Does Kimberly-Clark Stock Lead the Pack?
With Kimberly-Clark falling -15% in a Day, it makes sense to re-evaluate vs its peers. Consistently assessing alternatives is core to a sound investment approach. Here is how Kimberly-Clark (KMB) stock stacks up against its peers in size, valuation, growth and margin.
- KMB’s operating margin of 16.7% is strong, lower than most peers – trailing JNJ (26.2%).
- KMB’s revenue growth of -3.1% in the last 12 months is negative, lagging JNJ, PG, UL, CL, CHD.
- KMB’s stock is down 21.2% in last 1 year, and trades at a PE of 14.0; it underperformed JNJ, PG, UL, CL, CHD.
As a quick background, Kimberly-Clark provides personal care and consumer tissue products, including wipers, towels, apparel, soaps, sanitizers, facial and bathroom tissues, paper towels, and napkins under multiple well-known brands.
A single stock can be risky, but there is a huge value to a broader, diversified approach. Quiz time: Over the last 5 years, which index do you think the Trefis High Quality Portfolio outperformed — the S&P 500, the S&P 1500 Equal Weighted, or both? The answer might surprise you. See how our advisory framework helps stack the odds in your favor.
| KMB | JNJ | PG | UL | CL | CHD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap ($ Bil) | 34.0 | 448.6 | 346.7 | 170.7 | 60.7 | 21.1 |
| Revenue ($ Bil) | 18.9 | 92.1 | 84.9 | 44.3 | 20.0 | 6.1 |
| PE Ratio | 14.0 | 17.9 | 20.7 | 40.2 | 20.9 | 40.2 |
| LTM Revenue Growth | -3.1% | 5.1% | 1.2% | 11.1% | 0.1% | 1.1% |
| LTM Operating Margin | 16.7% | 26.2% | 24.1% | 14.4% | 21.7% | 17.8% |
| LTM FCF Margin | 11.1% | 20.3% | 17.6% | 12.4% | 16.9% | 15.3% |
| 12M Market Return | -21.2% | 20.1% | -8.0% | 2.3% | -17.7% | -16.7% |
Why does this matter? KMB just went down -16.6% in a month – peer comparison puts stock performance, valuation, and financials in context – highlighting whether it is truly outperforming, lagging behind, and above all – can this continue? Read Buy or Sell KMB Stock to see if Kimberly-Clark is really a falling knife.
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Revenue Growth Comparison
| LTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KMB | -3.1% | – | -1.8% | 1.3% | 3.8% |
| JNJ | 5.1% | – | 4.3% | 6.5% | 1.6% |
| PG | 1.2% | 0.3% | 2.5% | 2.3% | |
| UL | 11.1% | – | 1.9% | -0.8% | 14.5% |
| CL | 0.1% | – | 3.3% | 8.3% | 3.1% |
| CHD | 1.1% | – | 4.1% | 9.2% | 3.6% |
Operating Margin Comparison
| LTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KMB | 16.7% | – | 16.5% | 14.7% | 13.3% |
| JNJ | 26.2% | – | 24.9% | 27.5% | 26.3% |
| PG | 24.1% | 24.3% | 23.7% | 22.1% | |
| UL | 14.4% | – | 18.5% | 16.8% | 16.2% |
| CL | 21.7% | – | 21.5% | 21.0% | 20.1% |
| CHD | 17.8% | – | 19.1% | 18.0% | 18.8% |
PE Ratio Comparison
| LTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KMB | 14.0 | – | 17.3 | 23.3 | 23.7 |
| JNJ | 17.9 | – | 24.8 | 11.3 | 25.8 |
| PG | 20.7 | 24.7 | 23.2 | 24.5 | |
| UL | 40.2 | – | 24.6 | 18.8 | 16.8 |
| CL | 20.9 | – | 25.8 | 28.7 | 36.9 |
| CHD | 40.2 | – | 43.7 | 30.6 | 47.3 |
While peer comparison is critical, the Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, with a collection of 30 stocks, has a track record of comfortably outperforming its benchmark that includes all 3 — the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000 indices. Why is that? As a group, HQ Portfolio stocks provided better returns with less risk versus the benchmark index; less of a roller-coaster ride, as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.