15 Best High Yield Stocks To Buy

8. Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NASDAQ:KMB)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 42

Dividend Yield as of January 18: 5.07%

On January 16, Barclays cut its price target on Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NASDAQ:KMB) to $102 from $132, while keeping an Equal Weight rating on the stock. The move was part of the firm’s Q4 earnings preview for the consumer staples sector, where it updated several targets across the group.

Barclays said the recent “enthusiasm” around Kimberly-Clark shares seems to be driven mainly by “a flight to safety”, rather than improving fundamentals. The firm added that it’s still uneasy about both company-specific and broader sector conditions, and warned that oil and currency pressures could turn into meaningful headwinds as 2026 unfolds.

In a separate development on January 16, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) urged Kimberly-Clark shareholders to back the company’s proposed acquisition of Kenvue, saying the deal could strengthen Kimberly-Clark’s financial profile and improve key metrics.

“On balance, support for the transaction is warranted,” ISS wrote in its recommendation. ISS opinions often carry weight with major institutional investors, especially when it comes to headline-making votes involving mergers and board decisions. Shareholders are set to vote on the proposal on January 29.

Kimberly-Clark first floated the idea in early November, proposing to buy Tylenol maker Kenvue in a deal valued at over $40 billion. If completed, the transaction would create a global consumer health platform combining well-known household names such as Band-Aids alongside Kimberly-Clark staples like Huggies.

In its report, ISS acknowledged that shareholders will likely focus heavily on two concerns: the market’s negative reaction to the announcement and the uncertainty surrounding litigation tied to Kenvue products. Still, ISS said the merger could unlock meaningful synergies and support the company’s longer-term strategic direction. The firm also pointed out that it views it as encouraging that no major shareholder has publicly opposed the deal so far.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NASDAQ:KMB) is a global consumer products company known for a wide range of everyday essentials, focused on products and solutions aimed at improving care and hygiene.