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Kenvue beats first-quarter estimates amid pending acquisition by Kimberly-Clark

By Thomson Reuters May 7, 2026 | 6:15 AM

May 7 (Reuters) – Tylenol-maker Kenvue on Thursday beat Wall Street estimates for first-quarter revenue and profit helped by strong sales in its skin health ​and beauty brands.

The consumer health company, currently ‌in the midst of a $40 billion buyout by Kimberly-Clark, expects the deal to close in the second half of the year.

Here are the results:

• Kenvue reported first-quarter adjusted earnings per share of ‌32 ​cents per share; analysts on ⁠an average expected 26 ⁠cents, according to data complied by LSEG.

• The company reported quarterly net sales of $3.91 billion, an increase of 4.5% from a year earlier and above analysts’ ​estimates of $3.84 billion.

• Net sales at its skin health and beauty unit that includes brands like Neutrogena ⁠and Aveeno rose 8.4% to $1.06 ⁠billion for the three months ended March ​29, helped by strong increase in sales worldwide.

• “We remain confident … ​as we accelerate our organization and business transformation ‌through our new strategic plans and work toward completing our value-creating combination with Kimberly-Clark in the second half of this year,” said CEO Kirk Perry.

• The company ⁠said its restructuring plan is expected to result in pre-tax restructuring expenses and other charges, totaling about $250 million this year.

• “Kenvue’s ⁠time as ‌a public company has been tumultuous … Fundamentals ⁠still matter but in the near ​term will ‌take a backseat to the deal ​and ongoing ⁠litigation headlines which we believe will take time to resolve,” said RBC Capital Markets analyst Nik Modi. He called the results bullish for Kimberly-Clark as “Kenvue’s fundamentals seem to be stabilizing.”

(Reporting by Sneha S K in Bengaluru; Editing ​by Joyjeet Das)