Results
Kenvue Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results
Delivered Fourth Consecutive Quarter of Net and Organic Sales 1 Growth
Net Sales Increased 3.2%; Organic Sales Increased 2.9%
Diluted EPS Increased 5% to $0.22; Adjusted Diluted EPS 1 Increased 4% to $0.29
SUMMIT, N.J. October 30, 2026 – Kenvue Inc. (NYSE: KVUE) today announced financial results for the fiscal third quarter ended September 27, 2026.
“We are pleased to have delivered our fourth consecutive quarter of net and organic sales growth, with strong performance in Self Care and Essential Health, along with margin expansion and strong cash generation,” said Kirk Perry, Chief Executive Officer.
“Our results reflect continued momentum from disciplined execution, ongoing productivity initiatives, and investment in our brands and innovation.
We are strongly on track to deliver our business transformation that we began last year.
I want to thank our entire organization for their dedication to delighting our consumers and customers, disciplined execution, and delivering what was promised.”
Perry continued, “As we near the completion of our value-creating combination with Kimberly-Clark and bring together our two companies, the team is excited about the opportunities ahead.”
Third Quarter Summary
Net sales increased 3.2% vs the prior year period, reflecting Organic sales growth of 2.9% and a foreign currency benefit of 0.3%.
Gross profit margin was 59.5% vs 59.1% in the prior year period.
Adjusted gross profit margin 1 was 61.5% vs 61.2% in the prior year period.
Operating income margin was 18.2% vs 16.7% in the prior year period.
Adjusted operating income margin 1 was 21.9% vs 21.5% in the prior year period.
Diluted earnings per share were $0.22 vs $0.21 in the prior year period.
Adjusted diluted earnings per share 1 were $0.29 vs $0.28 in the prior year period.
Due to the pending transaction with Kimberly-Clark, the Company will not be providing forward-looking guidance.
Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results
Net Sales and Organic Sales
Third quarter 2026 Net sales increased 3.2% vs the prior year period, primarily reflecting Organic sales growth of 2.9% and a foreign currency benefit of 0.3%.
2Organic sales growth was driven by volume growth of 1.6% and favorable value realization of 1.3%.
Gross Profit Margin and Operating Income Margin
8Third quarter 2026 Gross profit margin was 59.5% vs 59.1% in the prior year period.
Adjusted gross profit margin was 61.5% vs 61.2% in the prior year period.
The year-over-year change in both measures primarily reflects savings from productivity gains attributable to our global supply chain optimization initiatives, U.S. tariff refunds, and favorable value realization, partially offset by the impact from inflation as well as unfavorable transactional foreign exchange.
Third quarter 2026 Operating income margin was 18.2% vs 16.7% in the prior year period.
Third quarter 2026 Adjusted operating income margin was 21.9% vs 21.5% in the prior year period.
The year-over-year change in both measures reflects the year-over-year change in Gross profit margin and Adjusted gross profit margin, as well as savings from our cost optimization actions, including the 2026 Restructuring Initiative and Our Vue Forward, partially offset by a year-over-year increase in brand support.
Interest Expense, Net and Taxes
Third quarter 2026 Interest expense, net was $89 million vs $93 million in the prior year period.
Third quarter Effective tax rate was 29.4% vs 24.3% in the prior year period.
The Adjusted effective tax rate 1 was 24.7% in the current period vs 24.0% in the prior year period.
The year-over-year increase in both measures largely reflects a reduction in favorable discrete return-to-provision adjustments as compared to the prior year, partially offset by the impact of tax law changes.
Net Income Per Share (“Earnings Per Share”)
Third quarter 2026 Diluted earnings per share were $0.22 vs $0.21 in the prior year period.
Adjusted diluted earnings per share were $0.29 in the current period vs $0.28 in the prior year period.
Third Quarter 2026 Business Segment Results
Self Care
Third quarter 2026 Net sales increased 5.9% vs the prior year period, reflecting Organic sales growth of 5.4% and a foreign currency benefit of 0.5%.
7Organic sales growth was driven by a volume increase of 3.4% and favorable value realization of 2.0%.
Organic sales increased in Asia Pacific (“APAC”), benefiting from favorable inventory-related comparisons following prior year trade inventory depletion, while strong innovation and commercial execution in Pain Care enabled Motrin ® to outperform the market as the region experienced rising flu incidences.
Smoking Cessation delivered low double-digit Organic sales growth in the quarter, led by Europe, Middle East, and Africa (“EMEA”) and APAC, reflecting strong demand and commercial execution for Nicorette ® .
Pepcid ® continued to outperform the category, benefitting from strong commercial and innovation-led initiatives.
In the U.S., consumption trends improved sequentially, and Tylenol ® gained market share despite lower seasonal incidences versus the prior year period and continued category softness.
Skin Health and Beauty
6Third quarter 2026 Net sales increased 0.1% vs the prior year period, reflecting Organic sales decline of 0.5% and a foreign currency benefit of 0.6%.
3Organic sales decline was driven by a volume decrease of 1.7%, partially offset by favorable value realization of 1.2%.
Organic sales declined vs the prior year period reflecting distribution losses and timing of promotions in the U.S. and the impact of retailer negotiations in Europe.
Hair Care was a key growth driver during the quarter, delivering low double-digit Organic sales growth, led by Rogaine ® , which achieved its fourth consecutive quarter of market share gains, and continued momentum behind OGX ® .
Innovation continued to contribute to Organic sales performance across all regions, including the expansion of North America Sun Care with the launch of Neutrogena ® Cloud Tech TM featuring BEMT (bemotrizinol) and the brand's proprietary technology, continued expansion of Neutrogena ® Ultra Sheer ® Sun, and momentum behind OGX ® ProGrowth and ProGrowth + Peptide platforms.
Essential Health
Third quarter 2026 Net sales increased 2.5% vs the prior year period, reflecting Organic sales growth of 2.5%.
4Organic sales growth was driven by a volume increase of 2.0% and favorable value realization of 0.5% with growth across all regions.
Baby Care delivered growth for the quarter driven by Johnson’s Baby ® across all regions supported by social commerce acceleration, strong activations, and innovation.
Women’s Health also contributed to growth, led by Stayfree ® , which benefited from recent product launches in India, and o.b. ® , which returned to growth in EMEA following its brand restage and pricing actions.
Wound Care continued to gain market share, supported by BAND-AID ® Brand PRO HEAL ® 5 Day Protect, distribution expansion, and retailer
activations.
Innovation remained a key growth driver, including Stayfree ® Secure Nights and XpertXL in India, the ongoing rollout of Listerine ® On-The-Go mouthwash packets, and Johnson’s Baby ® innovations in Latin America.
Cash Flow and Balance Sheet
5Fiscal nine months ended September 27, 2026 Net cash flows from operating activities were $1.9 billion vs $1.3 billion in the prior year period, with the improvement driven by an increase in net income and by lower use of working capital.
Capital expenditures were $0.3 billion vs $0.4 billion in the prior year period, as Free cash flow 1 increased to $1.6 billion vs $1.0 billion in the prior year period.
Total cash and cash equivalents were $1.0 billion as of September 27, 2026 vs $1.1 billion as of December 28, 2025.
Total debt was $8.2 billion as of September 27, 2026 vs $8.5 billion as of December 28, 2025.
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 $250 million in fiscal year 2026.
This press release will be posted on the Company’s website at investors.kenvue.com .
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 .
1 Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
There are limitations to the use of the non-GAAP financial
measures presented herein.
In addition, other companies may use similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures that are calculated differently from the way the Company calculates such measures.
Accordingly, the non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to such similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.
The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance on these non-GAAP financial measures, but instead to consider them with the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure.
These non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation.
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 U.S. GAAP Net income adjusted for interest, provision for taxes, and depreciation and amortization.
We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA adjusted for restructuring expenses and operating model optimization initiatives, costs incurred in connection with our establishment as a standalone public company (“Separation-related costs”), conversion of stock-based awards, stock-based awards granted to individuals employed by Kenvue as of October 2, 2023 (“Founder Shares”), expenses incurred in connection with the pending transaction with Kimberly-Clark (“Pending Transaction and other related costs”), costs associated with the Skillman sale-leaseback, and the impact of the deferred transfer of certain assets and
liabilities from Johnson & Johnson in certain jurisdictions (the “Deferred Markets”).
We define Adjusted EBITDA margin as Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of U.S. GAAP Net sales.
Management believes this non-GAAP measure is useful to investors as it provides a supplemental perspective to the Company’s operating efficiency over time.
Adjusted effective tax rate : We define Adjusted effective tax rate as U.S. GAAP Effective tax rate adjusted for the tax effects on special item adjustments including amortization of intangible assets, restructuring expenses and operating model optimization initiatives, Separation-related costs, conversion of stock-based awards, Founder Shares, Pending Transaction and other related costs, and costs associated with the Skillman sale-leaseback.
We also exclude taxes related to the Deferred Markets.
Management believes this non-GAAP measure is useful to investors as it provides a supplemental measure of the Company’s performance over time.
Adjusted gross profit margin : We define Adjusted gross profit margin as U.S. GAAP Gross profit margin adjusted for amortization of intangible assets, Separation-related costs, conversion of stock-based awards, Founder Shares, operating model optimization initiatives, and Pending Transaction and other related costs.
Management believes this non-GAAP measure is useful to investors as it provides a supplemental perspective to the Company’s operating efficiency over time.
Adjusted net income : We define Adjusted net income as U.S. GAAP Net income adjusted for amortization of intangible assets, restructuring expenses and operating model optimization initiatives, Separation-related costs, conversion of stock-based awards, Founder Shares, Pending Transaction and other related costs, costs associated with the Skillman sale-leaseback, the impact of the Deferred Markets, and their related tax impacts (i.e., special items).
Adjusted net income excludes the impact of items that may obscure trends in our underlying performance.
Management believes this non-GAAP measure is useful to investors as the Company uses Adjusted net income for strategic decision making, forecasting future results, and evaluating current performance.
Adjusted operating income : We define Adjusted operating income as U.S. GAAP Operating income adjusted for amortization of intangible assets, restructuring expenses and operating model optimization initiatives, Separation-related costs, conversion of stock-based awards, Founder Shares, Pending Transaction and other related costs, costs associated with the Skillman sale-leaseback, and the impact of the Deferred Markets.
Management believes this non-GAAP measure is useful to investors as management uses Adjusted operating income to assess the Company’s financial performance.
Adjusted operating income margin : We define Adjusted operating income margin as Adjusted operating income as a percentage of U.S. GAAP Net sales.
Management believes this non-GAAP measure is useful to investors as it provides a supplemental perspective to the Company’s operating efficiency over time.
Free cash flow : We define Free cash flow as U.S. GAAP Net cash flows from operating activities adjusted for purchases of property, plant, and equipment.
Management believes this non-GAAP measure is useful to investors as it provides a view of the Company’s liquidity after deducting capital expenditures, which are considered a necessary component of our ongoing operations.
Organic sales : We define Organic sales as U.S. GAAP Net sales excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the impact of acquisitions and divestitures.
We report changes in Organic sales on a period-over-period basis.
Management believes reporting period-over-period changes in Organic sales provides investors with supplemental information that is useful in assessing the Company’s results of operations by excluding the impact of certain items that we believe do not directly reflect our underlying operations.
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.
expectations of Kenvue’s future operating and financial performance, product development, market position, and business strategy.
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.
1Risks 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 U.S. and in foreign markets; the ability to successfully manage local, regional, or global economic volatility, including reduced market growth rates, and to generate sufficient income and cash flow to allow Kenvue to effect any dividend payments; Kenvue’s ability to maintain satisfactory credit ratings and access capital markets, which could adversely affect its liquidity, capital position, and borrowing costs; competition, including technological advances, new products, and intellectual property attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product research and development; uncertainty of commercial success for new and existing products and digital capabilities; challenges to intellectual property protections, including counterfeiting; the ability of Kenvue to successfully execute strategic plans, including the 2026 Restructuring Initiative and any other restructuring or cost-saving initiatives; the impact of business combinations and divestitures, including any ongoing or future transactions; manufacturing difficulties or delays, internally or within the supply chain; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; significant adverse litigation or government action, including related to product liability claims; changes to applicable laws and regulations and other stakeholder requirements; changes in behavior and spending patterns of consumers; natural disasters, acts of war, or terrorism, catastrophes, or epidemics, pandemics, or other disease outbreaks; financial instability of international economies and legal systems and sovereign risk; the inability to realize the benefits of the separation from Kenvue’s former parent, Johnson & Johnson; the risk of disruption or unanticipated costs in connection with the separation; the Company’s inability to consummate the pending transaction with Kimberly-Clark due to, among other things, market, regulatory, and other factors; the potential for disruption to the Company’s business resulting from the pending transaction with Kimberly-Clark; and potential adverse effects on the Company’s stock price from the suspension or consummation of the pending transaction with Kimberly-Clark.
A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties, and other factors can be found in Kenvue’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings, available at investors.kenvue.com or on request from Kenvue.
looking statement made in this release speaks only as of the date of this release.
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