Kimberly-Clark Corp. (NYSE:KMB)

The financial data reveals several notable trends across the five-year period examined.

Net Sales

Net sales demonstrate a generally stable to slightly increasing trend, growing modestly from 18,202 million US dollars in 2016 to 19,140 million US dollars in 2020. The growth rate is relatively slow, reflecting a mature revenue base with limited expansion over the period.

Cost of Products Sold

Costs associated with products sold have fluctuated within a range, peaking in 2018 at 12,889 million US dollars before slightly decreasing to 12,318 million US dollars in 2020. Despite these variations, costs have remained a significant portion of net sales, impacting gross profitability.

Gross Profit

Gross profit exhibits a downward trend from 6,651 million US dollars in 2016 declining to 5,597 million in 2018, followed by a recovery up to 6,822 million in 2020. This dip and subsequent rebound indicate volatility in either cost efficiency or pricing power during the period, with a notable improvement in the final year.

Marketing, Research and General Expenses

Operating expenses categorized under marketing, research, and general expenses fluctuate slightly but show an increase in 2020, rising to 3,632 million US dollars from previous levels around 3,254 to 3,367 million US dollars. This increase may suggest strategic investments or higher operational costs.

Other Income and (Expense), Net

This item remains relatively minimal and variable, with a small net expense in early years turning to positive income in 2019 (210 million US dollars) and slightly lower positive income in 2020. This shift might reflect non-recurring gains or improved ancillary income sources.

Operating Profit

Operating profit closely mirrors the gross profit trend, decreasing to 2,229 million US dollars in 2018 before recovering to 3,244 million in 2020. This recovery aligns with improved gross profit and suggests enhanced operational performance or expense management in later years.

Nonoperating Expense

Nonoperating expenses, which appear only from 2018 onward, show a declining trend from -163 million US dollars in 2018 to -70 million in 2020, indicating reduced nonoperating losses or improved non-core financial activities.

Interest Income and Expense

Interest income remains stable at approximately 8 to 11 million US dollars annually, showing no significant trend. Interest expense declines steadily from -319 million US dollars in 2016 to -252 million in 2020, indicating effective debt management or reduced borrowing costs.

Income Before Income Taxes and Equity Interests

This measure follows the operating profit pattern, with a dip in 2018 to 1,813 million US dollars before rising to 2,930 million in 2020, reflecting the combined effects of operating performance and nonoperating factors.

Provision for Income Taxes

The tax provision generally decreases until 2018 (471 million US dollars) but increases afterward, reaching 676 million US dollars in 2020. This pattern may result from changes in profitability or tax strategies over the period.

Income Before Equity Interests

Income before equity interests reflects a high variability, aligning with net income trends, declining significantly in 2018 before rebounding. This metric increases from 1,342 million US dollars in 2018 to 2,254 million in 2020, signaling recovery.

Share of Net Income of Equity Companies

Income from equity companies remains relatively stable with a modest upward trend from 132 million US dollars in 2016 to 142 million in 2020, indicating steady contributions from associated companies.

Net Income

Net income closely aligns with operating patterns, with a pronounced decline in 2018 to 1,445 million US dollars followed by recovery to 2,396 million in 2020. This fluctuation highlights challenges in 2018 but overall strong profitability in the latter period.

Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests

Noncontrolling interests show minor fluctuations without a clear directional trend, remaining low in absolute terms between -53 million and -44 million US dollars across the years.

Net Income Attributable to Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Attributable net income mirrors the overall net income behavior, with a trough in 2018 at 1,410 million US dollars, followed by a robust recovery to 2,352 million in 2020, illustrating the company’s ability to restore earnings power after a challenging year.