La vendita allo scoperto per Kimberly-Clark dà agli investitori un'idea del grado in cui gli investitori stanno scommettendo sul declino delle azioni di Kimberly-Clark. I dati relativi alle vendite allo scoperto vengono aggiornati ogni due settimane.

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB) Azioni, Report sulle vendite allo scoperto

Kimberly-Clark

With more than half of sales from personal care and another third from consumer tissue products, Kimberly-Clark sits as a leading manufacturer in the tissue and hygiene realm. Its brand mix includes Huggies, PullUps, Kotex, Depend, Kleenex, and Cottonelle. The firm also operates K-C Professional, which partners with businesses to provide safety and sanitary offerings for the workplace. Kimberly-Clark generates just over of half its sales in North America and more than 10% in Europe, with the rest primarily concentrated in Asia and Latin America.

Kimberly-Clark Corp

KAMBI GROUP LTD ORD B by Kambi Group LTD.

Kambi Group PLC

KIMBERLY CLARK ORD

McCormick &amp; Company, Incorporated (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mkc#NYSE">MKC</a>) reported solid third-quarter fiscal 2024 results, wherein the top and bottom lines beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate, and earnings increased year over year.
The company achieved a significant milestone by delivering overall global positive volume growth in the quarter, indicating improving trends across both business segments. The momentum is expected to carry into the fourth quarter. In the Consumer segment, MKC recorded solid volume growth despite facing a challenging macroeconomic environment in China. Meanwhile, in the Flavor Solutions segment, sequential volume improvements were realized, driven by strong growth in Branded Foodservice.
Management continues to bolster its position across major markets and core categories by focusing on growth levers such as brand marketing, product and packaging innovation, category management and proprietary technology. The company expects its cost-saving initiatives to help fund future investments and drive operating margin expansion. The year-to-date results, combined with strategic growth plans, reinforce confidence in achieving the mid-to-high range of projected sales growth for 2024.
<div class="chart_embed">
<h3>McCormick &amp; Company, Incorporated Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise 
<img alt="McCormick &amp; Company, Incorporated Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/charts/ae/1727790166.png" style="height:265px; width:576px" title="" /></h3>
McCormick &amp; Company, Incorporated price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | McCormick &amp; Company, Incorporated Quote
</div>
<h2>MKC&#39;s Quarterly Performance: Key Metrics and Insights</h2>
Adjusted earnings of 83 cents per share increased from 65 cents reported in the year-ago quarter. The metric came above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 68 cents per share, representing a surprise of 22.1%. The year-over-year upside can be attributed to greater operating profit, the timing of a specific tax benefit and increased income from unconsolidated operations, fueled by robust performance from McCormick de Mexico, the company&#39;s largest joint venture.
This global leader in flavor generated sales of $1,679.8 million, flat year over year, including minimum impacts from currency movements. Impacts from the company&#39;s strategic decision to divest its canning business were offset by a 1% increase in volume backed by the Consumer segment, somewhat negated by pricing. The top line exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,664 million.
McCormick&#39;s gross profit margin expanded 170 basis points. The upside can be attributed to improved mix and cost savings from the Comprehensive Continuous Improvement&nbsp;program.
The adjusted operating income came in at $288 million, up 15% year over year, reflecting gross margin expansion and reduced SG&amp;A expenses.
<h2>Decoding MKC&#39;s Segmental Performance</h2>
Consumer: Sales remained flat year over year at $937.4 million, with a negligible impact on currency movements. Sales were hurt by a 1% decline from pricing actions, offset by 1% volume growth. Volume growth in the Americas and the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (&quot;EMEA&quot;) regions was partly negated by declines in the Asia-Pacific region (APAC). Sales remained flat year over year in the Americas while moving up 3% in the EMEA region. Segment sales dipped 1% in the APAC.
Flavor Solutions: Sales in the segment inched down 1% to $742.4 million. On a constant-currency basis, sales were flat year over year as a 1% rise in pricing was countered by the company&#39;s strategic move to sell off its canning business. Flavor Solutions&#39; sales in the Americas grew 2%. Flavor Solutions&#39; sales in the EMEA fell by 8%. Sales in the APAC market fell 1% year over year.
<h2>MKC&#39;s Financial Health Snapshot</h2>
McCormick exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $200.8 million, long-term debt of $3,343.1 million and total shareholders&#39; equity of $5,451 million. In the nine months ended Aug. 31, 2024, net cash provided by operating activities was $463.2 million.
<h2>What to Expect From MKC in 2024?</h2>
For fiscal 2024, McCormick is focused on strengthening its volume trends and prioritizing investments to fuel profits. The company&#39;s CCI and Global Operating Effectiveness programs are driving growth investments and operating margin expansion. Management anticipates currency movements to have a minimal impact on 2024 results.
For 2024, management expects sales to range between a 1% decline and 1% growth, including minimal currency impacts. The company anticipates witnessing a favorable impact of pricing actions undertaken in the prior year. Volume trends are likely to improve due to solid brands and targeted investments. However, its decision to discontinue the low-margin business and sell the canning business is likely to put some pressure on volume during 2024.
Management expects adjusted operating income to grow 4-6%, including minimal currency impacts. This is likely to be driven by gross margin expansion, somewhat offset by a major rise in brand marketing investments.
Management envisions 2024 adjusted EPS in the band of $2.85-$2.90, which suggests a 5-7% increase from the year-ago period, including minimal currency impacts. On a GAAP basis, McCormick projects 2024 earnings in the range of $2.81- $2.86 per share compared with the year-ago period figure of $2.52.
This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock has rallied 17.2% in the past three months compared with the industry&#39;s growth of 8.8%.
<h2>Other Top Staple Stocks</h2>
Here, we have highlighted three other top-ranked consumer staple stocks &mdash; The Chef&#39;s Warehouse (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/chef#NASDAQ">CHEF</a>), Flowers Foods (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/flo#NYSE">FLO</a>) and Kimberly-Clark Corporation&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/kmb#NYSE">KMB</a>).
The Chef&#39;s Warehouse, which engages in the distribution of specialty food products, currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
CHEF has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 33.7%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for The Chef&#39;s Warehouse&#39;s current fiscal year sales and earnings indicates growth of 9.7% and 12.6%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers.
Flowers Foods, one of the largest producers of packaged bakery foods in the United States, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. FLO has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 1.9%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Flowers Foods&#39; current financial-year sales and earnings implies growth of around 1% and 5%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers.
Kimberly-Clark is a personal care and consumer tissue product company that currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kimberly-Clark&#39;s current fiscal-year earnings indicates an advancement of 10.4% from the year-ago reported figure. KMB has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 12.6%, on average.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2344136/mccormick-q3-earnings-top-estimates-mkc-volumes-improve-y-y?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|earnings_article-2344136">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Earnings

Earnings Beats

Large Cap

Mid Cap

News

Small Cap

Management

Markets

Analyst Ratings

Trading Ideas

CHEF

McCormick Q3 Earnings Top Estimates, MKC Volumes Improve Y/Y

Asset Sales

Global

Kimberly-Clark Is Said To Mull Options For International Tissue Business; Says Review At Early Stage, May Not Lead To Deal

<ul>
<li>New TCT agreements contribute to supporting America's clean energy transition through tax credit transferability under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).</li>
<li>Projects are helping to pave the way for additional investments from the voluntary market to support developers fostering renewable energy projects.</li>
<li>Through strategic guidance from Schneider Electric, Kimberly-Clark will fund four new battery energy storage projects, demonstrating its support of critical grid resiliency.</li>
</ul>
BOSTON, Sept. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- <a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4260781-1&amp;h=1845358604&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.se.com%2Fus%2Fen%2F&amp;a=Schneider+Electric">Schneider Electric</a>,&nbsp;the global leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, today announced having facilitated several new TCT deals by <a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4260781-1&amp;h=3439761111&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kimberly-clark.com%2Fen-us&amp;a=Kimberly-Clark">Kimberly-Clark</a> Corporation, one of the world's leading manufacturers of personal care and hygiene products and owner of household brands such as Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, and WypAll.
Since 2016, Schneider Electric has served as a strategic advisor to Kimberly-Clark in the manufacturer's ambitious decarbonization goals. These include a commitment to reduce absolute GHG emissions by 50% (1) by 2030 and progressing towards 100% renewable electricity in North America by 2030.
Most recently, Schneider Electric acted as a strategic advisor to Kimberly-Clark to help fund multiple battery energy storage projects as part of the rapid energy transition to green America's grid. These TCT deals represent one of the many approaches Kimberly-Clark is taking to advance sustainable solutions. The projects also serve as leading examples of how the voluntary market can support developers fostering key projects using the IRA's new tax credit transferability mechanism.
The work on these collective projects supports the advancement of battery energy storage in the Texas, USA, region, aligned with Kimberly-Clark's support of the green transition in renewable energy storage and generation. Kimberly-Clark's current vPPAs produce clean power from wind in Texas, which makes up <a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4260781-1&amp;h=320883471&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.epa.gov%2Fgreenpower%2Fgreen-power-partnership-national-top-100&amp;a=40%25+of+its+total+electricity+use+by+U.S.+operations+in+renewable+energy">40% of its total electricity use by U.S. operations in renewable energy</a> that Schneider Electric has advised on.
Details of the new Investment Tax Credit Transfer agreements include:
<ul>
<li>A $82.5M TCT agreement, a 180 MW battery energy storage facility</li>
<li>A $68M TCT agreement, a 100 MW battery energy storage facility</li>
<li>A $55M TCT agreement, a 100 MW battery energy storage project
<ul>
<li>A $32M TCT agreement, a 100MW battery energy storage facility</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

Schneider Electric & Kimberly-Clark Announce Tax Credit Transfer Agreements To Advance Grid Resiliency

The FDA is addressing concerns about tampon safety following a 2024 study that discovered metals in tampons during laboratory testing.
Some of the tampon makers include Procter &amp; Gamble Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PG#NYSE">PG</a>), Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>), Edgewell Personal Care (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EPC#NYSE">EPC</a>), and Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMB#NYSE">KMB</a>).
A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024004355" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> published in July&nbsp;found a variety of metals, including arsenic, &nbsp;cadmium, and lead, in more than&nbsp;a dozen brands of tampons.
The researchers said they evaluated the concentrations of 16 metal(loid)s in 30 tampons from 14 tampon brands and 18 product lines.
The FDA reassured the public that all tampons must meet strict safety and effectiveness requirements before they can be legally sold in the U.S. Tampon manufacturers are required to conduct thorough tests of their products and component materials throughout the manufacturing process.
This includes pre-market biocompatibility testing, which the FDA evaluates.
While the study identified the presence of metals in certain tampons, it did not examine whether these metals are released during use or absorbed by the vaginal lining, nor did it explore the potential for metals entering the bloodstream.
In response, the FDA has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/medical-device-regulatory-science-research-programs-conducted-osel/biocompatibility-and-toxicology-program-research-medical-devices-biocompatibility-and-toxicology" rel="noreferrer noopener">launched</a> two initiatives to investigate the issue further.
<ul>
<li>First, the FDA has commissioned an independent review of the available literature on tampon safety. This review aims to enhance the agency&#8217;s understanding of existing data on the chemicals found in tampons and any associated health risks.</li>
<li>Second, the FDA has begun its internal laboratory study to measure how much metals are released from tampons under conditions mimicking typical use.</li>
</ul>
The findings from these studies will contribute to a comprehensive risk assessment of metal exposure from tampons. The FDA plans to share the results of its literature review and lab tests with the public once they have been peer-reviewed.
Additionally, the FDA emphasized that it will continue to monitor tampon safety as part of its total product lifecycle approach to medical devices.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40819405/adobe-shakes-up-video-editing-with-ai-powered-creation-tools-whats-on-the-cards" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Adobe Shakes Up Video Editing With AI-Powered Creation Tools &#8211; What&#8217;s On The Cards?</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by Klymenko Mariia via shutterstock

Health Care

Media

General

Metals in Tampons: FDA Initiates New Safety Measures and Testing

FEMY

FDA Says Aware Of Concerns About Tampon Safety After A 2024 Study Found Metals In Tampons During Laboratory Testing; Commissioned An Independent Literature Review & Initiated An Internal Bench Laboratory Study To Evaluate Metals In Tampons

Retail sales in the United States inched up 1% sequentially in July 2024, following a downwardly revised 0.2% drop in June and way better than forecasts of a 0.3% gain. It is the biggest increase since January 2023, with sales at motor vehicle and part dealers rising the most (3.6%), followed by sales at electronics and appliance stores (1.6%).
Barring sales of food services, auto dealers, building materials stores and gasoline stations, sales rose 0.3%, compared to 0.9% in June and forecasts of 0.1%. Below we highlight a few areas and the related ETFs &amp; stocks that may benefit handsomely from the retail sales.
<h3>Winning Areas</h3>
Electronics &amp; Appliance Stores
Sales gained 1.6% sequentially in July and 5.2% year over year. Rise in electronics sales should boost semiconductor funds and stocks.
VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/smh#NASDAQ">SMH</a>) &ndash; The underlying MVIS US Listed Semiconductor 25 Index tracks the overall performance of companies involved in semiconductor production and equipment. The fund charges 35 bps in fees.
Best Buy (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bby#NYSE">BBY</a>) &ndash; As far as stocks are concerned, investors can take a look at BBY. It is a multinational specialty retailer of consumer electronics, home office products, entertainment software, communication, food preparation, wellness, health, security, appliances and related services. The fund has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Healthcare &amp; Personal Care Stores
Sales gained 0.8% sequentially in July and 3.4% year over year.
Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (ARCA:XLP) &ndash; The underlying Consumer Staples Select Sector Index seeks to provide an effective representation of the consumer staples sector of the S&amp;P 500 Index. The fund charges 9 bps in fees.
KimberlyClark (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/kmb#NYSE">KMB</a>) &ndash; Kimberly-Clark Corporation is principally engaged in the manufacture and marketing of a wide range of consumer products around the world. The company sells its products to supermarkets; mass merchandisers; drugstores; warehouse clubs; variety and department stores; retail outlets; manufacturing, lodging, office building, food service, and health care establishments; and high-volume public facilities. The fund has a Zacks Rank #3.
Food &amp; Beverage Stores
Sales gained 0.9% sequentially in July and 2.9% year over year.
Fidelity MSCI Consumer Staples Index ETF (ARCA:FSTA) &ndash; The underlying MSCI USA IMI Consumer Staples Index represents the performance of the consumer staples sector in the U.S. equity market. The fund charges 8 bps in fees.
Pilgrim&#39;s Pride (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ppc#NASDAQ">PPC</a>) &ndash; Pilgrim&#39;s Pride Corporation is focusing on strengthening its Prepared Foods category. The category grew in the United States during the fourth quarter of 2019 on continued investments in R&amp;D and sales as well as marketing of new product innovations. Also, the company has been increasing its product mix for organic category, including No-Antibiotics-Ever products, to cater customers&#39; evolving tastes. The fund has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2322839/retail-sales-gains-in-july-etfs-stocks-to-play?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-etf_news_and_commentary-2322839">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Retail Sales

ETFs

FSTA

Retail Sales Gains in July: ETFs & Stocks to Play

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMB#NYSE">KMB</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether this is an institution or just a wealthy individual, we don't know. But when something this big happens with KMB, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 13 options trades for Kimberly-Clark.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 92% bullish and 7%, bearish.
Out of all of the options we uncovered, 12 are puts, for a total amount of $926,337, and there was 1 call, for a total amount of $26,410.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $136.0 to $142.0 for Kimberly-Clark over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Kimberly-Clark's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Kimberly-Clark's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $136.0 to $142.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Kimberly-Clark 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1721851268_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>KMB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/26/24</td>
<td>$5.0</td>
<td>$4.5</td>
<td>$4.6</td>
<td>$142.00</td>
<td>$183.9K</td>
<td>3.9K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KMB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/26/24</td>
<td>$5.0</td>
<td>$4.7</td>
<td>$4.7</td>
<td>$142.00</td>
<td>$141.0K</td>
<td>3.9K</td>
<td>850</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KMB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/26/24</td>
<td>$4.1</td>
<td>$3.9</td>
<td>$3.9</td>
<td>$142.00</td>
<td>$117.0K</td>
<td>3.9K</td>
<td>2.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KMB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/26/24</td>
<td>$2.55</td>
<td>$2.2</td>
<td>$2.2</td>
<td>$142.00</td>
<td>$99.0K</td>
<td>3.9K</td>
<td>3.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KMB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/26/24</td>
<td>$3.8</td>
<td>$3.6</td>
<td>$3.6</td>
<td>$142.00</td>
<td>$72.0K</td>
<td>3.9K</td>
<td>2.8K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Kimberly-Clark</h3>
With more than half of sales from personal care and another third from consumer tissue products, Kimberly-Clark sits as a leading manufacturer in the tissue and hygiene realm. Its brand mix includes Huggies, PullUps, Kotex, Depend, Kleenex, and Cottonelle. The firm also operates K-C Professional, which partners with businesses to provide safety and sanitary offerings for the workplace. Kimberly-Clark generates just over of half its sales in North America and more than 10% in Europe, with the rest primarily concentrated in Asia and Latin America.
<h3>Where Is Kimberly-Clark Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 2,536,588, the price of KMB is up by 3.0%, reaching $139.96.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 90 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Kimberly-Clark</h3>
A total of 5 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $148.4.
<ul>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Wells Fargo keeps a Equal-Weight rating on Kimberly-Clark with a target price of $134. </li>
<li>An analyst from TD Cowen has revised its rating downward to Buy, adjusting the price target to $161. </li>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Barclays keeps a Equal-Weight rating on Kimberly-Clark with a target price of $135. </li>
<li>An analyst from Piper Sandler persists with their Overweight rating on Kimberly-Clark, maintaining a target price of $174. </li>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Wells Fargo keeps a Equal-Weight rating on Kimberly-Clark with a target price of $138. </li>
</ul>
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Kimberly-Clark with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Options

A Closer Look at Kimberly-Clark's Options Market Dynamics

Deutsche Bank analyst Steve Powers maintains Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMB#NYSE">KMB</a>) with a Hold and raises the price target from $139 to $142.

Price Target

Deutsche Bank Maintains Hold on Kimberly-Clark, Raises Price Target to $142

RBC Capital analyst Nik Modi reiterates Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMB#NYSE">KMB</a>) with a Outperform and maintains $165 price target.

Reiteration

RBC Capital Reiterates Outperform on Kimberly-Clark, Maintains $165 Price Target

Wells Fargo analyst Chris Carey maintains Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMB#NYSE">KMB</a>) with a Equal-Weight and lowers the price target from $138 to $134.

Wells Fargo Maintains Equal-Weight on Kimberly-Clark, Lowers Price Target to $134

On Tuesday, Wall Street saw a mixed session, with small-cap stocks outperforming large caps as investors anticipated key earnings reports from Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) and Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), set to be <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/07/39910693/tesla-analyst-asks-do-earnings-matter-ahead-of-q2-report-robotaxis-china-ev-guidanc">released after the close.</a>
The Russell 2000 index, as replicated by the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>), climbed 0.8%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 dipped 0.2%. This marked the ninth time in the last 10 sessions that small caps have outperformed tech stocks. The S&amp;P 500 and the Dow Jones showed little movement.
United Parcel Service Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>) stood out among the mega-cap stocks, plunging 14% after missing earnings and revenue estimates for the previous quarter. This decline is poised to be the worst one-day drop for the shipping company since it went public in 1999.
Both Treasury yields and the U.S. dollar remained stable ahead of a data-heavy week, featuring the Q2 GDP report on Thursday and the Fed&#8217;s favored inflation report on Friday.
Gold inched up 0.3%, reaching $2,400 per ounce, while Bitcoin dropped over 2% to $65,800, marking its second straight session of losses.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,243.00</td>
<td>0.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,568.86</td>
<td>0.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>40,386.54</td>
<td>-0.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>19,778.53</td>
<td>-0.2%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:48 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/pro/register/?utm_source=BZprocontent071924&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a> data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)&nbsp;was flat at $554.92.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;edged down 0.1% to $403.80.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust&nbsp;(ARCA:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/qqq" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/qqq" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>QQQ) fell 0.2% to $481.52.</li>
<li>Sector-wise, the Financials Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>)&nbsp;outperformed, up by 0.4%, while the&nbsp;Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) lagged, down 1.4%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>
Stocks reacting to company earnings were: 
<ul>
<li>Agilysys, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGYS#NASDAQ">AGYS</a>), down over 5%</li>
<li>NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NXPI#NASDAQ">NXPI</a>) down over 9%</li>
<li>Medpace Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MEDP#NASDAQ">MEDP</a>) down over 17%</li>
<li>Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>), up 0.6%</li>
<li>Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCX#NYSE">FCX</a>), down 2%</li>
<li>GE Aerospace (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>), up over 7%</li>
<li>General Motors Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>), down over 6%</li>
<li>Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMB#NYSE">KMB</a>), down over 4%</li>
<li>Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMCSA#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>), down over 2%</li>
<li>MSCI Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSCI#NYSE">MSCI</a>), up over 7%</li>
<li>Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), up over 4%</li>
<li>Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PM#NYSE">PM</a>), up 2%</li>
<li>PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PHM#NYSE">PHM</a>), down 0.5%</li>
<li>Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DGX#NYSE">DGX</a>), down over 4%</li>
<li>Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPOT#NYSE">SPOT</a>), up over 10%</li>
<li>Polaris Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PII#NYSE">PII</a>), down over 2%.</li>
</ul>
Those reporting after the close include:
<ul>
<li>Alphabet, Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>)</li>
<li>Chubb Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CB#NYSE">CB</a>)</li>
<li> Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAT#NASDAQ">MAT</a>)</li>
<li>Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PKG#NYSE">PKG</a>)</li>
<li>Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STX#NASDAQ">STX</a>)</li>
<li>Tesla</li>
<li>Texas Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXN#NASDAQ">TXN</a>)</li>
<li>Visa Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>).</li>
</ul>
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/latest-research-webinar-redirect-evergreen?utm_source=website-content" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Turn Trading Into The Ultimate Side Hustle Using Benzinga Tools In A Free Webinar</a></li>
</ul>
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Small-Cap Gains Resume Ahead Of Major Tech Earnings; UPS Faces Worst Day Ever, Bitcoin Dips Below $66,000: What's Driving Markets Tuesday?

Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMB#NYSE">KMB</a>) shares are trading lower following <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket" rel="noreferrer noopener">mixed second-quarter earnings.</a>
Kimberly-Clark reported quarterly adjusted earnings per share of $1.96 (+19%), <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/07/n39863402/polaris-announces-senior-leadership-change" rel="noreferrer noopener">beating the analyst consensus of $1.71</a>.
Quarterly revenues of $5.029 billion, missing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">the street view of $5.109 billion.</a>
Sales in the second quarter reflected a 2% decline from the previous year, influenced by a 5% currency translation impact and a 1% decrease due to the divestiture of the Tissue and K-C Professional business in Brazil in June 2023.
Innovation-led volume gains, effective cost management, and productivity drove substantial EPS expansion.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/07/39905321/automotive-manufacturer-polaris-shares-tumble-on-q2-earnings-miss-and-guidance-cut-amid-inventory-f" rel="noreferrer noopener">Automotive Manufacturer Polaris Shares Tumble On Q2 Earnings Miss And Guidance Cut Amid Inventory Focus</a>
The company&#8217;s adjusted gross margin was 36.9%, up 290 basis points versus the prior year, driven by organic net sales growth and gross productivity gains.
Net interest expense was&nbsp;$63 million&nbsp;versus&nbsp;$67 million&nbsp;in the prior-year period.
The company exited the quarter with cash and equivalents worth $1.163 billion. Inventories totaled $1.915 billion.
Outlook: Kimberly-Clark still expects FY24 organic <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">net sales to grow at a mid-single-digit rate.</a>
Reported net sales&nbsp;are still expected to be negatively impacted by 400 basis points of currency translation and 120 basis points from divestitures.
Adjusted EPS is now expected to grow at a mid-to-high teens percentage rate on a constant-currency basis, an increase from previous expectations of low-teens growth.
&#8220;Our focus is to deliver high-quality consumer solutions at every price point, increase our operational scale, and enhance our long-term potential,&#8221; said Kimberly-Clark Chairman and CEO&nbsp;Mike Hsu.&nbsp;
&#8220;We&#8217;re excited about our opportunities to capitalize on our momentum to deliver our enduring goal of enhancing value for all our stakeholders,&#8221; Hsu added.
Price Action: KMB shares are trading lower by 3.9% to $138.51 at last check Tuesday.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/07/39874391/tesla-alphabet-gm-ford-lead-earnings-parade-this-week-as-market-struggles-to-sustain-the-summer-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla, Alphabet, GM, Ford Lead Earnings Parade This Week As Market Struggles To Sustain The Summer Rally</a></li>
</ul>

Guidance

Movers

Kimberly-Clark Shares Tumble After Missing Revenue Targets Despite Earnings Growth

WIIM

Kimberly-Clark shares are trading lower following mixed Q2 earnings.

The market mood turned jittery after Monday&#8217;s rebound, with index futures trading on either side of the unchanged line early Tuesday. The apprehensions reflect uncertainties regarding geopolitics, monetary policy, and the health of the reporting season ahead of earnings from AI stalwart Alphabet, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) and electric-vehicle giant Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>). <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/07/39884110/alphabet-set-to-report-strong-q2-results-with-increased-search-revenue-analyst-bull">The Google-parent&#8217;s earnings </a>could be seen as a foretaste of what is to come from the rest of the AI-levered stocks.
Earnings news has been mixed. The tidings on the economic front are scarce, with only a housing market report due for the day. That said, traders may choose to remain cautious ahead of some key readings, including Friday&#8217;s inflation data.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Futures</td>
<td>Performance (+/-)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>-0.02%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>+0.08%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow</td>
<td>+0.11%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>R2K</td>
<td>+0.23%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> In premarket trading on Tuesday,&nbsp;the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose 0.08% to $555.11, while the&nbsp;Invesco QQQ ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) edged 0.01% to $482.28, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro data</a>. Cues From Last Session:</figcaption></figure>
Stocks went racing higher on Monday as traders assessed the implications of President Joe Biden&#8217;s withdrawal from the race and looked ahead optimistically to the week&#8217;s earnings report. Beaten-down tech stocks spearheaded the recovery on a day when most S&amp;P 500 sector indices, barring energy and consumer staples, advanced. 
The major averages opened higher, with the Nasdaq Composite Index and the S&amp;P 500 Index moving roughly sideways with strong gains for the rest of the session. In the process, the former broke back above the 18,000 barrier. The Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced some volatility in the morning before moving decisively into the positive terrain and ending modestly higher. 
Small-caps resumed their rally, with the Russell 2,000 Index outperforming the major averages. 
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Index</td>
<td>Performance (+/-)</td>
<td>Value</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq Composite</td>
<td>+1.58%</td>
<td>18,007.57</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500 Index</td>
<td>+1.08%</td>
<td>5,564.41</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Industrials</td>
<td>+0.32%</td>
<td>40,415.44</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>+1.66%</td>
<td>2,220.65</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Insights From Analysts:
Wharton Professor Jeremy Siegel, Senior Economist to WisdomTree, commented on the dramatic shifts within the equity market, the ones happening among small- and large-cap stocks, as well as value and growth stocks. The strength in the small-cap stocks following favorable inflation data indicates a market highly responsive to even subtle shifts in monetary policy expectations, he said. 
The economist said, &#8220;There remains strong fundamental support for large caps—their earnings expectations have increased much more than small caps.&#8221; If the recent shifting tides were to sustain and last long &#8220;we will also need to see small and value stocks further reverse the huge gains in growth stocks over the previous three months,&#8221; he said.
The professor also weighed in on the U.S. election landscape. Biden's exit from the race makes Vice President Kamala Harris a virtual certain nominee, she said. The betting markets predict a close race between Harris and Trump but the former still may not beat the latter, he said. 
&#8220;However, the probability that the House goes Democratic has increased, and the prospects of a split government is encouraging to stock investors,&#8221; Siegel said. 
In an interview with CNBC on Monday, Tom Lee, Head of Research at Fund Strat, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/07/22/russell-2000-will-see-40-percent-rally-by-end-of-the-summer-says-fundstrats-lee.html">reiterated </a>his call for a 40% rally in small-caps by the end of the summer. He remised his call on the relatively higher sensitivity of these stocks to a Fed rate cut and the probability of it. 
Upcoming Economic Data:
<ul>
<li>The National Association of Realtors is scheduled to release its existing home sales report for June at 10 a.m. EDT. Economists, on average, expect existing home sales to come in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.59 million units compared to the 4 million-unit rate for May.</li>
<li>The Richmond Fed&#8217;s manufacturing and services sector survey results for July are due at 10 a.m. EDT.</li>
<li>The Treasury will auction 2-year notes at 1 p.m. EDT.</li>
</ul>
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures"> How To Trade Futures</a>
Stocks In Focus:
<ul>
<li>Agilysys, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGYS#NASDAQ">AGYS</a>) fell over 3% in premarket trading following the company&#8217;s quarterly earnings release and NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NXPI#NASDAQ">NXPI</a>) slipped over 8% on weak revenue and outlook and Medpace Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MEDP#NASDAQ">MEDP</a>) plunged nearly 13%.</li>
<li>Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>), Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCX#NYSE">FCX</a>), GE Aerospace (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>), General Motors Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) (up over 5%), Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMB#NYSE">KMB</a>), Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PM#NYSE">PM</a>), PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PHM#NYSE">PHM</a>), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DGX#NYSE">DGX</a>), Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPOT#NYSE">SPOT</a>) (up over 14%), Polaris Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PII#NYSE">PII</a>) (down over 17%), and United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>) are among the notable companies reporting ahead of the market open.</li>
<li>Those reporting after the close include Alphabet, Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>), Chubb Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CB#NYSE">CB</a>), Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAT#NASDAQ">MAT</a>), Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PKG#NYSE">PKG</a>), Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STX#NASDAQ">STX</a>), Tesla, Texas Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXN#NASDAQ">TXN</a>) and Visa Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>).</li>
</ul>
Commodities, Bonds And Global Equity Markets:
Crude oil futures fell further toward the $78-a-barrel mark and gold futures advanced. The 10-year Treasury yield fell 3.1 points to 4.228%. Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) fell below the $67K mark, while Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) rose modestly as the SEC approved Ethereum ETFs, which could begin trading as early as Tuesday.
Asian stocks traded mixed once again, with the Chinese and Hong Kong markets pulling back notably, while the Japanese, Indian and Indonesian markets ended slightly lower. The rest of the major markets in the region advanced, tracking the positive lead from Wall Street overnight amid the tech rebound.
European stocks were firmly in the green in early trading.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/07/39874391/tesla-alphabet-gm-ford-lead-earnings-parade-this-week-as-market-struggles-to-sustain-the-summer-">Tesla, Alphabet, GM, Ford Lead Earnings Parade This Week As Market Struggles To Sustain The Summer Rally</a></li>
</ul>
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Futures

Previews

Economics

Federal Reserve

Pre-Market Outlook

$BTC

$ETH

US Stock Futures Little Changed As Traders Brace For Q2 Reports From Alphabet, Tesla: 'There Remains Strong Fundamental Support For Large Caps,' Says Economist

Reported Operating Profit and Reported Earnings Per Share&nbsp;are still expected to be negatively impacted by approximately 700 basis points from currency translation.

Kimberly-Clark Now Expects FY24 Adjusted EPS To Grow At Mid-To-High Teens Percentage Rate On Constant-Currency Basis, Up From Prior View Of Low-Teens Growth

Reported Net Sales&nbsp;are still expected to be negatively impacted by 400 basis points of currency translation and 120 basis points from divestitures.

Kimberly-Clark Still Expects FY24 Organic Net Sales To Grow At Mid-Single Digit Rate

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMB#NYSE">KMB</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $1.96 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.71 by 14.62 percent. This is a 18.79 percent increase over earnings of $1.65 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $5.029 billion which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $5.109 billion by 1.57 percent. This is a 2.05 percent decrease over sales of $5.134 billion the same period last year.

Earnings Misses

Kimberly-Clark Q2 2024 Adj EPS $1.96 Beats $1.71 Estimate, Sales $5.029B Miss $5.109B Estimate

TD Cowen analyst Robert Moskow initiates coverage on Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMB#NYSE">KMB</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $161.

Initiation

TD Cowen Initiates Coverage On Kimberly-Clark with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $161

JP Morgan analyst Andrea Teixeira maintains Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMB#NYSE">KMB</a>) with a Underweight and raises the price target from $123 to $135.

JP Morgan Maintains Underweight on Kimberly-Clark, Raises Price Target to $135

About <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/07/39769910/goldman-sachs-q2-earnings-revenue-and-eps-beat-investment-banking-fees-up-21-hikes-dividend">14% of the S&amp;P 500 companies have reported their June quarter earnings</a> and the blended earnings growth rate for the companies constituting the broader index remains healthy. The coming week will see the official start of the tech reporting season, which could potentially decide the fate of the market, which has seen a steep pullback in the recent week.
The Week That Was: The tech earnings season had a modest start last week with the earnings report from chip-equipment maker ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>). The stock slumped about 16%, dragged by its weak third-quarter outlook and geopolitical concerns surrounding the China chip ban. Netflix, Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) guidance disappointed investors, but with sell-side analysts raving over the results, the stock did not get hammered.
Investors cheered earnings reports from the remaining big banks, namely Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) and Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>). A rebound in investment banking business and strong trading revenue helped the banks shore up their topline.
Of these companies, 80% reported earnings per share above estimates compared to the five-year average of 77%, said FactSet in its latest earnings insight <a href="https://advantage.factset.com/hubfs/Website/Resources%20Section/Research%20Desk/Earnings%20Insight/EarningsInsight_071924.pdf">report.</a> The average upside is about 5.5%, which, however, is below the five-year average of 8.6%.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-tech-stocks">Best Tech Stocks Right Now</a>
Earnings Trend: The blended earnings growth rate for the S&amp;P 500 companies for the second quarter is currently estimated at 9.7%, up from 9.1% in the previous week, FactSet noted. If the estimate is hit, the actual growth rate for the quarter will mark the highest year-over-year rate reported since the fourth quarter of 2021, it added. The second quarter will also likely mark the fourth consecutive quarter of growth.
Eight of the qq S&amp;P 500 sectors are expected to report year-over-year earnings growth, with four, namely communication services, healthcare, IT, and financials, likely reporting double-digit earnings growth. On the other hand, three sectors will likely report earnings declines, led by the materials sector.
The Week Ahead: The unfolding week will see earnings reports from 138 S&amp;P 500 companies, including seven Dow 30 components, Factset report said. The earnings slate for the week includes companies from the telecom, auto, steel, chip, homebuilding, defense, airline and tech industries.
Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) and Alphabet, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) are among the closely watched copmanies, given their heavy weightings in the S&amp;P 500 and the Nasdaq indices. Tesla is widely expected to report a sharp year-over-year decline in its earnings per share from 91 cents to 62 cents, while revenue may have seen a much more modest 0.80% decline to $24.73 billion. The greater impact on the bottom line comes from the price cuts that Elon Musk&#8216;s company has relied on to push volume in a challenging demand environment.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/07/39810457/as-tesla-stock-bounces-back-fund-manager-says-elon-musk-led-company-offers-good-set">Analysts and fund managers are optimistic</a> after the company reported a deliveries beat for the quarter. They also expect an inflection in the second-half of the year.
Alphabet&#8217;s earnings are important because it is the first among the AI-levered mega-cap companies to release its quarterly results, which might set the tempo for the earnings from the rest in the space. 
The stock market took a hit last week as major indices retreated from their record highs.The Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), an index that tracks the performance of the Nasdaq 100 Index, ended Friday&#8217;s session down 0.89% to $475.24, according to Benzinga Pro data. The ETF is trading off its record close of $502.96 reached on July 10. The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) fell 0.66% on Friday before closing at $548.99.
Notable among the companies reporting this week are:
Monday
Before market open:
<ul>
<li>Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>)</li>
</ul>
After close:
<ul>
<li>Agilysys, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGYS#NASDAQ">AGYS</a>)</li>
<li>Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLF#NYSE">CLF</a>)</li>
<li>Nucor Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NUE#NYSE">NUE</a>)</li>
<li>NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NXPI#NASDAQ">NXPI</a>)</li>
</ul>
Tuesday
Before market open:
<ul>
<li>&nbsp;Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>)</li>
<li>Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCX#NYSE">FCX</a>)</li>
<li>GATX Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GATX#NYSE">GATX</a>)</li>
<li>GE Aerospace (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>)</li>
<li>General Motors Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>)</li>
<li>Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMB#NYSE">KMB</a>)</li>
<li>Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>)</li>
<li>Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PM#NYSE">PM</a>)</li>
<li>PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PHM#NYSE">PHM</a>)</li>
<li>Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DGX#NYSE">DGX</a>)</li>
<li>Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPOT#NYSE">SPOT</a>)</li>
<li>United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>)</li>
</ul>
After close:
<ul>
<li>Alphabet</li>
<li>Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>)</li>
<li>Chubb Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CB#NYSE">CB</a>)</li>
<li>Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAT#NASDAQ">MAT</a>)</li>
<li>Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PKG#NYSE">PKG</a>)</li>
<li>Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STX#NASDAQ">STX</a>)</li>
<li>Tesla</li>
<li>Texas Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXN#NASDAQ">TXN</a>)</li>
<li>Visa Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>)</li>
</ul>
Wednesday
Before market open:
<ul>
<li>AT&amp;T Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>)</li>
<li>Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHKP#NASDAQ">CHKP</a>)</li>
<li>Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BSX#NYSE">BSX</a>)</li>
<li>CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CME#NASDAQ">CME</a>)</li>
<li>General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>)</li>
<li>Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ODFL#NASDAQ">ODFL</a>)</li>
<li>GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEV#NYSE">GEV</a>)</li>
<li>Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMO#NYSE">TMO</a>)</li>
</ul>
After close:
<ul>
<li>Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMG#NYSE">CMG</a>)</li>
<li>Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EW#NYSE">EW</a>)</li>
<li>Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>)</li>
<li>International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBM#NYSE">IBM</a>)</li>
<li>Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KNX#NYSE">KNX</a>)</li>
<li>Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LVS#NYSE">LVS</a>)</li>
<li>Meritage Homes Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTH#NYSE">MTH</a>)</li>
<li>Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WHR#NYSE">WHR</a>)</li>
<li> ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOW#NYSE">NOW</a>) ORLY</li>
<li>O&#8217;Reilly Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORLY#NASDAQ">ORLY</a>)</li>
</ul>
Thursday
Before market open:
<ul>
<li>AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>)</li>
<li>American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAL#NASDAQ">AAL</a>) </li>
<li>AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AZN#NASDAQ">AZN</a>)</li>
<li>Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMCSA#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>)</li>
<li>Dow Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DOW#NYSE">DOW</a>)</li>
<li>Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HAS#NASDAQ">HAS</a>)</li>
<li>Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HON#NASDAQ">HON</a>)</li>
<li>Sanofi (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNY#NASDAQ">SNY</a>)</li>
<li>Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LUV#NYSE">LUV</a>)</li>
<li>STMicroelectronics N.V. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STM#NYSE">STM</a>)</li>
<li>Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNP#NYSE">UNP</a>)</li>
<li> Xerox Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XRX#NASDAQ">XRX</a>)</li>
</ul>
After close:
<ul>
<li>SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SKYW#NASDAQ">SKYW</a>)</li>
<li>Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNPR#NYSE">JNPR</a>)</li>
<li>Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DECK#NYSE">DECK</a>)</li>
<li>Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BYD#NYSE">BYD</a>)</li>
<li>BJ&#8217;s Restaurants, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BJRI#NASDAQ">BJRI</a>)</li>
<li>VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRSN#NASDAQ">VRSN</a>)</li>
</ul>
Friday
Before market open:
<ul>
<li>3M Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMM#NYSE">MMM</a>)</li>
<li>Barnes Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/B#NYSE">B</a>)</li>
<li>Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMY#NYSE">BMY</a>)</li>
<li>Newell Brands Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NWL#NASDAQ">NWL</a>)</li>
<li>Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CL#NYSE">CL</a>)</li>
<li>Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHTR#NASDAQ">CHTR</a>)</li>
</ul>
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/07/39857569/american-express-q2-earnings-ceo-raises-annual-profit-and-marketing-spend-outlook-after-q2-profit-b">American Express Q2 Earnings: CEO Raises Annual Profit And Marketing Spend Outlook After Q2 Profit Beat</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

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Tesla, Alphabet, GM, Ford Lead Earnings Parade This Week As Market Struggles To Sustain The Summer Rally

Dividend Aristocrats are known for their resilience during economic uncertainty, consistently providing stable income by increasing dividends, even amid inflation and rising unemployment. Hence, it could be wise to invest in top-rated Dividend Aristocrats like Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Target (TGT), and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) for long-term growth. Read on... Dividend Aristocrats are an attractive investment choice due to their proven stability and reliable income. These companies have consistently raised dividends for over 25 years, even in volatile markets and tough economic times. Their strong track record offers dependable returns, making them a smart long-term option for investors amid market fluctuations.
Therefore, investors may consider adding top Dividend Aristocrats, such as Johnson &amp; Johnson (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/JNJ/">JNJ</a>), Target Corporation (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/TGT/">TGT</a>), and Kimberly-Clark Corporation (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/KMB/">KMB</a>). These companies have increased dividends for 25 consecutive years or more and demonstrate strong long-term growth potential.
September has historically been a turbulent month for stocks, often marked by significant pullbacks. Adding to this uncertainty are a weakening manufacturing sector, global tensions, and concerns surrounding the U.S. presidential election. Amid this volatility, dividend-paying stocks stand out as particularly appealing, offering steady returns and a safer investment option in unpredictable markets.
Meanwhile, the slight easing of the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/rates-bonds/fed-seen-delivering-upsized-rate-cut-us-job-growth-cools-2024-09-06/">unemployment rate to 4.2%</a> signals a soft labor market, but market sentiment remains divided over the Federal Reserve's next move. Uncertainty around whether the Fed will opt for a 50-basis-point cut or a more conservative 25-basis-point adjustment is fueling market volatility, especially as inflation continues to remain above the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/rates-bonds/fed-deliver-three-25-quarter-point-rate-cuts-this-year-recession-unlikely-2024-08-19/">Fed's 2% target</a>.
In light of the current volatility, investing in Dividend Aristocrats remains a solid choice due to their steady returns. Given these favorable trends, let's analyze the fundamental aspects of the three Dividend Aristocrat picks.
Johnson &amp; Johnson (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/JNJ/">JNJ</a>)
JNJ researches, develops, manufactures, and sells various products in the healthcare field worldwide. It operates through two segments: Innovative Medicine, and MedTech.
On August 27, 2024, JNJ announced that the European Commission has approved RYBREVANT (amivantamab) in combination with chemotherapy for treating advanced EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer in adults. This regimen shows a significant improvement in progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy alone.
On August 23, 2024, JNJ announced that the European Commission approved BALVERSA (erdafitinib) for treating adult patients with unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who have FGFR3 alterations. This makes it the first pan-FGFR kinase inhibitor approved in the European Economic Area for this condition.
JNJ's net income grew at a CAGR of 28.9% over the past three years. Similarly, its revenue grew at a CAGR of 1.3% over the past five years.
In terms of the trailing-12-month <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/ebitda-margin.asp">EBITDA margin</a>, JNJ's 35.85% is 488.3% higher than the 6.09% industry average. Its 5.55% trailing-12-month Capex / Sales is 67.8% higher than the 3.31% industry average. Likewise, its 0.46x trailing-12-month asset turnover ratio is 12.3% higher than the industry average of 0.41x.
JNJ has paid dividends for 61 consecutive years.  Its annual dividend is $4.96, which translates to a yield of 3.01% at the current share price. Its four-year average dividend yield is 2.71%. Moreover, the company's dividend payouts have increased at a CAGR of 5.5% over the past five years.
In the second quarter that ended June 30, 2024, JNJ's reported sales increased 4.3% year-over-year to $22.45 billion. Similarly, its gross profit increased 3.5% from the year-ago value to $15.58 billion. Moreover, the company's adjusted net earnings rose 1.6% and 10.2% from the prior year's quarter to $6.84 billion and $2.82 per share, respectively.
Street expects JNJ's revenue for the quarter ending September 30, 2024, to increase 3.7% year-over-year to $22.14 billion. Its EPS for the quarter ending December 31, 2024, is expected to increase marginally year-over-year to $2.30. It surpassed consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. JNJ's stock has gained 13.1% over the past three months to close the last trading session at $165.04.
JNJ's <a href="https://stocknews.com/powr-ratings/">POWR Ratings</a> reflect strong prospects. It has an overall rating of A, which translates to a Strong Buy in our proprietary system. The POWR Ratings assess stocks by 118 different factors, each with its own weighting.
It is ranked #20 out of 158 stocks in the <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/pharmaceuticals/">Medical – Pharmaceuticals</a> industry. It has a B grade for Value, Stability, and Quality. <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/JNJ/">Click here</a> to see JNJ's Growth, Momentum, and Sentiment ratings.
Target Corporation (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/TGT/">TGT</a>)
TGT operates as a general merchandise retailer in the United States. It offers apparel for women, men, boys, girls, toddlers, infants, and newborns, as well as jewellery, accessories, and shoes; beauty and personal care, baby gear, cleaning, paper products, and pet supplies.
On June 24, 2024, TGT announced a partnership with Shopify to feature select Shopify merchants on Target Plus, its third-party digital marketplace. This collaboration will expand Target Plus with new brands and products and will also introduce select Shopify products into TGT's stores nationwide.
TGT's revenue grew at a CAGR of 2.3% over the past three years. Likewise, its total assets grew at a CAGR of 2.9% during the same period.
In terms of the trailing-12-month Return on Total Assets, TGT's 8.01% is 86% higher than the 4.31% industry average. Its 33.97% trailing-12-month Return on Common Equity is 222.4% higher than the 10.54% industry average. Moreover, its 1.97x trailing-12-month asset turnover ratio is 128.3% higher than the industry average of 0.86x.
TGT pays an annual dividend of $4.48, which translates to a yield of 2.95% at the current share price. Its four-year average dividend yield is 2.24%. In addition, the company's dividend payouts have increased at a CAGR of 14.6% over the past five years. TGT has paid dividends for the past 55 years.
For the first quarter, which ended on August 3, 2024, TGT's total revenue rose 2.7% year-over-year to $25.45 billion, and its operating income was $1.63 billion, up 36.6% over the prior-year quarter. The company's net earnings and adjusted EPS stood at $1.19 billion and $2.57, respectively, representing increases of 42.7% and 42.4% year-over-year.
For the quarter ending October 31, 2024, TGT's EPS and revenue are expected to increase 9.1% and 2.1% year-over-year to $2.29 and $25.94 billion, respectively.  TGT surpassed the Street EPS estimates in three of the trailing four quarters. Over the past year, its stock has gained 21.4% to close the last trading session at $151.95.
TGT's bright outlook is reflected in its POWR Ratings. It has an overall rating of A, equating to a Strong Buy in our proprietary rating system.
TGT has a B grade for Value, Momentum, Sentiment, and Quality. Within the A-rated <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/grocery-big-box-retailers/">Grocery/Big Box Retailers</a> industry, it is ranked #11 out of 37 stocks. To see TGT ratings for Growth and Stability, <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/TGT/">click here</a>.
Kimberly-Clark Corporation (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/KMB/">KMB</a>) 
KMB and its subsidiaries manufacture and market personal care and consumer tissue products worldwide. It operates through three segments: Personal Care, Consumer Tissue, and K-C Professional.
On August 1, 2024, KMB announced a regular quarterly dividend of $1.22 per share, payable on October 2, 2024. This marks the 90th consecutive year of dividend payments and the 52nd consecutive year of dividend increases.
KMB's EPS grew at a CAGR of 4.8% over the past three years. Likewise, its levered FCF grew at a CAGR of 39.1% over the past three years.
In terms of the trailing-12-month net income margin, KMB's 11.28% is 167.7% higher than the 4.21% industry average. Likewise, its 10.71% trailing-12-month levered FCF margin is 96.2% higher than the 5.46% industry average. Furthermore, the stock's 279.58% trailing-12-month Return on Common Equity is significantly higher than the 10.54% industry average.
KMB's annualized dividend of $4.88 per share translates to a dividend yield of 3.30% on the current share price. Its four-year average yield is 3.48%. Its dividend payouts have increased at a CAGR of 2.5% over the past three years. Also, KMB has paid dividends for 51 consecutive years.
During the second quarter that ended June 30, 2024, KMB's net sales were $5.03 billion. The company's total operating profit came in at $655 million, up 479.6% year-over-year. Furthermore, its adjusted net income attributable to KMB and adjusted EPS rose 18.2% and 18.8% from the prior year's quarter to $661 million and $1.96, respectively.
Analysts expect KMB's EPS for the quarter ending December 31, 2024, to increase 5.9% year-over-year to $1.60. Its revenue for the same quarter is expected to grow marginally year-over-year to $5 billion. It surpassed the consensus EPS estimates in three of the trailing four quarters. KMB's stock has gained 21.4% year-to-date to close the last trading session at $147.64.
KMB's strong fundamentals are reflected in its POWR Ratings. It has an overall rating of B, equating to a Buy in our proprietary rating system.
It has a B grade for Value and Quality. Within the A-rated <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/consumer-goods/">Consumer Goods</a> industry, it is ranked #14 out of 52 stocks. To access KMB's grades for Growth, Momentum, Stability, and Sentiment, <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/KMB/">click here</a>.
What To Do Next?
Get your hands on this special report with 3 low priced companies with tremendous upside potential even in today's volatile markets:
<a href="https://report.stocknews.com/free-report/3stocks/?formplacement=artbotad_3s">3 Stocks to DOUBLE This Year &gt;</a>

<hr />
JNJ shares were trading at $164.32 per share on Friday afternoon, down $0.67 (-0.41%). Year-to-date, JNJ has gained 7.29%, versus a 14.49% rise in the benchmark S&amp;P 500 index during the same period.
<hr><div style="clear:both;"></div> <h2>About the Author: Abhishek Bhuyan</h2> <img src='https:/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/ABhuyan.jpg' style="float:left; padding:5px;width:125px;">Abhishek embarked on his professional journey as a financial journalist due to his keen interest in discerning the fundamental factors that influence the future performance of financial instruments.<a href="https://stocknews.com/authors/?author=abhishek-bhuyan">More...</a>The post <a href=https://stocknews.com/news/jnj-tgt-kmb-3-top-rated-dividend-aristocrats-to-buy-for-long-term-growth/>3 Top-Rated Dividend Aristocrats to Buy for Long-Term Growth</a> appeared first on <a href=https://stocknews.com/>StockNews.com</a>

3 Top-Rated Dividend Aristocrats to Buy for Long-Term Growth

2 Overvalued, 1 Fairly Valued, And 1 Undervalued Stocks In The SCHD

IYK: A Low Volatility ETF For The Cautious Investor

Despite Weak Spots, Edgewell Personal Care Company Is An Attractive Opportunity

American Century Mid Cap Value Fund Q2 2024 Commentary

In a report released today, Korinne Wolfmeyer from Piper Sandler maintained a Buy rating on Kimberly Clark (KMB – Research Report), with a price ta...

Kimberly Clark (KMB) Receives a Buy from Piper Sandler

In a report released yesterday, Christopher Carey from Wells Fargo assigned a Hold rating to Kimberly Clark (KMB – Research Report), with a price t...

Wells Fargo Issues a Hold Rating on Kimberly Clark (KMB)

Dividend Champion, Contender, And Challenger Highlights: Week Of September 29

Kimberly-Clark: Good Growth Prospects And An Attractive Dividend Yield

Kimberly-Clark explores sale of international tissue business, reports Bloomberg

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Press Releases

New Kimtech™ Polaris™ Nitrile Exam Gloves Improve Protection for Lab Workers in Canada

Kimberly-Clark to Announce Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results on July 23, 2024

Kimberly-Clark Names Craig Slavtcheff Chief Research and Development Officer

Kimberly-Clark Announces Second Quarter 2024 Results and Raises 2024 Outlook

Dividends

Kimberly-Clark Declares Quarterly Dividend

Kleenex® and Jenna Bush Hager Celebrate 100 Years of Facing Life's Moments by Giving Back to Schools in Need

Kimberly-Clark to Webcast its Presentation at Barclays 17th Annual Global Consumer Staples Conference

Huggies® and Walgreens® Encourage Parents to Join Them in Supporting Families Struggling with Diaper Need

Depend® Brand Taps Emmitt Smith for Annual Stand Strong for Men's Health Campaign Benefitting the Prostate Cancer Foundation

Ten Teachers Named as First Prize Winners of the Heroes of the Classroom Program Presented by Kleenex®

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Central Garden & Pet Company - Common Stock

Central Garden & Pet

Central Garden & Pet Company - Class A Common Stock Nonvoting

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