Sherman Asset Management Inc. Takes Position in Kimberly-Clark Co. (NYSE:KMB)

Sherman Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in Kimberly-Clark Co. (NYSE:KMB) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 368 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $48,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Jacobi Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Kimberly-Clark by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Jacobi Capital Management LLC now owns 11,011 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,443,000 after purchasing an additional 268 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Kimberly-Clark by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 66,341 shares of the company’s stock valued at $8,693,000 after purchasing an additional 461 shares during the period. WR Wealth Planners LLC increased its holdings in Kimberly-Clark by 4.2% during the 4th quarter. WR Wealth Planners LLC now owns 2,418 shares of the company’s stock valued at $317,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares during the period. SVB Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Kimberly-Clark during the 4th quarter valued at about $1,535,000. Finally, Tower Bridge Advisors increased its holdings in Kimberly-Clark by 6.5% during the 4th quarter. Tower Bridge Advisors now owns 5,705 shares of the company’s stock valued at $748,000 after purchasing an additional 350 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 76.29% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on Kimberly-Clark from $140.00 to $124.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 16th. UBS Group upped their target price on Kimberly-Clark from $132.00 to $134.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Barclays reduced their target price on Kimberly-Clark from $144.00 to $132.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 17th. Citigroup reduced their target price on Kimberly-Clark from $125.00 to $118.00 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Finally, Piper Sandler reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $158.00 target price (down previously from $161.00) on shares of Kimberly-Clark in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $143.64.

Insider Activity at Kimberly-Clark

In related news, VP Andrew Drexler sold 2,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $140.00, for a total value of $350,000.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 2,553 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $357,420. This represents a 49.48 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.62% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Kimberly-Clark Stock Performance

Kimberly-Clark stock opened at $142.00 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.05. The company has a market capitalization of $47.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.81, a PEG ratio of 4.46 and a beta of 0.41. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $131.31 and its 200 day moving average is $136.51. Kimberly-Clark Co. has a twelve month low of $122.98 and a twelve month high of $149.31.

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The company reported $1.50 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.50. Kimberly-Clark had a return on equity of 201.43% and a net margin of 12.69%. On average, equities research analysts predict that Kimberly-Clark Co. will post 7.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Kimberly-Clark Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, March 7th will be given a $1.26 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 7th. This is a boost from Kimberly-Clark’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.22. This represents a $5.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.55%. Kimberly-Clark’s dividend payout ratio is 66.75%.

Kimberly-Clark 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.