.0 billion as of December 31, 2023 compared to $8.4 billion at the end of 2022.

2024 Outlook

The company currently expects to deliver a low-to-mid single digit percentage increase in 2024 Organic Net Sales versus the prior year period, with growth in reported Net Sales forecast to reflect negative impacts of approximately 300 basis points from currency translation and 60 basis points from the Brazil Tissue divestiture. Adjusted Operating Profit is expected to grow at a high single-digit to low double-digit rate on a constant-currency basis and Adjusted Earnings Per share are expected to grow at a high single-digit rate on a constant-currency basis versus the prior year period. Reported growth in Operating Profit and Earnings Per Share are currently expected to be negatively impacted by approximately 400 basis points from currency translation.

This outlook reflects assumptions subject to change given the macro environment.

Supplemental Materials and Live Webcast

Supplemental materials will be available at approximately 7:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time in the Investor Relations section of www.kimberly-clark.com. The company will host a live Q&A session with investors and analysts on January 24, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. The supplemental materials and Kimberly-Clark's Q&A session can be accessed at investor.kimberly-clark.com. A replay of the webcast will be available following the event through the same website.

2024 Investor Day

Kimberly-Clark plans to host an Investor Day in New York City in late March. The event will feature presentations by members of the senior management team, including Chairman and CEO Mike Hsu and Chief Financial Officer Nelson Urdaneta, who will detail the company's strategic priorities and key initiatives underpinning its vision for the future and provide a long-term financial algorithm.

The event will also be webcast and accessible from the Events & Presentations section of the company's website. A replay of the webcast and slides shown during the presentations will be available on the company's website.

About Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries and territories.  Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people's most essential needs, we create products that help individuals experience more of what's important to them.  Our portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Plenitud, Sweety, Softex, Viva and WypAll, hold No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in approximately 70 countries.  We use sustainable practices that support a healthy planet, build strong communities, and ensure our business thrives for decades to come. We are proud to be recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies^(R) by Ethisphere for the fifth year in a row. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the company's 150-year history of innovation, visit kimberly-clark.com.

Copies of Kimberly-Clark's Annual Report to Stockholders and its proxy statements and other SEC filings, including Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, are made available free of charge on the company's website on the same day they are filed with the SEC.  To view these filings, visit the Investors section of the company's website.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain matters contained in this news release concerning the outlook, anticipated financial and operating results, raw material, energy and other input costs, anticipated currency rates and exchange risks, including in Argentina and Türkiye, net income from equity companies, sources and uses of cash, the effective tax rate, the anticipated cost savings from the company's FORCE program, growth initiatives, product innovations, contingencies and anticipated transactions of the company constitute forward-looking statements and are based upon management's expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting the company.  In addition, many factors outside our control, including the war in Ukraine (including the related responses of consumers, customers and suppliers as well as sanctions issued by the U.S., the European Union, Russia or other countries), pandemics, epidemics, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, prices and availability of our raw materials, supply chain disruptions, disruptions in the capital and credit markets, counterparty defaults (including customers, suppliers and financial institutions with which we do business), failure to realize the expected benefits or synergies from our acquisition and disposition activity, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets and our projections of operating results and other factors that may affect our impairment testing, changes in customer preferences, severe weather conditions,  regional instabilities and hostilities (including the war in Israel), government trade or similar regulatory actions, potential competitive pressures on selling prices for our products, energy costs, our ability to maintain key customer relationships, as well as general economic and political conditions globally and in the markets in which we do business, could affect the realization of these estimates.

There can be no assurance that these future events will occur as anticipated or that the company's results will be as estimated.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update them.  For a description of certain factors that could cause the company's future results to differ from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements, see Item 1A entitled "Risk Factors" in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This news release and the accompanying tables include the following financial measures that have not been calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., or GAAP, and are therefore referred to as non-GAAP financial measures:

• Adjusted earnings and earnings per share
• Adjusted gross and operating profit
• Adjusted effective tax rate

These non-GAAP financial measures exclude the following items for the relevant time periods as indicated in the accompanying non-GAAP reconciliation tables:

• Sale of Brazil tissue and K-C Professional business. In the second quarter of 2023, we recognized a net benefit related to the sale of our Brazil tissue and K-C Professional business.
• Impairment of intangible assets. In the second quarter of 2023, we recognized non-cash charges related to the impairment of certain intangible assets related to Softex Indonesia and Thinx.
• Pension settlements. In 2022 and 2023, we recognized pension settlement charges related to lump-sum distributions from pension plan assets exceeding the total of annual service and interest costs resulting in a recognition of deferred actuarial losses.
• Acquisition of controlling interest in Thinx. In the first quarter of 2022, the company completed the acquisition of a majority and controlling share of Thinx. As a result of this transaction, a net benefit was recognized primarily due to the nonrecurring, non-cash gain recognized related to the remeasurement of the carrying value of previously held equity investment to fair value partially offset by transaction and integration costs.

The company provides these non-GAAP financial measures as supplemental information to our GAAP financial measures.  Management and the company's Board of Directors use adjusted earnings, adjusted earnings per share and adjusted gross and operating profit to (a) evaluate the company's historical and prospective financial performance and its performance relative to its competitors, (b) allocate resources and (c) measure the operational performance of the company's business units and their managers.  Management also believes that the use of an adjusted effective tax rate provides improved insight into the tax effects of our ongoing business operations.

Additionally, the Management Development and Compensation Committee of the company's Board of Directors has used certain of the non-GAAP financial measures when setting and assessing achievement of incentive compensation goals. These goals are based, in part, on the company's adjusted earnings per share.

This news release includes information regarding organic sales growth, which describes the impact of changes in volume, net selling prices and product mix on net sales.  Changes in foreign currency exchange rates, acquisitions and exited businesses also impact the year-over-year change in net sales.

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SOURCE Kimberly-Clark Corporation