Stock Analysis on Net
Stock Analysis on Net

Kimberly-Clark Corp. (NYSE:KMB)

$22.49

This company has been moved to the archive! The financial data has not been updated since April 23, 2021.

Economic Value Added (EVA)

Microsoft Excel

EVA is registered trademark of Stern Stewart.

Economic value added or economic profit is the difference between revenues and costs,where costs include not only expenses, but also cost of capital.

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Economic Profit

Kimberly-Clark Corp., economic profit calculation

US$ in millions

Microsoft Excel
12 months ended: Dec 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017 Dec 31, 2016
Net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT)1
Cost of capital2
Invested capital3
 
Economic profit4

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31).

1 NOPAT. See details »

2 Cost of capital. See details »

3 Invested capital. See details »

4 2020 Calculation
Economic profit = NOPAT – Cost of capital × Invested capital
= × =


The analysis of economic value added indicates that the organization consistently generated positive economic profit from 2016 through 2020, signifying that the returns on invested capital exceeded the company's cost of capital throughout the five-year period.

Net Operating Profit After Taxes (NOPAT) Trends
A volatile yet generally upward trajectory is observed in NOPAT. After a slight increase between 2016 and 2017, a significant contraction occurred in 2018, where NOPAT declined to 1,883 million US$. However, a strong recovery followed, with NOPAT increasing sequentially in 2019 and reaching a period peak of 2,602 million US$ by December 31, 2020.
Cost of Capital and Invested Capital Stability
The cost of capital remained remarkably stable, fluctuating within a narrow range between 9.89% and 10.22%. Invested capital showed relative stability from 2016 to 2019, with a notable reduction in 2018 to 11,239 million US$. A significant expansion in the capital base occurred in 2020, with invested capital rising to 12,877 million US$, representing the highest level in the observed period.
Economic Profit Performance
Economic profit closely mirrored the fluctuations in NOPAT. A peak of 1,278 million US$ in 2017 was followed by a sharp decline to 756 million US$ in 2018, coinciding with the drop in operating profit. The recovery in subsequent years led to a final economic profit of 1,329 million US$ in 2020. The fact that economic profit grew in 2020 despite the substantial increase in invested capital indicates a strong growth in operating efficiency and profitability that more than offset the increased capital charge.

Net Operating Profit after Taxes (NOPAT)

Kimberly-Clark Corp., NOPAT calculation

US$ in millions

Microsoft Excel
12 months ended: Dec 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017 Dec 31, 2016
Net income attributable to Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)1
Increase (decrease) in allowance for doubtful accounts2
Increase (decrease) in LIFO reserve3
Increase (decrease) in restructuring liabilities4
Increase (decrease) in equity equivalents5
Interest expense
Interest expense, operating lease liability6
Adjusted interest expense
Tax benefit of interest expense7
Adjusted interest expense, after taxes8
Interest income
Investment income, before taxes
Tax expense (benefit) of investment income9
Investment income, after taxes10
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT)

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31).

1 Elimination of deferred tax expense. See details »

2 Addition of increase (decrease) in allowance for doubtful accounts.

3 Addition of increase (decrease) in LIFO reserve. See details »

4 Addition of increase (decrease) in restructuring liabilities.

5 Addition of increase (decrease) in equity equivalents to net income attributable to Kimberly-Clark Corporation.

6 2020 Calculation
Interest expense on capitalized operating leases = Operating lease liability × Discount rate
= × =

7 2020 Calculation
Tax benefit of interest expense = Adjusted interest expense × Statutory income tax rate
= × 21.00% =

8 Addition of after taxes interest expense to net income attributable to Kimberly-Clark Corporation.

9 2020 Calculation
Tax expense (benefit) of investment income = Investment income, before tax × Statutory income tax rate
= × 21.00% =

10 Elimination of after taxes investment income.


The analysis of the annual financial data over the five-year period reveals several notable trends regarding the company's profitability metrics.

Net Income Attributable to Kimberly-Clark Corporation (US$ in millions)
Over the period from 2016 to 2020, net income shows some volatility with an overall upward trend. Net income started at 2,166 million USD in 2016, increased to 2,278 million USD in 2017, then experienced a significant decline in 2018 to 1,410 million USD. Following this decline, net income recovered considerably, reaching 2,157 million USD in 2019 and further increasing to 2,352 million USD in 2020. This pattern suggests a temporary setback in 2018, followed by a strong recovery and growth in the subsequent years.
Net Operating Profit After Taxes (NOPAT) (US$ in millions)
NOPAT exhibits a similar pattern to net income, indicating a correlation between operational efficiency and overall profitability. The values start at 2,399 million USD in 2016, rise slightly in 2017 to 2,464 million USD, then decline sharply in 2018 to 1,883 million USD. From 2018 onwards, NOPAT increased steadily to 2,321 million USD in 2019 and 2,602 million USD in 2020, surpassing the initial levels reported at the start of the period. This trend shows an initial operational challenge in 2018, followed by a robust performance improvement.

Overall, the data indicates that the company faced a period of decreased profitability in 2018, reflected in both net income and NOPAT, likely due to operational or market challenges. However, the subsequent years demonstrated effective recovery strategies and strong financial performance, with profitability exceeding prior peak levels by 2020. The close alignment between net income and NOPAT trends suggests that operational improvements directly influenced the bottom line.


Cash Operating Taxes

Kimberly-Clark Corp., cash operating taxes calculation

US$ in millions

Microsoft Excel
12 months ended: Dec 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017 Dec 31, 2016
Provision for income taxes
Less: Deferred income tax expense (benefit)
Add: Tax savings from interest expense
Less: Tax imposed on investment income
Cash operating taxes

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31).


Provision for income taxes
The provision for income taxes shows a downward trend from 2016 to 2018, declining from 922 million US dollars to 471 million US dollars. This is followed by an increase in the subsequent years, rising to 576 million US dollars in 2019 and further to 676 million US dollars in 2020. Overall, the provision decreased initially but then experienced a moderate recovery, ending lower in 2020 than the initial 2016 figure.
Cash operating taxes
Cash operating taxes exhibit a similar trend to the provision for income taxes, starting at 1,053 million US dollars in 2016 and declining steadily to 526 million US dollars in 2018. From 2018 onward, cash operating taxes increased each year, reaching 604 million US dollars in 2019 and 686 million US dollars in 2020. Although the amounts increased after 2018, the 2020 value remained below the initial 2016 level.
Overall tax-related trends
Both provision for income taxes and cash operating taxes show a clear pattern of decline during the period 2016 to 2018, followed by a partial rebound from 2019 to 2020. The recovery phase, however, does not fully restore the tax figures to their peak 2016 levels. This pattern may suggest changes in taxable income, tax planning strategies, or other tax-related factors impacting the reported amounts over time.

Invested Capital

Kimberly-Clark Corp., invested capital calculation (financing approach)

US$ in millions

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017 Dec 31, 2016
Debt payable within one year
Long-term debt, excluding payable within one year
Operating lease liability1
Total reported debt & leases
Total Kimberly-Clark Corporation stockholders’ equity
Net deferred tax (assets) liabilities2
Allowance for doubtful accounts3
Excess of FIFO or weighted-average cost over LIFO cost4
Restructuring liabilities5
Equity equivalents6
Accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax7
Redeemable preferred securities of subsidiaries
Noncontrolling interests
Adjusted total Kimberly-Clark Corporation stockholders’ equity
Construction in progress8
Invested capital

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31).

1 Addition of capitalized operating leases.

2 Elimination of deferred taxes from assets and liabilities. See details »

3 Addition of allowance for doubtful accounts receivable.

4 Addition of LIFO reserve. See details »

5 Addition of restructuring liabilities.

6 Addition of equity equivalents to total Kimberly-Clark Corporation stockholders’ equity.

7 Removal of accumulated other comprehensive income.

8 Subtraction of construction in progress.


Debt Levels
The total reported debt and leases demonstrate relative stability from 2016 through 2019, fluctuating between approximately $7.9 billion and $8.1 billion. There is a notable increase in 2020, where the debt rises to $8.92 billion, indicating an increased leverage or possibly additional financing taken during that year.
Stockholders' Equity
Stockholders’ equity shows considerable volatility over the five-year period. The figures reveal negative values in most years, with a drastic decline in 2017 reaching -$287 million. A recovery trend appears afterward with values improving to -$33 million in 2019 and then increasing sharply to $626 million in 2020, suggesting a significant improvement in net assets or changes in accounting treatment or capital structure.
Invested Capital
Invested capital remains relatively consistent between 2016 and 2019, ranging from $11.2 billion to $11.9 billion. In 2020, there is a marked increase to $12.88 billion, which corresponds with the rise in total debt and equity changes, indicating increased total resources committed to the business. This growth in invested capital may reflect expansion efforts or new investments.
Overall Trends and Insights
The data suggest that while debt levels remained steady initially, the company took on more debt in 2020. The stockholders’ equity, although negative for much of the period, shows signs of improvement in the last year, which could reflect enhanced profitability, asset revaluation, or capital restructuring. The rise in invested capital alongside debt and equity changes implies an overall expansion in the financial base of the company during 2020. These trends point to a possible strategic shift or response to external conditions impacting capital structure and financing.

Cost of Capital

Kimberly-Clark Corp., cost of capital calculations

Capital (fair value)1 Weights Cost of capital
Equity2 ÷ = × =
Debt3 ÷ = × × (1 – 21.00%) =
Operating lease liability4 ÷ = × × (1 – 21.00%) =
Total:

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).

1 US$ in millions

2 Equity. See details »

3 Debt. See details »

4 Operating lease liability. See details »

Capital (fair value)1 Weights Cost of capital
Equity2 ÷ = × =
Debt3 ÷ = × × (1 – 21.00%) =
Operating lease liability4 ÷ = × × (1 – 21.00%) =
Total:

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31).

1 US$ in millions

2 Equity. See details »

3 Debt. See details »

4 Operating lease liability. See details »

Capital (fair value)1 Weights Cost of capital
Equity2 ÷ = × =
Debt3 ÷ = × × (1 – 21.00%) =
Operating lease liability4 ÷ = × × (1 – 21.00%) =
Total:

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31).

1 US$ in millions

2 Equity. See details »

3 Debt. See details »

4 Operating lease liability. See details »

Capital (fair value)1 Weights Cost of capital
Equity2 ÷ = × =
Debt3 ÷ = × × (1 – 35.00%) =
Operating lease liability4 ÷ = × × (1 – 35.00%) =
Total:

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31).

1 US$ in millions

2 Equity. See details »

3 Debt. See details »

4 Operating lease liability. See details »

Capital (fair value)1 Weights Cost of capital
Equity2 ÷ = × =
Debt3 ÷ = × × (1 – 35.00%) =
Operating lease liability4 ÷ = × × (1 – 35.00%) =
Total:

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31).

1 US$ in millions

2 Equity. See details »

3 Debt. See details »

4 Operating lease liability. See details »


Economic Spread Ratio

Kimberly-Clark Corp., economic spread ratio calculation, comparison to benchmarks

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017 Dec 31, 2016
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Economic profit1
Invested capital2
Performance Ratio
Economic spread ratio3
Benchmarks
Economic Spread Ratio, Competitors4
Procter & Gamble Co.

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31).

1 Economic profit. See details »

2 Invested capital. See details »

3 2020 Calculation
Economic spread ratio = 100 × Economic profit ÷ Invested capital
= 100 × ÷ =

4 Click competitor name to see calculations.


The financial performance regarding economic value creation from 2016 to 2020 is characterized by a significant period of volatility centered around 2018, followed by a strong recovery. While economic profit and the corresponding spread ratio experienced a sharp contraction in 2018, the subsequent years demonstrate a return to and expansion of value creation capabilities.

Economic Profit
Economic profit exhibited a fluctuating trend, starting at 1,206 million USD in 2016 and peaking at 1,329 million USD by 2020. A notable decline occurred in 2018, where profit dropped to 756 million USD, representing the lowest point in the analyzed period. However, a robust recovery followed, with values returning to above 1,100 million USD in 2019 and reaching a five-year high in 2020.
Invested Capital
Invested capital remained relatively stable between 2016 and 2019, fluctuating within a narrow range between 11,239 million USD and 11,929 million USD. A significant shift occurred in 2020, with invested capital increasing to 12,877 million USD. This indicates a substantial expansion of the capital base during the final year of the period.
Economic Spread Ratio
The economic spread ratio closely mirrored the trajectory of economic profit. After an initial increase to 10.72% in 2017, the ratio fell sharply to 6.72% in 2018, indicating a reduced efficiency in generating returns above the cost of capital. The ratio recovered strongly to 10.13% in 2019 and concluded the period at 10.32% in 2020, suggesting that the company successfully scaled its value creation to match the increased invested capital.

Economic Profit Margin

Kimberly-Clark Corp., economic profit margin calculation, comparison to benchmarks

Microsoft Excel
Dec 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Dec 31, 2018 Dec 31, 2017 Dec 31, 2016
Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions)
Economic profit1
Net sales
Performance Ratio
Economic profit margin2
Benchmarks
Economic Profit Margin, Competitors3
Procter & Gamble Co.

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31).

1 Economic profit. See details »

2 2020 Calculation
Economic profit margin = 100 × Economic profit ÷ Net sales
= 100 × ÷ =

3 Click competitor name to see calculations.


The analysis of economic value creation between 2016 and 2020 reveals a period of relative stability in top-line revenue accompanied by volatility in economic profit. While the organization consistently generated positive economic profit throughout the five-year period, a notable contraction occurred in 2018 before a sustained recovery was achieved by the end of 2020.

Net Sales Performance
Revenue exhibited a gradual upward trajectory, increasing from 18,202 million USD in 2016 to 19,140 million USD in 2020. This indicates a consistent expansion of the sales base, with only a marginal fluctuation observed between 2018 and 2019.
Economic Profit Trends
Economic profit demonstrated significant fluctuation, starting at 1,206 million USD in 2016 and reaching a period high of 1,329 million USD in 2020. A sharp decline was recorded in 2018, where economic profit fell to 756 million USD, marking the lowest point in the analyzed period. This was followed by a strong rebound in 2019 and 2020.
Economic Profit Margin Analysis
The economic profit margin closely mirrored the movement of absolute economic profit. After rising from 6.62% in 2016 to 7.00% in 2017, the margin contracted significantly to 4.09% in 2018. The subsequent recovery led to a margin of 6.26% in 2019 and 6.95% in 2020, nearly returning to the 2017 peak. This trend suggests that the ability to generate value above the cost of capital was restored following the 2018 downturn.