Earnings Preview for Kimberly Clark (KMB)

Kimberly Clark Corporation KMB will report its Q1 results on Monday, April 25, before the markets open. Analysts are expecting earnings per share to stand at $1.17, $0.01 below market expectations a week ago. Revenue is estimated at $4.99 billion. Kimberly-Clark Corporation is a global company that primarily produces paper-based consumer products. The Company operates in four segments: Personal Care; Consumer Tissue; K-C Professional & Other, and Health Care. Its more famous brands include "Kleenex" facial tissue and "Kotex" feminine hygiene products. The company is based in Irwin, Texas, and employs approximately 56,000 people. Kimberly Clark's shares raced above the $66 mark yesterday for the first time in six months, following a report by Savoy Magazine, which listed Kimberly Clark as one of Top 100 Companies to Work For in 2011. Its shares are currently trading at $66.3x, up 2.8% three months ago and 1.4% on a month ago. JPMorgan Chace JPM re-iterated a “neutral” ranking on its shares, while Deutsche Bank DB now has a “hold” rating on the stock. Investors will be hoping for good earnings per share results in order for Kimberly Clark's stock to maintain its growth from yesterday and perhaps even persuade rating agencies to improve the stock ranking for Kimberly Clark's shares. Investors will also be watching analysts' ability to predict company's earnings per share results. In the last three quarters, the estimates were at least $0.05 away from the actual earnings per share. Another big miss by analysts might decide on the way Kimberly Clark's share will be going in the short-term.