Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund Acquires 3,543 Shares of Kimberly-Clark Co. (NYSE:KMB)

Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund increased its stake in shares of Kimberly-Clark Co. (NYSE:KMB - Free Report) by 35.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 13,515 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 3,543 shares during the period. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund's holdings in Kimberly-Clark were worth $1,771,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. My Legacy Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Kimberly-Clark by 4.6% during the third quarter. My Legacy Advisors LLC now owns 1,741 shares of the company's stock worth $248,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares in the last quarter. Thompson Siegel & Walmsley LLC raised its holdings in Kimberly-Clark by 1.5% during the third quarter. Thompson Siegel & Walmsley LLC now owns 5,337 shares of the company's stock worth $759,000 after acquiring an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. Graypoint LLC raised its stake in Kimberly-Clark by 1.5% in the third quarter. Graypoint LLC now owns 5,315 shares of the company's stock valued at $756,000 after buying an additional 78 shares during the period. Truvestments Capital LLC raised its stake in Kimberly-Clark by 2.7% in the third quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC now owns 2,981 shares of the company's stock valued at $424,000 after buying an additional 78 shares during the period. Finally, Confluence Wealth Services Inc. raised its stake in Kimberly-Clark by 5.1% in the fourth quarter. Confluence Wealth Services Inc. now owns 1,637 shares of the company's stock valued at $208,000 after buying an additional 80 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 76.29% of the company's stock.

Kimberly-Clark Price Performance

NYSE:KMB traded up $1.31 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $140.28. 2,316,595 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,169,741. The company has a market capitalization of $46.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.58, a P/E/G ratio of 4.42 and a beta of 0.41. Kimberly-Clark Co. has a 1-year low of $118.62 and a 1-year high of $149.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.05, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The business has a 50 day moving average of $130.19 and a 200 day moving average of $136.48.

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The company reported $1.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts' consensus estimates of $1.50. Kimberly-Clark had a return on equity of 201.43% and a net margin of 12.69%. Research analysts forecast that Kimberly-Clark Co. will post 7.5 EPS for the current year.

Kimberly-Clark Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, March 7th will be given a dividend of $1.26 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 7th. This represents a $5.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.59%. This is an increase from Kimberly-Clark's previous quarterly dividend of $1.22. Kimberly-Clark's dividend payout ratio is currently 64.64%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have issued reports on KMB shares. StockNews.com lowered Kimberly-Clark from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, February 15th. Piper Sandler restated an "overweight" rating and issued a $158.00 price objective (down previously from $161.00) on shares of Kimberly-Clark in a research note on Wednesday, January 29th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Kimberly-Clark from $140.00 to $130.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Barclays dropped their price objective on Kimberly-Clark from $144.00 to $132.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on Kimberly-Clark from $140.00 to $124.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Kimberly-Clark currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $143.64.

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.