Kimberly-Clark Announces Second Quarter 2020 Results

Executive Summary
*Second quarter 2020 net sales of $4.6 billion increased slightly compared to the year-ago period, including organic sales growth of 4 percent.
*Diluted net income per share for the second quarter was $1.99 in 2020 and $1.40 in 2019.
*Second quarter adjusted earnings per share were $2.20 in 2020, up 32 percent compared to $1.67 in 2019. Adjusted earnings per share exclude certain items described later in this news release.
*Second quarter cash provided by operations was $1,579 million in 2020 and $609 million in 2019.
*The company is restoring financial guidance for full-year 2020 and restarting its share repurchase program after temporarily suspending both in April due to the uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
*Net sales in 2020 are expected to increase 1 to 2 percent year-on-year, including organic sales growth of 4 to 5 percent. Diluted net income per share for 2020 is anticipated to be $6.35 to $6.90. Adjusted earnings per share in 2020 are expected to be $7.40 to $7.60. The company’s outlook in January was for organic sales growth of 2 percent and adjusted earnings per share of $7.10 to $7.35.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mike Hsu said, “We continue to focus on protecting the health and safety of our employees and consumers and operating our supply chain with excellence to meet the needs of our consumers and customers during this unprecedented time period. I am extremely proud of how our teams are managing these near-term operating priorities. At the same time, our underlying business momentum is good, our market share positions are healthy overall and we are delivering excellent financial results.”

Hsu continued, “We achieved very good organic sales growth and all-time record adjusted earnings and cash flow in the second quarter. We also delivered significant cost savings, helping us achieve strong margin improvements. While the environment remains uncertain, visibility has improved from three months ago and we are restoring forward-looking guidance. We have increased our 2020 outlook for organic sales and earnings compared to our original plan. We are also further increasing our growth investments to position us for future success. We continue to execute well, operate our business with a balanced approach and remain very optimistic about our opportunities to create shareholder value.”

Second Quarter 2020 Operating Results
Sales of $4.6 billion in the second quarter of 2020 increased slightly compared to the year-ago period. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates reduced sales approximately 4 percent, while organic sales increased 4 percent. Volumes increased 2 percent and changes in net selling prices and product mix each improved 1 percent. In North America, organic sales increased 12 percent in consumer products but fell 3 percent in K-C Professional. Outside North America, organic sales rose 3 percent in developed markets but fell 3 percent in developing and emerging markets, driven by Latin America.

Second quarter operating profit was $925 million in 2020 and $670 million in 2019. Results in both periods include charges related to the 2018 Global Restructuring Program. Second quarter adjusted operating profit was $1,012 million in 2020 and $789 million in 2019. Results benefited from organic sales growth, $120 million of cost savings from the company’s FORCE (Focused On Reducing Costs Everywhere) program and $55 million of cost savings from the 2018 Global Restructuring Program. Input costs decreased $80 million, driven by pulp, while other manufacturing costs rose year-on-year. Advertising spending increased and general and administrative costs were also higher compared to the prior year. Foreign currency translation effects reduced operating profit by $15 million and transaction effects also negatively impacted the comparison.

The second quarter effective tax rate was 23.2 percent in 2020 and 22.2 percent in 2019. The second quarter adjusted effective tax rate was 22.7 percent in 2020 and 22.3 percent in 2019.

Kimberly-Clark’s share of net income of equity companies in the second quarter was $35 million in 2020 and $33 million in 2019. Results benefited from organic sales growth and lower input costs, partially offset by negative foreign currency effects.
more detail at: https://investor.kimberly-clark.com/news-releases/news-release-details/kimberly-clark-announces-second-quarter-2020-results

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