Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB) today reported third quarter 2020 results.

Executive Summary

• Third quarter 2020 net sales of $4.7 billion increased 1 percent compared to the year-ago period, including organic sales growth of 3 percent.
• Diluted net income per share for the third quarter was $1.38 in 2020 and $1.94 in 2019.
• Third quarter adjusted earnings per share were $1.72 in 2020 compared to $1.84 in 2019. Adjusted earnings per share exclude certain items described later in this news release.
• Diluted net income per share for 2020 is expected to be $6.41 to $6.72.
• The company is now targeting full-year 2020 organic net sales growth of 5 percent and adjusted earnings per share of $7.50 to $7.65. The prior outlook was for organic sales growth of 4 to 5 percent and adjusted earnings per share of $7.40 to $7.60.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mike Hsu said, "Kimberly-Clark teams around the world are managing our near-term operating priorities extremely well, with strong focus on employee health and safety and supply chain excellence during this unprecedented time period. At the same time, we are significantly increasing our growth investments for future success, our market share positions are healthy overall and we are on track to achieve excellent financial results this year."

Hsu continued, "We delivered solid organic sales growth in the third quarter, with good underlying performance and increased demand because of COVID-19. We also achieved $140 million of cost savings and returned approximately $560 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. While earnings in the quarter were down as expected, we're raising our full-year outlook and now expect adjusted earnings per share will grow 9 to 11 percent this year. We continue to execute our strategies well and remain very optimistic about our opportunities to deliver balanced and sustainable growth and create long-term shareholder value."

Third Quarter 2020 Operating Results

Sales of $4.7 billion in the third quarter of 2020 increased 1 percent compared to the year-ago period. Organic sales increased 3 percent, while changes in foreign currency exchange rates reduced sales 2 percent. Volumes rose 2 percent and the combined impact of changes in net selling prices and product mix increased sales 1 percent. In North America, organic sales increased 8 percent in consumer products but fell 15 percent in K-C Professional. Outside North America, organic sales rose 2 percent in developing and emerging markets and 3 percent in developed markets.

Third quarter operating profit was $666 million in 2020 and $915 million in 2019. Results in both periods include charges related to the 2018 Global Restructuring Program. Results in 2019 also include a gain on the sale of a manufacturing facility as part of the restructuring.

Third quarter adjusted operating profit was $806 million in 2020 and $859 million in 2019. Results benefited from organic sales growth, $125 million of cost savings from the company's FORCE (Focused On Reducing Costs Everywhere) program and $15 million of cost savings from the 2018 Global Restructuring Program. Input costs decreased $25 million, driven by pulp and other raw materials. Other manufacturing costs increased year-on-year, including costs related to COVID-19. Advertising spending increased significantly and general and administrative costs were also higher, including capability-building investments and increased incentive compensation expense. Foreign currency translation effects reduced operating profit by $10 million and transaction effects also negatively impacted the comparison.

The third quarter effective tax rate was 20.1 percent in 2020 and 22.8 percent in 2019. The third quarter adjusted effective tax rate was 22.4 percent in 2020 and 21.5 percent in 2019. Kimberly-Clark's share of net income of equity companies in the third quarter was $31 million in both 2020 and 2019.

Cash Flow and Balance Sheet

Cash provided by operations in the third quarter was $559 million in 2020 and $886 million in 2019. The decrease was driven by the timing of tax payments and higher working capital. Capital spending for the third quarter was $258 million in 2020 and $298 million in 2019. Proceeds from dispositions of property in the third quarter of 2019 included approximately $200 million from the previously mentioned sale of a manufacturing facility as part of the 2018 Global Restructuring Program. Third quarter 2020 share repurchases were 1.3 million shares at a cost of $194 million. The company expects full-year repurchases will be $700 million. Total debt was $8.4 billion at September 30, 2020 and $7.7 billion at the end of 2019.

Third Quarter 2020 Business Segment Results

Personal Care Segment

Third quarter sales of $2.3 billion increased 1 percent. Volumes increased 4 percent and product mix improved 1 percent, while changes in currency rates reduced sales by 4 percent. Third quarter operating profit of $486 million decreased 1 percent. Results were impacted by unfavorable currency effects, higher advertising spending, other manufacturing cost increases and higher general and administrative costs. The comparison benefited from organic sales growth, cost savings and lower input costs.

Sales in North America increased 6 percent. Volumes increased 5 percent, driven by baby and child care, and the combined impact of changes in net selling prices and product mix improved sales 1 percent.

Sales in developing and emerging markets decreased 4 percent. Changes in currency rates reduced sales 11 percent. Volumes rose 5 percent, including increases in China, Eastern Europe, India and Latin America, and product mix improved more than 1 percent.

Sales in developed markets outside North America (Australia, South Korea and Western/Central Europe) increased 1 percent. Changes in currency rates increased sales 2 percent. Net selling prices fell 3 percent while product mix improved 2 percent.

Consumer Tissue Segment

Third quarter sales of $1.6 billion increased 9 percent. Volumes increased 10 percent and net selling prices rose slightly, while product mix was unfavorable by 1 percent. Changes in currency rates reduced sales slightly. The volume increase was driven by increased shipments in North America and developed markets to support higher consumer and customer demand related to the global outbreak of COVID-19. Third quarter operating profit of $318 million increased 20 percent. Results benefited from organic sales growth, cost savings and lower input costs. The comparison was impacted by increased advertising spending, other manufacturing cost increases, higher general and administrative costs and unfavorable currency effects.

Sales in North America increased 11 percent. Volumes rose 11 percent and net selling prices improved 2 percent, while product mix was down 2 percent. Volumes increased high-single digits to low-double digits in all major product categories.

Sales in developing and emerging markets decreased 4 percent including a 7 point negative impact from changes in currency rates. Volumes rose 3 percent and product mix improved 2 percent, while net selling prices fell 2 percent.

Sales in developed markets outside North America increased 17 percent. Volumes rose 14 percent, driven by South Korea and Western/Central Europe, while net selling prices fell 1 percent. Changes in currency rates increased sales 4 percent.

K-C Professional (KCP) Segment

Third quarter sales of $0.7 billion decreased 16 percent. Volumes declined 21 percent, reflecting challenging economic and business conditions globally following the outbreak of COVID-19. Changes in currency rates reduced sales slightly, while net selling prices and product mix each improved 3 percent. Third quarter operating profit of $87 million decreased 51 percent. The comparison was impacted by lower organic sales, other manufacturing cost increases including inefficiencies from lower production volumes and higher input costs. Results benefited from cost savings.

Sales in North America decreased 15 percent. Volumes were down 21 percent, while net selling prices and product mix each improved 3 percent. Sales were down significantly in washroom products but increased double-digits in wipers, safety and other products.

Sales in developing and emerging markets decreased 28 percent including a 5 point negative impact from changes in currency rates. Volumes fell 24 percent, with significant declines in all major geographies, and product mix was down 2 percent. Net selling prices increased 3 percent.

Sales in developed markets outside North America were down 8 percent. Volumes decreased 18 percent, while product mix improved 4 percent and net selling prices increased 3 percent. The changes were driven by Western/Central Europe. Currency rates were favorable by 3 percent.

Year-To-Date Results

For the first nine months of 2020, sales of $14.3 billion increased 3 percent. Organic sales increased 6 percent, as volumes rose 4 percent and net selling prices and product mix each improved 1 percent. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates reduced sales by 3 percent and business exits in conjunction with the 2018 Global Restructuring Program reduced sales slightly.

Year-to-date operating profit was $2,495 million in 2020 and $2,240 million in 2019. Results in both periods include charges related to the 2018 Global Restructuring Program. Year-to-date adjusted operating profit was $2,815 million in 2020 and $2,455 million in 2019. Results benefited from organic sales growth, $345 million of FORCE cost savings and $95 million of cost savings from the 2018 Global Restructuring Program. Input costs decreased $215 million, driven by pulp. The comparison was impacted by other manufacturing cost increases, unfavorable currency effects, higher general and administrative costs and increased advertising spending.

Through nine months, diluted net income per share was $5.30 in 2020 and $4.65 in 2019. Year-to-date adjusted earnings per share were $6.06 in 2020 and $5.18 in 2019.

2018 Global Restructuring Program

In January 2018, Kimberly-Clark initiated the 2018 Global Restructuring Program in order to reduce the company's structural cost base and enhance the company's flexibility to invest in its brands, growth initiatives and capabilities critical to delivering future growth. As part of the program, Kimberly-Clark expects to exit or divest some low-margin businesses that generate about 1 percent of company net sales.

The restructuring is expected to be completed in 2021, with total restructuring charges anticipated to be toward the high end of the range of $1,700 to $1,900 million pre-tax ($1,300 to $1,400 million after tax). The company expects the program will generate annual pre-tax cost savings of $500 to $550 million. The company continues to target to achieve those savings by the end of 2021, although it is possible the full realization could occur in 2022 because of the uncertainties related to COVID-19.Through the third quarter of 2020, the company has incurred cumulative restructuring charges of $1,739 million pre-tax ($1,284 million after tax) and generated cumulative savings of $395 million.

2020 Outlook and Key Planning Assumptions

The company's outlook continues to assume no significant impact from potential supply chain disruptions as a result of COVID-19. In addition, the company updated the following key planning and guidance assumptions for full-year 2020:

• Net sales increase of 2 to 3 percent (prior assumption 1 to 2 percent).
  • Organic sales increase of 5 percent compared to the previous target of 4 to 5 percent.
  • Foreign currency exchange rates unfavorable between 2 and 3 percent (prior estimate 3 percent).
  • The net impact of the acquisition of Softex Indonesia and exited businesses in conjunction with the 2018 Global Restructuring Program expected to increase sales slightly.
• Adjusted operating profit growth of 8 to 10 percent (prior estimate 6 to 9 percent).
• Adjusted earnings per share of $7.50 to $7.65 compared to the prior outlook of $7.40 to $7.60 and $6.89 in 2019.

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 reconciliations to the comparable GAAP financial measures:

• 2018 Global Restructuring Program. Mentioned elsewhere in this release.
• Softex Indonesia acquisition-related costs. The company incurred costs to evaluate and execute the acquisition of Softex Indonesia.

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 and improvement in the company's adjusted return on invested capital determined by excluding certain of the adjustments that are used in calculating these non-GAAP financial measures.

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, exited businesses and acquisitions also impact the year-over-year change in net sales.

About Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. 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, Neve, Plenitud, Viva and WypAll, hold No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in 80 countries. We use sustainable practices that support a healthy planet, build strong communities, and ensure our business thrives for decades to come. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the company's 148-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 Web site on the same day they are filed with the SEC. To view these filings, visit the Investors section of the company's Web site.