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 period under review demonstrates fluctuating financial performance as measured by economic profit. Net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT) exhibited initial growth followed by a decline and subsequent recovery. Invested capital generally increased over the period, though with some intermediate fluctuation. The cost of capital remained relatively stable, hovering around the 9.5% to 10% range. Consequently, economic profit mirrored the trends in NOPAT, showing periods of increase and decrease.

NOPAT Trend
Net operating profit after taxes increased from US$2,399 million in 2016 to US$2,464 million in 2017. A significant decrease was then observed in 2018, falling to US$1,883 million. NOPAT recovered in 2019 to US$2,321 million and continued to rise in 2020, reaching US$2,602 million. This suggests potential operational improvements or external factors positively impacting profitability in the later years of the period.
Cost of Capital Stability
The cost of capital remained relatively consistent throughout the period, ranging from 9.57% to 9.90%. This indicates a stable risk profile and financing structure for the company. The slight variations observed may be attributable to changes in market interest rates or the company’s capital structure.
Invested Capital Changes
Invested capital increased from US$11,778 million in 2016 to US$11,929 million in 2017. A decrease to US$11,239 million was noted in 2018, followed by a modest increase to US$11,405 million in 2019. A more substantial increase occurred in 2020, reaching US$12,877 million. This suggests strategic investments or acquisitions contributing to the growth in capital employed, particularly in the final year.
Economic Profit Performance
Economic profit followed a similar pattern to NOPAT. It rose from US$1,244 million in 2016 to US$1,316 million in 2017, then decreased to US$792 million in 2018. Recovery was observed in 2019 with US$1,193 million, and further growth to US$1,370 million in 2020. The highest economic profit was achieved in 2020, indicating the most effective utilization of invested capital during that year.

Overall, the period demonstrates a cyclical pattern in economic profit, influenced by fluctuations in NOPAT and changes in invested capital. While the cost of capital remained stable, the company’s ability to generate economic profit varied, with a clear upward trend in the most recent year of the period.


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 period under review demonstrates fluctuating performance in economic profit and invested capital, resulting in a corresponding variation in the economic spread ratio. Overall, the economic spread ratio exhibits a generally positive trend, though with notable interim declines.

Economic Spread Ratio
The economic spread ratio began at 10.56% in 2016, increasing to a peak of 11.03% in 2017. A significant decrease was then observed in 2018, with the ratio falling to 7.04%. The ratio recovered in subsequent years, reaching 10.46% in 2019 and further increasing to 10.64% in 2020. This suggests an improving ability to generate returns above the cost of capital, although the 2018 decline warrants further investigation.
Economic Profit
Economic profit increased from US$1,244 million in 2016 to US$1,316 million in 2017, mirroring the initial rise in the economic spread ratio. A substantial reduction in economic profit occurred in 2018, falling to US$792 million, which likely contributed to the lower economic spread ratio that year. Economic profit then rebounded to US$1,193 million in 2019 and continued to grow, reaching US$1,370 million in 2020.
Invested Capital
Invested capital showed a modest increase from US$11,778 million in 2016 to US$11,929 million in 2017. A decrease was noted in 2018, with invested capital falling to US$11,239 million. This was followed by a slight increase in 2019 to US$11,405 million, and a more substantial increase in 2020, reaching US$12,877 million. The increase in invested capital in 2020, coupled with the increase in economic profit, contributed to the relatively stable economic spread ratio observed that year.

The interplay between economic profit and invested capital is evident in the economic spread ratio’s fluctuations. While economic profit generally trended upwards over the period, the changes in invested capital influenced the overall ratio, particularly the notable dip in 2018. The 2020 figures suggest a positive correlation between increased investment and improved profitability.


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 economic profit exhibited fluctuations over the five-year period, while net sales demonstrated a generally positive trajectory. The economic profit margin, calculated as economic profit relative to net sales, reveals the company’s efficiency in generating profit beyond its cost of capital. Analysis of this margin provides insight into the company’s performance.

Economic Profit
Economic profit increased from US$1,244 million in 2016 to US$1,316 million in 2017, representing a growth of approximately 5.9%. A subsequent decline was observed in 2018, with economic profit falling to US$792 million. The figure recovered in 2019 to US$1,193 million, and continued to rise in 2020, reaching US$1,370 million. This indicates a volatile period with a strong recovery towards the end of the observed timeframe.
Net Sales
Net sales remained relatively stable between 2016 and 2019, fluctuating around the US$18 billion mark. A noticeable increase occurred in 2020, with net sales reaching US$19,140 million. This represents a growth of approximately 3.7% compared to 2019, and suggests a positive trend in revenue generation.
Economic Profit Margin
The economic profit margin peaked at 7.21% in 2017, coinciding with the highest economic profit during the period. The margin experienced a significant decrease in 2018, dropping to 4.28%, reflecting the substantial decline in economic profit. A recovery was then seen in 2019, with the margin reaching 6.46%, and further improvement in 2020, reaching 7.16%. The margin’s movement closely mirrors that of economic profit, indicating a strong correlation between overall profitability and the efficiency of capital utilization. The 2020 margin is the second highest observed, suggesting improved performance relative to sales.

Overall, the period demonstrates a cyclical pattern in economic profit and its margin. While net sales show a consistent upward trend, the ability to translate those sales into economic profit varies, impacting the economic profit margin. The recovery observed in 2019 and 2020 suggests a strengthening of the company’s ability to generate value beyond its cost of capital.