Kimberly-Clark backs 2010 EPS view; shares rise
Kimberly-Clark Corp
The maker of Kleenex tissues also said it anticipates earnings growth in a mid-to-high single-digit range and sales growth of 3 percent to 5 percent through 2015.
Last year, Kimberly-Clark cut about 1,700 jobs and made investments such as healthcare acquisitions to improve its strategy while facing stepped-up pressure from cheaper private- label products such as paper towels.
The changes left the company with a good launch pad into 2010, Chairman and Chief Executive Thomas Falk said during a meeting with analysts on Monday.
It plans to keep raising marketing spending at a faster rate than net sales growth through 2015, Chief Marketing Officer Tony Palmer said during the meeting in New York.
Kimberly-Clark has announced plans for three new products this month -- Depend underwear in colors and prints, Kleenex disposable towels for bathroom use, and U by Kotex, a new line of feminine-care products with bold packaging.
Falk said the company would also improve its Cottonelle toilet paper and Viva paper towel line.
LOWER CAPITAL SPENDING TARGET
Kimberly-Clark now expects to cut $400 million to $450 million costs through an ongoing program versus its original target of $350 million to $450 million.
The company, also known for its Huggies diapers, aims to save $400 million to $500 million from 2011 to 2013, by implementing cost controls in its manufacturing and supply chain and by forming a global procurement organization.
Kimberly-Clark lowered its long-term capital spending target to 4.5 percent to 5.5 percent of net sales, compared with its prior view of 5 percent to 6 percent.
Kimberly-Clark, which plans to focus on fast-growing markets such as China, Russia and Latin America, still expectsfiscal 2010 adjusted earnings of $4.80 to $5.00 per share, with sales up 5 percent to 6 percent.
Some analysts have said the high end of the profit forecast may be too lofty. The average analyst estimate tracked by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S is $4.87 per share.
The company's adjusted profit forecast excludes an anticipated loss related to Venezuela's currency devaluation.
Kimberly-Clark's shares rose 2.3 percent, or $1.45, to $62.88 on the New York Stock Exchange in early trading.
They have lagged larger rival Procter & Gamble Co
so far this year amid concerns over higher commodity costs. Higher prices for pulp following Chile's earthquake have a bigger impact on Kimberly-Clark since more of products are paper goods.
At the same time, P&G is introducing new Pampers diapers with a thinner, more absorbent technology that analysts said could put pressure on Kimberly-Clark.
Falk said Huggies would update its diapers and training pants in North America, including bringing a Huggies Jeans diaper to the market.
(Reporting by Jessica Wohl in New York, additional reporting by Renju Jose in Bangalore; Editing by Maureen Bavdek)
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