Shares of Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB ) hit a 52-week high yesterday. Let's look at how it got here and whether clear skies are ahead.
How it got here
For the last month Kimberly-Clark has been touching new highs, not driven by recent results but in a flight to safety. The last time we reported on a new high it was a stellar earnings report that the market was reacting to. But since then the market has gone through a very rough month and yet Kimberly-Clark marches higher. Why?
As the market worries about what impact the European situation will have on companies, how slower growth in China will affect the world, and whether or not we'll ever exit this economic funk, there's been a flight to safety. What could be safer than diapers, tampons, toilet paper, and Kleenex? These products will sell in any market and will be needed around the world.
Based on the numbers below, Kimberly-Clark actually looks more expensive than it did after its last earnings report. The rising stock hasn't been driven by rising earnings, just an expanded earnings multiple, and it's becoming expensive compared to peers. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ ) , Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG ) , and 3M (NYSE: MMM ) all have better margins and all but Procter & Gamble have lower forward P/E ratios.
|
Company
|
Price/Sales
|
Return on Assets
|
Profit Margin
|
Forward P/E
|
| Kimberly-Clark |
1.5 |
9.3% |
8.1% |
15.0 |
| Johnson & Johnson |
2.7 |
9.0% |
15.6% |
12.0 |
| Procter & Gamble |
2.0 |
7.4% |
11.3% |
15.3 |
| 3M |
2.0 |
12.3% |
14.5% |
12.4 |
Source: Yahoo! Finance.
The flight to safety makes some sense, but eventually operations have to catch up to valuation. Kimberly-Clark only grew 4.2% last quarter, not enough to maintain the valuation it currently has.
What's next?
I don't think Kimberly-Clark is the kind of stock that will shoot higher in the near future, but if the economy continues to bumble along and Europe continues to run into problems, I do think it can outperform the market short-term. Safety is something investors seek in times like these, and I think they'll be looking for a lot of safety until at least after the U.S. presidential election.
Just how high can Kimberly-Clark go? Don't expect a lot. A potential forward P/E of 18 would make me a little uneasy, so I see upside limited at another 10% to 15% unless growth picks up in the second quarter for some unknown reason. This may be a great stock to own in bad times, but don't mistake it for a growth stock.
Interested in reading more about Kimberly-Clark? Click here to add it to My Watchlist, which will find all of our Foolish analysis on this stock.
More Expert Advice from The Motley Fool
With over 50,000 products, 3M plays a role in making everything from computers to power cables. A
long history of invention and innovation has driven the company to its wide reach, but a focus on operational efficiency may be hurting the creative culture that once created Scotch Tape and the Post-It Note. A new leader has taken over and vows to return innovation to the forefront. Does this mean the stock will become more than a dividend, returning to its former glory as a growth stock once again? Find out whether 3M has what it takes to pull it off in The Motley Fool's comprehensive new research report on the company. As an added bonus, you'll receive a full year of key updates and guidance as news develops, so don't miss out - simply
click here now to claim your copy today.
RSS Headlines
Fool UK