Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB), a core S&P 500 component, said preliminary organic sales growth for the three months ended September 30, 2026, was a 1.3% decline, reversing 2.5% organic growth in the year-ago quarter and turning negative after a second quarter in which organic sales were only broadly in line with the prior year.

The company’s 2026 outlook remains consistent with previous expectations. It still expects organic sales growth to be approximately 100 basis points below its weighted average category growth in the categories and countries in which it competes, a gap that primarily reflects realized and potential unfavorable impacts of about 100 basis points at a total company level from previously disclosed China social media disruptions. Weighted average category growth is now approximately 1.7% on a trailing 12-month basis.

Net sales were estimated at $4,134 million, down 0.4% from $4,150 million a year earlier. Currency translation contributed a 0.3 percentage-point drag, and divestitures and business exits contributed a 0.7 percentage-point drag.

Gross profit was estimated at $1,441 million. Adjusted gross profit was estimated at $1,468 million. Operating profit was estimated at $516 million. Adjusted operating profit was estimated at $677 million, compared with $683 million a year earlier. The adjusted operating-profit bridge included $106 million of Kenvue Acquisition costs, $55 million of 2024 Transformation Initiative charges, $2 million of Brazil business tax credits, and a $2 million unrealized gain on commodity hedges.

Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were estimated at $1.19. Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations were $1.70. Diluted earnings per share attributable to Kimberly-Clark were $5.37, including a $4.33 International Family Care and Professional transaction gain. Adjusted earnings per share attributable to Kimberly-Clark were $1.70. Cash and cash equivalents were estimated at $1,874 million.

The second-quarter release had already flagged a discrete disruption from false allegations about certain diaper brands in China. Independent testing by a government-certified third party confirmed product quality and safety, and the spread of false claims across social media significantly impacted diaper sales in China in the second quarter and was expected to further impact sales and profits in the near term. That quarter’s organic sales included an approximately 50 basis-point negative impact from the China social media disruption.

For the full year, Kimberly-Clark still expects adjusted operating profit to grow mid-single digits on a constant-currency basis, adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations to grow high single digits on a constant-currency basis, and adjusted earnings per share attributable to Kimberly-Clark to see a low single-digit decline on a constant-currency basis. The outlook reflects assumptions subject to change given the macro environment and excludes the impact of any potential acquisitions, including the previously announced pending acquisition of Kenvue Inc., divestitures, and other items that have not yet been identified and quantified.

Final third-quarter and nine-month results are scheduled for November 5, 2026, with a press release and supplemental materials at approximately 6:30 a.m. EST and a live analyst Q&A beginning at 8:00 a.m. EST. Deloitte & Touche LLP has not audited, reviewed, compiled, or performed any procedures on the estimated preliminary data.