Citigroup Has Lowered Expectations for Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB) Stock Price

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB) had its price target lowered by equities researchers at Citigroup from $125.00 to $118.00 in a report released on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a “sell” rating on the stock. Citigroup’s price target indicates a potential downside of 6.10% from the company’s previous close.

A number of other research firms have also commented on KMB. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Kimberly-Clark from $142.00 to $140.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $165.00 price objective on shares of Kimberly-Clark in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their target price on shares of Kimberly-Clark from $146.00 to $147.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 8th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Kimberly-Clark from $140.00 to $130.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, TD Cowen lowered Kimberly-Clark from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $145.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $147.07.

Kimberly-Clark Price Performance

Kimberly-Clark stock traded down $0.51 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $125.67. 572,230 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,780,476. Kimberly-Clark has a 1-year low of $117.67 and a 1-year high of $149.30. The company has a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.77. The business has a fifty day moving average of $132.77 and a 200 day moving average of $138.22. The company has a market capitalization of $41.91 billion, a PE ratio of 16.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.41.

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 22nd. The company reported $1.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.69 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $4.95 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.06 billion. Kimberly-Clark had a net margin of 12.97% and a return on equity of 198.59%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.74 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Kimberly-Clark will post 7.27 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Kimberly-Clark

In related news, VP Andrew Drexler sold 3,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $139.01, for a total value of $417,030.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 5,053 shares in the company, valued at approximately $702,417.53. This trade represents a 37.25 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.62% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Kimberly-Clark

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Integrated Investment Consultants LLC bought a new position in shares of Kimberly-Clark during the 4th quarter worth approximately $981,000. Spring Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Kimberly-Clark by 4.0% during the 4th quarter. Spring Capital Management LLC now owns 25,922 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,397,000 after purchasing an additional 995 shares during the last quarter. Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in Kimberly-Clark by 1.2% during the fourth quarter. Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. now owns 16,614 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,177,000 after purchasing an additional 195 shares during the period. Merit Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Kimberly-Clark by 26.4% in the fourth quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 9,574 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,255,000 after purchasing an additional 2,002 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First National Bank of Mount Dora Trust Investment Services raised its position in shares of Kimberly-Clark by 2.8% in the fourth quarter. First National Bank of Mount Dora Trust Investment Services now owns 3,958 shares of the company’s stock valued at $519,000 after purchasing an additional 109 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 76.29% of the company’s stock.

Kimberly-Clark Company Profile

Kimberly-Clark Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets personal care and consumer tissue products in the United States. It operates through three segments: Personal Care, Consumer Tissue, and K-C Professional. The company’s Personal Care segment offers disposable diapers, training and youth pants, swimpants, baby wipes, feminine and incontinence care products, reusable underwear, and other related products under the Huggies, Pull-Ups, Little Swimmers, GoodNites, DryNites, Sweety, Kotex, U by Kotex, Intimus, Thinx, Poise, Depend, Plenitud, Softex, and other brand names.