Stock Update (NYSE:KMB): Kimberly-Clark Announces 4.5 Percent Dividend Increase

[PR Newswire] – DALLAS, Feb. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB) today announced its board of directors has approved a dividend increase of 4.5 percent. This will bring the quarterly dividend … Read more on this. Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) , valued at $45.67B, began trading this morning at $127.80. A quick look at the market, the company’s stock traded between $124.65 and $128.27 and has traded between $103.04 and $132.43 over the past 12 months. KMB shares are currently priced at 21.15x this year’s forecasted earnings, which makes them relatively expensive compared to the industry ’s 18.08x earnings multiple. And for passive income investors, the company pays shareholders $3.52 per share annually in dividends, yielding 2.73%. In a review of the consensus earnings estimate this quarter, 13 sell-side analysts are looking at $1.51 per share, which would be $0.09 better than the year-ago quarter and a $0.02 sequential decrease. What we find to be interesting is that the full-year EPS estimate of $6.12 is a $0.36 improvement when compared to the previous year’s annual results. The quarterly earnings estimate is based on a consensus revenue forecast of the current quarter of $4.52 Billion. If realized, that would be a 3.62% decrease over the year-ago quarter. Recently, Societe Generale upgraded KMB from Hold to Buy (Oct 23, 2015). Previously, Deutsche Bank upgraded KMB from Hold to Buy. Given all the information above, we should disclose to readers that the average price target is $132.45, which is 3.64% above than it opened this morning. See more in (NYSE:KMB) Similar Articles: Market Update: Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE:KMB) – Kimberly-Clark Announces Year-End 2015 Results And 2016 Outlook Stock Update: Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE:KMB) – Kimberly-Clark Announces Third Quarter 2015 Results Company Update: Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE:KMB) – Kimberly-Clark Receives U.S. EPA 2015 SmartWay® Excellence Award