Kimberly-Clark Q2 2026 Revenue Hits $4.2B, Misses Estimates but Adjusted Operating Income Rises 6.2%
Kimberly-Clark's Q2 2026 revenue rose 0.6% year-over-year to $4.2 billion, falling short of Wall Street estimates. Despite a diaper quality controversy in China, adjusted operating income grew 6.2% to $757 million and adjusted EPS rose 10.4%.
- Kimberly-Clark's Q2 2026 revenue rose 0.6% to $4.2 billion, missing estimates
- Despite a China diaper controversy, adjusted EPS grew 10.4% and shares jumped 3.73%
Kimberly-Clark reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of $4.2 billion, missing market expectations, according to an SEC Form 8-K filing disclosed on August 4 (local time).
📊 Stock Price at Time of Writing (August 5, 2026, 05:02 KST)
$111.57 ▲ +3.73%
Earnings at a Glance
Second-quarter revenue rose to $4.2 billion, but the 0.6% increase fell short of market expectations. False claims about diaper quality that spread on Chinese social media, along with the company's exit from the U.S. private-label diaper business, weighed on revenue growth. On the other hand, one-time tariff refunds and cost-cutting efforts pushed adjusted operating income and adjusted earnings per share up by nearly double digits.
- Revenue: $4.2 billion, up 0.6% year-over-year
- Earnings per share (EPS): $1.22 (vs. $1.33 a year earlier); adjusted EPS, excluding one-time items, was $1.80, up 10.4% year-over-year
- Operating income: $633 million; adjusted operating income was $757 million, up 6.2%
Market Reaction
As of the morning of August 5, following the earnings release, Kimberly-Clark shares traded at $111.57, up 3.73% from the previous close. The Wall Street Journal reported that profits were dented by a controversy that originated on Chinese social media, while Stock Story (stockstory.org) reported that revenue missed Wall Street estimates. Bloomberg reported that the company lowered its full-year guidance in the wake of a warehouse fire and the quality controversy in China. Seeking Alpha, however, offered an analysis suggesting the market is focused on other issues despite the setbacks.
This article was automatically generated based on the original SEC Form 8-K filing and foreign media reports, with the goal of quickly delivering key data immediately after the announcement. Readers are advised to review the company's official filing before making trading decisions. The stock price reflects the time this article was written and may differ from the current price.
KMBFrequently Asked Questions
What is the controversy over Kimberly-Clark's diapers in China?
False claims about the quality of Kimberly-Clark's diaper brands spread on Chinese social media. Independent inspections by government-certified agencies confirmed the products' quality and safety, but the controversy still hurt second-quarter diaper sales in China. The company expects the impact on revenue and profit to continue in the near term.
What are adjusted operating income and adjusted EPS (earnings per share)?
These figures exclude one-time items such as restructuring costs and acquisition-related expenses. They are used to give a clearer picture of a company's underlying business performance. Kimberly-Clark's adjusted figures for the quarter excluded costs tied to business restructuring and its Kenvue acquisition.
Was this a good quarter or a bad one for Kimberly-Clark?
Revenue missed market expectations, and reported EPS, which includes one-time costs, also fell from a year earlier. However, adjusted operating income and adjusted EPS, which exclude those one-time costs, both rose — making it a mixed result, according to analysts.
How is Kimberly-Clark's acquisition of Kenvue progressing?
The company said the Kenvue acquisition is proceeding as planned and is expected to close by the end of this year. No new figures on the deal's price or terms were disclosed in this announcement.
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