Kenvue Reports First Quarter 2026 Results
Key Terms
organic sales financial
gross profit margin financial
adjusted gross profit margin financial
operating income margin financial
adjusted EBITDA margin financial
free cash flow financial
-
Net Sales Increased
4.5% ; Organic Sales1 Increased0.7%
-
Diluted EPS Increased
47% to ; Adjusted Diluted EPS1 Increased$0.25 33% to$0.32
“Our year is off to an encouraging start, as our continued efforts to strengthen the business and sharpen execution resulted in delivering net and organic sales growth for the second consecutive quarter, along with meaningful year-over-year improvement in gross margin, operating margin, and EPS,” said Kirk Perry, Chief Executive Officer. “We remain confident in our ability to navigate ongoing macro uncertainty, 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.”
First Quarter Summary
-
Net sales increased
4.5% vs the prior year period, reflecting Organic sales1 growth of0.7% and a foreign currency benefit of3.8% .
-
Gross profit margin was
58.9% vs58.0% in the prior year period. Adjusted gross profit margin1 was60.8% vs60.0% in the prior year period.
-
Operating income margin was
19.6% vs14.9% in the prior year period. Adjusted operating income margin1 was24.0% vs19.8% in the prior year period.
-
Diluted earnings per share were
vs$0.25 in the prior year period. Adjusted diluted earnings per share1 were$0.17 vs$0.32 in the prior year period.$0.24
- Due to the pending transaction with Kimberly-Clark, the Company will not be providing forward-looking guidance.
First Quarter 2026 Financial Results
Net Sales and Organic Sales
First quarter 2026 Net sales increased
Gross Profit Margin and Operating Income Margin
First quarter 2026 Gross profit margin expanded 90 basis points to
First quarter 2026 Operating income margin expanded to
Interest Expense, Net and Taxes
First quarter 2026 Interest expense, net was
First quarter Effective tax rate was
Net Income Per Share (“Earnings Per Share”)
First quarter 2026 Diluted earnings per share were
First Quarter 2026 Business Segment Results
Self Care
First quarter 2026 Net sales increased
Skin Health and Beauty
First quarter 2026 Net sales increased
Essential Health
First quarter 2026 Net sales increased
Cash Flow and Balance Sheet
First quarter 2026 Net cash flows from operating activities were
Pending Transaction with Kimberly-Clark
As previously announced, the Company entered into a definitive merger agreement on November 2, 2025, under which Kimberly-Clark will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Kenvue common stock in a cash and stock transaction. Shareholders of each company voted overwhelmingly to approve all of the proposals necessary for Kimberly-Clark to complete its acquisition of the Company at their respective Special Meetings of Stockholders held on January 29, 2026. Additionally, the waiting period applicable to the transaction under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, expired on February 4, 2026. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to receipt of foreign regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions as described in the merger agreement.
2026 Restructuring Initiative
As previously disclosed, on February 17, 2026, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an initiative (the “2026 Restructuring Initiative”) that aims to optimize its operating model, transform its supply chain, reduce complexity, and drive operational efficiencies, while strengthening core capabilities. The Initiative is expected to result in pre-tax restructuring expenses and other charges totaling approximately
No Conference Call
Due to the pending transaction with Kimberly-Clark, Kenvue will not be hosting a quarterly conference call. This press release will be posted on the Company’s website at investors.kenvue.com.
About Kenvue
Kenvue Inc. is the world’s largest pure-play consumer health company by revenue. Built on more than a century of heritage, our iconic brands, including Aveeno®, BAND-AID® Brand, Johnson’s®, Listerine®, Neutrogena®, and Tylenol®, are science-backed and recommended by healthcare professionals around the world. At Kenvue, we realize the extraordinary power of everyday care. Our teams work every day to put that power in consumers’ hands and earn a place in their hearts and homes. Learn more at kenvue.com.
1Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with
The Company believes the presentation of these measures is relevant and useful for investors because it allows investors to view performance in a manner similar to the method used by management. The Company believes these measures help improve investors’ ability to understand the Company’s operating performance and makes it easier to compare the Company’s results with other companies. In addition, the Company believes these measures are also among the primary measures used externally by the Company’s investors, analysts, and peers in its industry for purposes of valuation and comparing the operating performance of the Company to other companies in our industry.
Below are definitions and the reconciliation to the most closely related GAAP measures for the non-GAAP measures used in this press release.
Adjusted diluted earnings per share: We define Adjusted diluted earnings per share as Adjusted net income divided by the weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding. Management views this non-GAAP measure as useful to investors as it provides a supplemental measure of the Company’s performance over time.
Adjusted EBITDA margin: We define EBITDA as
Adjusted effective tax rate: We define Adjusted effective tax rate as
Adjusted gross profit margin: We define Adjusted gross profit margin as
Adjusted net income: We define Adjusted net income as
Adjusted operating income: We define Adjusted operating income as
Adjusted operating income margin: We define Adjusted operating income margin as Adjusted operating income as a percentage of
Free cash flow: We define Free cash flow as
Organic sales: We define Organic sales as
Market Share Information
The Company uses market share and related metrics, including Average Weekly Recommendations, as indicators to assess business performance and trends. Market share references in this press release are derived from a combination of consumption and market share data provided by third-party vendors and internal estimates. Unless otherwise indicated, such references represent the percentage of the dollar value of sales of our products, relative to all product sales in the category in the countries in which the Company operates and purchases data.
Market share data is subject to inherent limitations, including the availability and timing of underlying information. In particular, market share data is not generally available for certain retail channels. The Company measures market share through the most recent period for which market share data is available, which generally reflects a lag time of one or two months. While the Company believes the third-party vendors it uses to provide data are reliable, it has not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of such data or its underlying assumptions. In addition, the Company’s reported market share data may differ from that reported by other companies due to differences in category definitions, geographic scope, internal estimates and other factors.
Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among other things, statements about management’s expectations of Kenvue’s future operating and financial performance, product development, market position, and business strategy. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding the pending transaction with Kimberly-Clark. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “plans,” “expects,” “will,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” and other words of similar meaning. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Kenvue and its affiliates. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the inability to execute on Kenvue’s business development strategy; inflation and other economic factors, such as interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations, as well as existing or proposed tariffs and other constraints on trade both in the
Kenvue Inc.
|
||||||
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
||||
|
|
March 29, 2026 |
|
March 30, 2025 |
||
Net sales |
|
$ |
3,909 |
|
$ |
3,741 |
Cost of sales |
|
|
1,607 |
|
|
1,573 |
Gross profit |
|
|
2,302 |
|
|
2,168 |
Selling, general, and administrative expenses |
|
|
1,453 |
|
|
1,537 |
Restructuring expenses |
|
|
71 |
|
|
60 |
Other operating expense, net |
|
|
11 |
|
|
13 |
Operating income |
|
|
767 |
|
|
558 |
Other expense, net |
|
|
— |
|
|
6 |
Interest expense, net |
|
|
95 |
|
|
94 |
Income before taxes |
|
|
672 |
|
|
458 |
Provision for taxes |
|
|
198 |
|
|
136 |
Net income |
|
$ |
474 |
|
$ |
322 |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net income per share |
|
|
|
|
||
Basic |
|
$ |
0.25 |
|
$ |
0.17 |
Diluted |
|
$ |
0.25 |
|
$ |
0.17 |
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding |
|
|
|
|
||
Basic |
|
|
1,918 |
|
|
1,914 |
Diluted |
|
|
1,922 |
|
|
1,925 |
Organic Sales Change
The following tables present a reconciliation of the change in Net sales, as reported, to the change in Organic sales, a non-GAAP measure, for the periods presented:
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended March 29, 2026 vs. March 30, 2025(1) |
||||||||
|
Reported Net
|
|
Impact of
|
|
Organic Sales Change |
||||
(Unaudited) |
|
|
Total Organic
|
|
Price/Mix(2) |
|
Volume |
||
Self Care |
|
|
|
|
(2.3)% |
|
|
|
(3.9)% |
Skin Health and Beauty |
8.4 |
|
3.4 |
|
5.0 |
|
0.8 |
|
4.2 |
Essential Health |
4.9 |
|
3.4 |
|
1.5 |
|
0.1 |
|
1.4 |
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.3)% |
(1) Acquisitions and divestitures did not impact the reported Net sales change.
|
|||||||||
Total Segment Net Sales and Adjusted Operating Income
Segment Net sales for the periods presented were as follows:
|
|
Net Sales |
||||
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
||||
(Unaudited; Dollars in Millions) |
|
March 29, 2026 |
|
March 30, 2025 |
||
Self Care |
|
$ |
1,699 |
|
$ |
1,667 |
Skin Health and Beauty |
|
|
1,059 |
|
|
977 |
Essential Health |
|
|
1,151 |
|
|
1,097 |
Total segment net sales |
|
$ |
3,909 |
|
$ |
3,741 |
Segment Adjusted operating income for the periods presented was as follows:
|
|
Adjusted Operating Income |
||||||
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
||||||
(Unaudited; Dollars in Millions) |
|
March 29, 2026 |
|
March 30, 2025 |
||||
Self Care Adjusted operating income |
|
$ |
625 |
|
|
$ |
566 |
|
Skin Health and Beauty Adjusted operating income |
|
|
168 |
|
|
|
92 |
|
Essential Health Adjusted operating income |
|
|
299 |
|
|
|
239 |
|
Total |
|
$ |
1,092 |
|
|
$ |
897 |
|
Reconciliation to Adjusted operating income (non-GAAP): |
|
|
|
|
||||
Depreciation(1) |
|
|
78 |
|
|
|
73 |
|
General corporate/unallocated expenses |
|
|
69 |
|
|
|
79 |
|
Other operating expense, net |
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
13 |
|
Other—impact of Deferred Markets |
|
|
(6 |
) |
|
|
(9 |
) |
Adjusted operating income (non-GAAP) |
|
$ |
940 |
|
|
$ |
741 |
|
Reconciliation to Income before taxes: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Amortization of intangible assets(2) |
|
|
65 |
|
|
|
63 |
|
Separation-related costs(4) |
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
38 |
|
Restructuring expenses and operating model optimization initiatives(3) |
|
|
78 |
|
|
|
67 |
|
Conversion of stock-based awards |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
Other—impact of Deferred Markets |
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
9 |
|
Founder Shares |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
Pending Transaction and other related costs(5) |
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Operating income |
|
$ |
767 |
|
|
$ |
558 |
|
Other expense, net |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
6 |
|
Interest expense, net |
|
|
95 |
|
|
|
94 |
|
Income before taxes |
|
$ |
672 |
|
|
$ |
458 |
|
Non-GAAP Financial Information
The following tables present reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP for the periods presented:
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended March 29, 2026 |
|||||||||||
(Unaudited; Dollars in Millions) |
As Reported |
Adjustments |
Reference |
As Adjusted |
||||||||
Net sales |
$ |
3,909 |
|
— |
|
$ |
3,909 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Gross profit |
$ |
2,302 |
|
74 |
(a) |
$ |
2,376 |
|
||||
Gross profit margin |
|
58.9 |
% |
|
|
|
60.8 |
% |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Operating income |
$ |
767 |
|
173 |
(a)-(c) |
$ |
940 |
|
||||
Operating income margin |
|
19.6 |
% |
|
|
|
24.0 |
% |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Net income |
$ |
474 |
|
141 |
(a)-(d) |
$ |
615 |
|
||||
Net income margin |
|
12.1 |
% |
|
|
|
15.7 |
% |
||||
Interest expense, net |
$ |
95 |
|
|
|
|
||||||
Provision for taxes |
$ |
198 |
|
|
|
|
||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
$ |
143 |
|
|
|
|
||||||
EBITDA (non-GAAP) |
$ |
910 |
|
108 |
(b)-(c), (e) |
$ |
1,018 |
|
||||
EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) |
|
23.3 |
% |
|
|
|
26.0 |
% |
||||
Detail of Adjustments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
Cost of Sales |
|
SG&A/Restructuring
|
|
Other Operating
|
|
Provision for
|
|
Total |
|||||||
Amortization of intangible assets(2) |
|
$ |
65 |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
65 |
|
Restructuring expenses(3) |
|
|
— |
|
|
71 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
71 |
|
Operating model optimization initiatives(3) |
|
|
5 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
7 |
|
Separation-related costs, conversion of stock-based awards, and Founder Shares(4) |
|
|
2 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
6 |
|
Pending Transaction and other related costs(5) |
|
|
2 |
|
|
14 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
2 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2 |
|
Impact of Deferred Markets—minority interest expense |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
3 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
3 |
|
Impact of Deferred Markets—provision for taxes |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
3 |
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Tax impact on special item adjustments |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(29 |
) |
|
|
(29 |
) |
Total |
|
$ |
74 |
|
$ |
93 |
|
$ |
6 |
|
$ |
(32 |
) |
|
$ |
141 |
|
|
|
(a) |
|
(b) |
|
(c) |
|
(d) |
|
|
|||||||
Cost of sales less amortization |
|
$ |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
(e) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended March 30, 2025 |
|||||||||||
(Unaudited; Dollars in Millions) |
As Reported |
Adjustments |
Reference |
As Adjusted |
||||||||
Net sales |
$ |
3,741 |
|
— |
|
$ |
3,741 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Gross profit |
$ |
2,168 |
|
77 |
(a) |
$ |
2,245 |
|
||||
Gross profit margin |
|
58.0 |
% |
|
|
|
60.0 |
% |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Operating income |
$ |
558 |
|
183 |
(a)-(c) |
$ |
741 |
|
||||
Operating income margin |
|
14.9 |
% |
|
|
|
19.8 |
% |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Net income |
$ |
322 |
|
143 |
(a)-(d) |
$ |
465 |
|
||||
Net income margin |
|
8.6 |
% |
|
|
|
12.4 |
% |
||||
Interest expense, net |
$ |
94 |
|
|
|
|
||||||
Provision for taxes |
$ |
136 |
|
|
|
|
||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
$ |
136 |
|
|
|
|
||||||
EBITDA (non-GAAP) |
$ |
688 |
|
120 |
(b)-(c), (e) |
$ |
808 |
|
||||
EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) |
|
18.4 |
% |
|
|
|
21.6 |
% |
||||
Detail of Adjustments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
Cost of Sales |
|
SG&A/Restructuring
|
|
Other Operating
|
|
Provision for
|
|
Total |
|||||||
Amortization of intangible assets(2) |
|
$ |
63 |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
63 |
|
Restructuring expenses(3) |
|
|
— |
|
|
60 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
60 |
|
Operating model optimization initiatives(3) |
|
|
6 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
7 |
|
Separation-related costs, conversion of stock-based awards, and Founder Shares(4) |
|
|
8 |
|
|
36 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
44 |
|
Impact of Deferred Markets—minority interest expense |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
4 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4 |
|
Impact of Deferred Markets—provision for taxes |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
5 |
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Tax impact on special item adjustments |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(35 |
) |
|
|
(35 |
) |
Total |
|
$ |
77 |
|
$ |
97 |
|
$ |
9 |
|
$ |
(40 |
) |
|
$ |
143 |
|
|
|
(a) |
|
(b) |
|
(c) |
|
(d) |
|
|
|||||||
Cost of sales less amortization |
|
$ |
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
(e) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| (1) | Depreciation consists of depreciation of property, plant, and equipment and amortization of integration and development costs capitalized in connection with cloud computing arrangements. |
|
| (2) | Relates to the amortization of definite-lived intangible assets (primarily trademarks, trade names, and customer lists) over their estimated useful lives. |
|
| (3) | Restructuring expenses and operating model optimization initiatives in the fiscal three months ended March 29, 2026 related to the 2026 Restructuring Initiative and in the fiscal three months ended March 30, 2025 related to the 2024 Multi-year Restructuring Initiative and were composed of the following: |
|
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
||||
(Unaudited; Dollars in Millions) |
|
March 29, 2026 |
|
March 30, 2025 |
||
Employee-related costs (one-time severance and other termination benefits) |
|
$ |
48 |
|
$ |
25 |
Information technology and project-related costs |
|
|
30 |
|
|
40 |
Other implementation costs |
|
|
— |
|
|
2 |
Total restructuring expenses and operating model optimization initiatives |
|
$ |
78 |
|
$ |
67 |
| (4) | Separation-related costs relate to non-recurring costs incurred in connection with our establishment of Kenvue as a standalone public company. Separation-related costs, the impact of the conversion of stock-based compensation awards, and the incremental stock-based compensation from the issuance of the Founder Shares, were composed of the following: |
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
||||
(Unaudited; Dollars in Millions) |
|
March 29, 2026 |
|
March 30, 2025 |
||
Information technology and other |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
33 |
Legal entity name change |
|
|
3 |
|
|
5 |
Total separation-related costs |
|
$ |
3 |
|
$ |
38 |
Conversion of stock-based awards |
|
|
1 |
|
|
3 |
Founder Shares |
|
|
2 |
|
|
3 |
Total separation-related costs, conversion of stock-based awards, and Founder Shares |
|
$ |
6 |
|
$ |
44 |
| (5) | Pending Transaction and other related costs consist of expenses incurred in connection with the pending transaction with Kimberly-Clark, including advisory fees, legal costs, professional service costs, and other related costs. |
|
The following table presents reconciliations of the Effective tax rate, as reported, to Adjusted effective tax rate for the periods presented:
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
||
(Unaudited) |
|
March 29, 2026 |
|
March 30, 2025 |
Effective tax rate |
|
|
|
|
Adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
Tax-effect on special item adjustments |
|
(2.4) |
|
(2.4) |
Taxes related to Deferred Markets |
|
0.1 |
|
0.2 |
Adjusted Effective tax rate (non-GAAP) |
|
|
|
|
The following table presents a reconciliation of Diluted earnings per share, as reported, to Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the periods presented:
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
||||||
(Unaudited) |
|
March 29, 2026 |
|
March 30, 2025 |
||||
Diluted earnings per share |
|
$ |
0.25 |
|
|
$ |
0.17 |
|
Adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Separation-related costs |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
Restructuring expenses and operating model optimization initiatives |
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
Amortization of intangible assets |
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
Pending Transaction and other related costs |
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Tax impact on special item adjustments |
|
|
(0.02 |
) |
|
|
(0.02 |
) |
Other |
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
Adjusted diluted earnings per share (non-GAAP) |
|
$ |
0.32 |
|
|
$ |
0.24 |
|
The following table presents a reconciliation of Net cash flows from operating activities, as reported, and Purchases of property, plant, and equipment, as reported, to Free cash flow for the periods presented:
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
||||||
(Unaudited; Dollars in Billions) |
|
March 29, 2026 |
|
March 30, 2025 |
||||
Net cash flows from operating activities |
|
$ |
0.5 |
|
|
$ |
0.4 |
|
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment |
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
Free cash flow (non-GAAP) |
|
$ |
0.4 |
|
|
$ |
0.2 |
|
Other Supplemental Financial Information
The following table presents the Company’s Net sales by geographic region for the periods presented:
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
||||
(Unaudited; Dollars in Millions) |
|
March 29, 2026 |
|
March 30, 2025 |
||
Net sales by geographic region |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
$ |
1,860 |
|
$ |
1,857 |
|
|
|
992 |
|
|
884 |
|
|
|
700 |
|
|
694 |
|
|
|
357 |
|
|
306 |
Total Net sales by geographic region |
|
$ |
3,909 |
|
$ |
3,741 |
The following table presents the Company’s Research and development expenses for the periods presented. Research and development expenses are included within Selling, general, and administrative expenses.
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
||||
(Unaudited; Dollars in Millions) |
|
March 29, 2026 |
|
March 30, 2025 |
||
Research & Development |
|
$ |
84 |
|
$ |
99 |
The following table presents the Company’s Cash and cash equivalents, Total debt, and Net debt balance as of the periods presented:
(Unaudited; Dollars in Billions) |
|
March 29, 2026 |
|
December 28, 2025 |
||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
1.1 |
|
|
$ |
1.1 |
|
Total debt |
|
|
(8.7 |
) |
|
|
(8.5 |
) |
Net debt |
|
$ |
(7.6 |
) |
|
$ |
(7.5 |
) |
Note: Numbers may not foot due to rounding. |
||||||||
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260507634587/en/
Investor Relations:
Sofya Tsinis
Kenvue_IR@kenvue.com
Media Relations:
Melissa Witt
media@kenvue.com
Source: Kenvue