Caroline Woods: Big brands and big money – Kimberly-Clark is buying Kenvue in a nearly $50 billion cash and stock deal. That would put Huggies, Kleenex, Band-Aid, Neutrogena and Tylenol all under one roof.
It’s one of the biggest deals on Wall Street this year and a major move for Kimberly-Clark, which has been pivoting toward higher-growth, higher-margin businesses.
If approved, the merger would create a consumer staples giant with 10 billion-dollar brands and around $32 billion in annual revenue.
The companies expect nearly $2 billion in cost savings within three years, with the deal set to close in late 2026.
Kenvue spun out of Johnson & Johnson in May of 2023 and has had a rocky start. Its shares were down more than 30-percent since its IPO, but they are popping on this news. Kimberly-Clark shares meanwhile are sliding as investors digest the hefty price tag and weigh the debt and risks that come with a mega deal.
Bigger picture – this is just part of a trend: big consumer brands are bulking up to handle rising costs and slower growth, and if approved, this one could be one of the largest buyouts in U.S. consumer history.
For shoppers however, this could mean less competition in the aisles and potentially higher prices.
That’ll do it for your daily briefing. From the New York Stock Exchange, I’m Caroline Woods with TheStreet.
This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Nov 3, 2025, where it first appeared in the Video section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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