Kimberly-Clark Forecasts Price Increases as Inflationary Pressures Accelerate, Supply Chain Disruptions Worsen

In yet another sign that inflation pressures are proving to be a lot more than just transitory, Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) — the maker of staple household goods such as Kleenex tissues, Huggies diapers, tampons, and toilet paper— has sounded the alarm over impacts of rapidly accelerating prices and supply chain headaches.

Shares of Kimberly-Clark tanked to a six-month low after the company cut its annual forecast due to rising inflation and supply chain disruptions. Third quarter net income stood at around $469 million, which equates to approximately $1.39 per share, against the $472 million— or $1.38 per share reported during the same period one year ago. The company reported an adjusted earnings per share of $1.62, which failed to meet consensus estimates calling for $1.65.

“Our earnings were negatively impacted by significant inflation and supply-chain disruptions that increased our costs beyond what we anticipated,” said Kimberly-Clark CEO Mike Hsu. As a result, Hsu warned that the company will be implementing price increases across a variety of goods in an effort to offset implications of supply chain woes and subsequent acceleration in commodity costs. “We are taking further action, including additional pricing and enhanced cost management, to mitigate these headwinds as it is becoming clear they are not likely to be resolved quickly,” he added.

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However, Kimberly-Clark is far from being the only households goods company to sound the alarm over the effects of global supply chain disruptions and a persistent inflationary macroeconomic environment. Recall, General Mills, P&G, among others, have all issued warnings about impending cost-push inflation, as companies contend with margin compression that is further exasperated by ongoing labour shortages.

Information for this briefing was found via Kimberly-Clark. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.