* Q1 adjusted EPS $1.24 tops Wall St view $1.17
* Sales up 4.2 percent to $5.24 billion
* Stands by FY EPS forecast
* Shares up 2 percent in midday trading
(Adds CEO and analyst comments, updates stock activity)
By Jessica Wohl
April 20 (Reuters) – Kimberly-Clark Corp posted a
bigger-than-expected increase in quarterly profit on Friday as
the maker of Kleenex tissues and Huggies diapers trimmed costs,
while strength in emerging markets mitigated some weakness in
the United States.
Its shares were up 2.2 percent to $76.94 in midday trade
after hitting a new high of $77.08.
Kimberly-Clark stood by its forecast for the year despite
the better-than-expected quarter. The company is cutting costs,
but is also increasing its spending on marketing as it tries to
stem the decline in the number of diapers and training pants it
sells at home and get shoppers to buy more of its other goods.
“I’m in the cautious camp, I kind of prefer them to be kind
of realistic,” said Morningstar analyst Lauren DeSanto. “I would
rather see another quarter or so before they decide whether to
raise guidance.”
The company is preparing for competition, such as larger
rival Procter Gamble Co launching new feminine care
products and Pampers diapers with an Olympics theme, Chairman
and Chief Executive Tom Falk told analysts on
Article source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/04/20/kimberlyclark-idUKL2E8FK12120120420?feedType=RSS&feedName=consumerproducts-SP Wedding voucher directory
