Kimberly-Clark Announces Second Quarter 2020 Results
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Kimberly-Clark Corporation reported second quarter 2020 results.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mike Hsu said, "We continue to focus on protecting the health and safety of our employees and consumers and operating our supply chain with excellence to meet the needs of our consumers and customers during this unprecedented time period. I am extremely proud of how our teams are managing these near-term operating priorities. At the same time, our underlying business momentum is good, our market share positions are healthy overall and we are delivering excellent financial results."
Hsu continued, "We achieved very good organic sales growth and all-time record adjusted earnings and cash flow in the second quarter. We also delivered significant cost savings, helping us achieve strong margin improvements. While the environment remains uncertain, visibility has improved from three months ago and we are restoring forward-looking guidance. We have increased our 2020 outlook for organic sales and earnings compared to our original plan. We are also further increasing our growth investments to position us for future success. We continue to execute well, operate our business with a balanced approach and remain very optimistic about our opportunities to create shareholder value."
Sales of $4.6 billion in the second quarter of 2020 increased slightly compared to the year-ago period. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates reduced sales approximately 4 percent, while organic sales increased 4 percent. Volumes increased 2 percent and changes in net selling prices and product mix each improved 1 percent. In North America, organic sales increased 12 percent in consumer products but fell 3 percent in K-C Professional. Outside North America, organic sales rose 3 percent in developed markets but fell 3 percent in developing and emerging markets, driven by Latin America.
Second quarter operating profit was $925 million in 2020 and $670 million in 2019. Results in both periods include charges related to the 2018 Global Restructuring Program. Second quarter adjusted operating profit was $1,012 million in 2020 and $789 million in 2019. Results benefited from organic sales growth, $120 million of cost savings from the company's FORCE (Focused On Reducing Costs Everywhere) program and $55 million of cost savings from the 2018 Global Restructuring Program. Input costs decreased $80 million, driven by pulp, while other manufacturing costs rose year-on-year. Advertising spending increased and general and administrative costs were also higher compared to the prior year. Foreign currency translation effects reduced operating profit by $15 million and transaction effects also negatively impacted the comparison.
The second quarter effective tax rate was 23.2 percent in 2020 and 22.2 percent in 2019. The second quarter adjusted effective tax rate was 22.7 percent in 2020 and 22.3 percent in 2019.
Kimberly-Clark's share of net income of equity companies in the second quarter was $35 million in 2020 and $33 million in 2019. Results benefited from organic sales growth and lower input costs, partially offset by negative foreign currency effects.
Cash provided by operations in the second quarter was an all-time record $1,579 million in 2020 compared to $609 million in 2019. The increase was driven by improved working capital, higher earnings and the timing of tax payments. Capital spending for the second quarter was $284 million in 2020 and $253 million in 2019. Second quarter 2020 share repurchases were 0.3 million shares at a cost of $39 million and occurred prior to the company temporarily suspending its share repurchase program effective April 24, 2020. The company will be restarting its share repurchase program effective July 24, 2020. Total debt was $8.1 billion at June 30, 2020 and $7.7 billion at the end of 2019.
SECOND QUARTER 2020 BUSINESS SEGMENT RESULTS
Personal Care Segment
Second quarter sales of $2.2 billion decreased 2 percent. Changes in currency rates reduced sales by 5 percent. Product mix improved 2 percent and volumes and net selling prices each increased slightly. Second quarter operating profit of $519 million increased 7 percent. The comparison benefited from organic sales growth, cost savings and lower input costs. Results were impacted by unfavorable currency effects, other manufacturing cost increases, higher advertising spending and increased general and administrative costs.
Sales in North America increased 4 percent. Volumes increased 2 percent, product mix improved 2 percent and net selling prices rose 1 percent. The improved volumes and product mix were driven by baby and childcare.
Sales in developing and emerging markets decreased 9 percent. Changes in currency rates reduced sales 11 percent. Product mix improved 2 percent and volumes rose slightly, while net selling prices were down 1 percent.
Sales in developed markets outside North America (Australia, South Korea and Western/Central Europe) decreased 8 percent. Changes in currency rates reduced sales 5 percent. Volumes fell 6 percent, while the combined impact of changes in net selling prices and product mix improved sales 3 percent.
Consumer Tissue Segment
Second quarter sales of $1.6 billion increased 12 percent. Volumes increased 14 percent and net selling prices rose 1 percent, while product mix was unfavorable by 1 percent. Changes in currency rates reduced sales approximately 3 percent. The volume increase was driven by increased shipments in North America and developed markets to support higher consumer and customer demand related to the global outbreak of COVID-19. Second quarter operating profit of $428 million increased 94 percent. Results benefited from organic sales growth, cost savings and lower input costs. The comparison was impacted by increased advertising spending and unfavorable currency effects.
Sales in North America increased 22 percent. Volumes rose 24 percent and net selling prices improved 1 percent, while product mix was down 2 percent. Volumes increased double-digits in all major product categories.
Sales in developing and emerging markets decreased 9 percent including a 7 point negative impact from changes in currency rates. Volumes decreased 2 percent and net selling prices fell 1 percent, while product mix improved 1 percent.
Sales in developed markets outside North America increased 8 percent. Volumes rose 7 percent, driven by South Korea and Western/Central Europe. Net selling prices rose 4 percent and product mix improved 1 percent. Changes in currency rates reduced sales 4 percent.
K-C Professional (KCP) Segment
Second quarter sales of $0.7 billion decreased 12 percent. Volumes declined 16 percent, reflecting challenging economic and business conditions globally following the outbreak of COVID-19. Net selling prices increased 4 percent and product mix improved approximately 3 percent. Changes in currency rates reduced sales 2 percent. Second quarter operating profit of $155 million decreased 4 percent. The comparison was impacted by lower volumes, other manufacturing cost increases and unfavorable currency effects. Results benefited from increased net selling prices, improved product mix and cost savings.
Sales in North America decreased 3 percent. Volumes were down 9 percent, as double-digit declines in washroom and safety products were partially offset by double-digit increases in wipers and other products. Net selling prices increased 4 percent and product mix improved 3 percent.
Sales in developing and emerging markets decreased 35 percent including a 5 point negative impact from changes in currency rates. Volumes fell 32 percent, with significant declines in all major geographies, and product mix was down 1 percent. Net selling prices increased 3 percent.
Sales in developed markets outside North America were down 12 percent. Volumes decreased 17 percent, while product mix improved 5 percent and net selling prices increased 3 percent. The changes were driven by Western/Central Europe. Currency rates were unfavorable by 4 percent.
