Kimberly-Clark Corporation’s 4Q 2018 sales were $4.6 billion, or down 1% compared to the year-ago period, as the company said in the press release received by Lesprom Network.
4Q operating profit was $639 million in 2018, including charges related to the 2018 Global Restructuring Program, and $828 million in 2017. 4Q 2018 adjusted operating profit was $742 million in 2018 and $852 million in 2017. Results were impacted by $215 million of higher input costs, driven by $115 million in pulp and $65 million in other raw materials.
Full year 2018 sales of $18.5 billion increased 1% compared to the year-ago period.
Operating profit was $2,229 million in 2018, including charges related to the 2018 Global Restructuring Program, and $3,358 million in 2017. Adjusted operating profit was $3,138 million in 2018 and $3,382 million in 2017. The comparison was impacted by $795 million of higher input costs, along with unfavorable currency effects.
Diluted net income per share was $4.03 in 2018 and $6.40 in 2017. The decline was mostly due to lower operating profit. Adjusted earnings per share of $6.61 in 2018 increased 6% compared to $6.23 in 2017. The comparison benefited from a lower adjusted effective tax rate, interest expense and share count, but was impacted by lower adjusted operating profit.
Kimberly-Clark Corporation is an American multinational personal care corporation that produces mostly paper-based consumer products.
