Despite recent volatility, the stock market remains near record highs. However, in the case of certain stocks, including some dividend stocks, various factors have placed them under pressure. However, after falling 20% or more from their 52-week highs, now may be the time to go bottom-fishing with these stocks. Following their respective price declines, each now has a much higher forward yields, providing steady gains regardless of price action. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just rev ...

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of dividend-focused investing, highlighting that dividends have historically contributed significantly to total returns in the stock market [4]. Company Analysis Altria - Altria Group Inc. is a major player in the tobacco industry, offering a 6.12% dividend yield and primarily selling cigarettes under the Marlboro brand [5]. - The company sold 35 million shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev, representing 18% of its holdings, and announced a $2.4 billion stock repurchase plan [6]. - Goldman Sachs has rated Altria as a Buy with a target price of $72 [6]. Clorox - Clorox Co. provides a reliable 4.04% dividend yield and is known for its consumer and professional cleaning products [7]. - The company operates through four segments, including Health and Wellness and Household products [8]. - Jefferies has rated Clorox as a Buy with a target price of $151 [9]. Kimberly-Clark - Kimberly-Clark Corp. has a 4.66% dividend yield and has raised its dividend for 53 consecutive years [10]. - The company announced an acquisition of Kenvue Inc. for $48.7 billion, expected to close in the second half of 2026 [14]. - Argus has rated Kimberly-Clark as a Buy with a target price of $120 [14]. PepsiCo - PepsiCo, Inc. reported solid third-quarter earnings with a 3.36% dividend yield and is trading at 18 times forward earnings [15]. - Activist investor Elliott Investment Management has taken a $4 billion stake in PepsiCo, aiming to unlock value through strategic changes [16]. - UBS has rated PepsiCo as a Buy with a target price of $190 [17]. Verizon - Verizon Communications Inc. offers a 5.62% dividend yield and trades at 9.13 times its estimated 2026 earnings [18]. - The company operates in two segments, providing a range of communication services to consumers and businesses [19][20]. - TD Cowen has rated Verizon as a Buy with a target price of $51 [20].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the appeal of five Dividend Aristocrats as preferred retirement income stocks for Baby Boomers, emphasizing their reliability in providing consistent dividend increases over 25 years, which is crucial for investors seeking stable income during market volatility [1]. Group 1: Dividend Aristocrats Overview - Dividend Aristocrats are S&P 500 companies that have raised their dividends for 25 consecutive years, making them attractive for growth and income investors [1]. - The 69 companies on the 2026 S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats list must meet specific criteria, including being a member of the S&P 500, having an average daily trading volume of at least $5 million, and a market capitalization of at least $3 billion [1]. Group 2: Featured Dividend Aristocrats - **Amcor PLC**: Offers a 5.18% dividend and is involved in sustainable packaging solutions across various industries, including food and healthcare. It has a Buy rating with a target price of $60 [1]. - **Eversource Energy**: Provides a 4.09% dividend and operates in energy delivery across Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. It has a Buy rating with a target price of $79 [1]. - **Hormel Foods Corp.**: Known for its diverse food products, it offers a 4.95% dividend and is restructuring to improve performance. It has a Buy rating with a target price of $31 [2]. - **Kimberly-Clark Corp.**: A personal care company with a 4.66% dividend, it has raised dividends for 53 consecutive years and is acquiring Kenvue Inc. in a $48.7 billion deal. It has a Buy rating with a target price of $120 [2]. - **Realty Income Corp.**: A real estate investment trust with a 4.89% monthly dividend, it invests in commercial properties and has a Buy rating with a target price of $69 [2].

PresentationUnknown Analyst Hi, everyone. Our next presenter is Kimberly-Clark, which is currently in the midst of one of the largest transactions and biggest corporate transformations in CPG history. The team is led by Chairman and CEO, Michael Hsu. Since taking the helm in 2019, Mike could do reach within the company, building a veteran leadership team with extensive experience in key areas and reshaping the portfolio to become a leader, a global leader in branded personal care. Under its power and strate ...

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB) 2026 Conference February 19, 2026 11:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsCraig Slavtcheff - Chief R&D OfficerMike Hsu - Chairman and CEOPatricia Corsi - Chief Growth OfficerRuss Torres - President and COONone - Video NarratorOperatorHi, everyone. Our next presenter is Kimberly-Clark, which is currently in the midst of one of the largest transactions and biggest corporate transformations in CPG history. The team is led by Chairman and CEO, Mike Hsu. Since taking the helm as CEO in 2019, Mi ...

Core Insights - Kimberly-Clark Corporation presented at the 2026 CAGNY Conference, emphasizing its operational agility and capabilities to leverage growth trends and create generational value through the acquisition of Kenvue [1] Group 1: Growth Strategy - The company has launched the "Powering Care" transformation in 2024, resulting in solid volume-plus-mix led growth, with market share improvements in two-thirds of its country/category combinations over the past two years [1] - Kimberly-Clark's operating model focuses on cross-functional collaboration and productivity, achieving gross productivity improvements in the 6% range of cost of goods sold over the last two years [1] Group 2: Brand Development - The company aims to build brand loyalty through innovative marketing strategies and digital capabilities, enhancing user engagement and benefits across its product portfolio [1] - With the acquisition of Kenvue, Kimberly-Clark is positioned to capitalize on demographic trends in baby care, women's health, and active aging, which are expected to grow at mid-to-high single-digit rates [1] Group 3: Innovation and R&D - Kimberly-Clark's R&D organization has been restructured to deliver rapid and scalable innovations, contributing to over 75% of the company's volume-plus-mix led growth in 2025 [1] - The company’s innovation pipeline is reported to be the strongest in its history, aimed at driving incremental growth while maintaining cost efficiency over the next three years [1]

KIMBERLY - CLARK CAGNY 2026 Forward-Looking Statements Certain matters contained in this presentation concerning our plans and expectations regarding the pending mergers with Kenvue and the pending International Family Care and Professional ("IFP") joint venture transaction with Suzano ("IFP Transaction"), the business outlook, including raw material, energy and other input costs, the anticipated charges and savings from the 2024 Transformation Initiative, cash flow and uses of cash, growth initiatives, inn ...

Core Insights - Kenvue reported Q4 earnings that exceeded analyst expectations, with adjusted EPS of $0.27 compared to the expected $0.22, and revenue of $3.78 billion surpassing the consensus of $3.68 billion [1] - The company is moving forward with its $48.7 billion acquisition of Kimberly-Clark, which has received shareholder approval and is expected to close in the second half of 2026 [1] - Kenvue announced a 3.5% workforce reduction, anticipating $250 million in restructuring charges as part of its merger integration strategy [1] Financial Performance - Kenvue's Q4 performance showed a 1.2% organic sales growth after three consecutive quarters of decline, although full-year net sales decreased slightly to $15.12 billion [1] - The company achieved a full-year adjusted diluted EPS of $1.08, exceeding its guidance of $1.00 to $1.05 [1] - Gross margin improved to 59.1% in Q3 from 58.5% year-over-year, attributed to supply chain optimizations, which continued to benefit Q4 results [1] Merger and Restructuring - The $48.7 billion acquisition of Kimberly-Clark is progressing, with U.S. antitrust clearance secured, while other regulatory approvals are still pending [1] - The stock is trading near the implied deal value of $19.10 to $19.50 per share, indicating a spread of approximately 4% [1] - Management's decision to reduce the workforce by 3.5% reflects a focus on cost discipline in preparation for the merger [1] Investor Considerations - Attention is shifting to regulatory clearance milestones and integration planning as the merger timeline extends into the second half of 2026 [1] - Kenvue launched its Neutrogena Evenly Clear product line in February 2026, indicating ongoing brand investment despite the acquisition [1] - The dividend yield stands at 4.5%, but the payout ratio above 110% raises questions about sustainability post-merger [1]

Core Insights - Kenvue exceeded Wall Street estimates for its fourth-quarter results and announced a global workforce reduction as it moves towards a planned acquisition by Kimberly-Clark [1] Financial Performance - Kenvue's fourth-quarter net sales increased by 3.2% to $3.78 billion, surpassing analysts' consensus of $3.68 billion [1] - The self-care segment, which includes brands like Tylenol and Benadryl, reported a 1.5% increase in net sales to $1.59 billion, exceeding estimates of $1.52 billion [1] - The essential health unit, housing brands such as Listerine and Band-Aid, achieved net sales of $1.15 billion, a 6.1% year-over-year rise, compared to the average estimate of $1.12 billion [1] - Kenvue posted a quarterly adjusted profit of 27 cents per share, while analysts had estimated 22 cents per share [1] Workforce Reduction - Kenvue's board approved a plan to optimize its operating model, resulting in a net reduction of approximately 3.5% of its global workforce, which was about 22,000 employees last year [1] - The planned job cuts are expected to incur pre-tax restructuring expenses and other charges totaling around $250 million in 2026 [1] Acquisition Plans - Kimberly-Clark proposed to acquire Kenvue for over $40 billion to create a global consumer health company, with the merger expected to close in the second half of 2026 [1]

Core Insights - Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) reported a fourth-quarter 2025 organic sales growth of 2.1%, driven by a volume-plus-mix growth model despite sales pressure from portfolio exits [1][5] Group 1: Sales Performance - The growth was primarily supported by volume and mix gains of approximately 3%, which were partially offset by planned price investments aimed at enhancing consumer value and competitiveness [1][5] - The company achieved broad-based volume improvement across categories and regions, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of solid volume-plus-mix performance [2] - International Personal Care segment showed a notable organic growth of 4.5%, driven by strong volume gains of 3.3% and an improved mix of 2.4% [3][8] Group 2: Strategic Actions - North America exhibited encouraging volume trends, with broad-based volume growth helping to offset declines in price and mix due to strategic pricing actions [4][8] - The pricing investments, while weighing modestly on growth, are intended to strengthen long-term competitiveness and demand resilience [4][5] Group 3: Market Position and Valuation - KMB's shares have gained 5.5% over the past three months, outperforming the S&P 500 index growth of 2.9% during the same period [6] - The company currently trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 15.31, which is below the industry average of 19.88 and the sector's average of 18.24, indicating a modest discount relative to peers [10]