Kimberly-Clark (KMB): analysis in plain words
Is Kimberly-Clark cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
Kimberly-Clark (KMB) is listed on the Nasdaq and we classify it in consumer staples. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against Kimberly-Clark according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
Kimberly-Clark (KMB) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $108.79 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 21.5x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +0.6% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 11.8% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 1.6x | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 4.90% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $66.8 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The Kimberly-Clark figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any KMB figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How Kimberly-Clark makes money
Kimberly-Clark makes diapers, wipes, toilet paper, tissues and feminine care products under brands such as Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Cottonelle, Kotex and Depend. North America is its largest market, followed by international regions, and it also sells washroom and hygiene products to businesses through its professional unit.
Over the last 12 months, Kimberly-Clark brought in revenue of $16.6 billion. For every 100 it sells, Kimberly-Clark keeps 37.6 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 19.0 after all operating costs (operating margin). With 36,000 full-time employees, that is about $461,000 of revenue per employee.
Kimberly-Clark against its sector
To know whether a Kimberly-Clark figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares Kimberly-Clark with the median of the 17 consumer staples companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | Kimberly-Clark | consumer staples median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 21.5x | 21.3x (17) |
| Revenue growth | +0.6% | +3.6% (19) |
| Net margin | 11.8% | 12.8% (19) |
| Dividend yield | 4.90% | 3.19% (19) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 1.6x | 1.7x (19) |
In short, against the typical consumer staples company, Kimberly-Clark grows more slowly and pays a higher dividend yield. By size, Kimberly-Clark ranks number 9 of 13 consumer staples companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for Kimberly-Clark
What works in favour of Kimberly-Clark, according to its figures as of November 4, 2026:
- Kimberly-Clark earns 104.9% a year on its shareholders' money (return on equity).
- Analysts expect Kimberly-Clark earnings to rise: its P/E on the next 12 months of estimated earnings is 14.7x, below the current 21.5x.
The main risk for Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark pays out more in dividends than it earns (a 100% payout ratio): its 4.90% yield only holds up if profit recovers.
And, like the rest of consumer staples, Kimberly-Clark is exposed to customers switching to cheaper store brands and rising prices for the raw materials it buys.
Frequently asked questions about Kimberly-Clark
Is it a good time to buy Kimberly-Clark stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell Kimberly-Clark, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, Kimberly-Clark stock trades at $108.79, 7% below its 52-week high ($116.82) and 18% above its low ($92.42). Its P/E is 21.5x against a consumer staples median of 21.3x, and 14.7x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With Kimberly-Clark, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does Kimberly-Clark pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, Kimberly-Clark pays $5.12 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 4.90%. It uses 100% of its profit to pay it, more than it earns, which cannot last forever. Its average dividend yield over the last five years is 3.80%. The consumer staples median on Fintols is 3.19%.
Is Kimberly-Clark stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, Kimberly-Clark trades at 21.5x its last 12 months of earnings: in line with the consumer staples median (21.3x). Including its debt, Kimberly-Clark is valued at 11.6x its EBITDA (EV/EBITDA). A high P/E alone does not make Kimberly-Clark expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are Kimberly-Clark's competitors?
On Fintols we compare Kimberly-Clark with Monster Beverage, Kraft Heinz and General Mills, which are also in consumer staples. As of November 4, 2026, Monster Beverage is worth $95.5 billion and trades on a P/E of 45.1; Kraft Heinz is worth $30.2 billion; General Mills is worth $19.2 billion. Each has a side-by-side comparison with Kimberly-Clark below.
Kimberly-Clark competitors
- Monster Beverage (MNST) analysis · Kimberly-Clark vs Monster Beverage comparison
- Kraft Heinz (KHC) analysis · Kimberly-Clark vs Kraft Heinz comparison
- General Mills (GIS) analysis · Kimberly-Clark vs General Mills comparison
To understand Kimberly-Clark better
- Dividend Growth Investing: FCF Payout Ratio and Compounding
- P/E Ratio and EPS Explained: How to Read Them Without Traps
More companies like Kimberly-Clark: consumer staples stocks and S&P 500 companies. Open the full KMB analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about Kimberly-Clark, not investment advice.