Kimberly-Clark to Sell Assets Over $40 Billion Kenvue Deal EU Antitrust Concerns
Kimberly-Clark plans to sell assets tied to its planned US$40b acquisition of consumer products group Kenvue in order to address European Union antitrust concerns. The disposals target overlaps in consumer health and personal care brands, with asset sale discussions focused on EU markets where regulators flagged competition issues during their ongoing review of the Kenvue deal. Kimberly-Clark, a US household products group with a market cap of about US$32.6b, earns its money from personal care brands that sit close to Kenvue's consumer health and hygiene lines, which is exactly where regulators are probing for competitive overlap in Europe. The planned Kenvue acquisition, together with the targeted EU disposals, pushes Kimberly-Clark closer to Procter & Gamble and Colgate-Palmolive in terms of breadth, while the asset sales suggest management is prepared to trim overlap to keep the deal on track. Selling brands to satisfy regulators may reduce competitive pressure, but it also shrinks the pool of potential synergies and places more weight on flawless integration and disciplined marketing to maintain pricing power.
Colgate-Palmolive Declares US$0.53 Quarterly Dividend, Boosts Premium Oral Care Push
Colgate-Palmolive's board declared a quarterly cash dividend of US$0.53 per common share, payable on November 13, 2026, to shareholders of record on October 20, 2026, extending a dividend record that has remained uninterrupted since 1895. The dividend affirmation coincides with the company intensifying efforts to revive its North America business through greater support for premium toothpaste innovations and higher advertising investment, following a tough second quarter. Management's plan to boost spending on premium oral care and brand support is the key near-term swing factor, as investors weigh whether that outlay can offset category softness and input cost pressure without further squeezing margins. Colgate-Palmolive's narrative projects $23.1 billion revenue and $3.4 billion earnings by 2029, requiring 3.2% yearly revenue growth and about a $1.4 billion earnings increase from $2.0 billion today. Four fair value estimates from the Simply Wall St Community span roughly US$86 to US$128 per share.
ST Jiaoda Onlly inflated and deflated profits by 23.5 million yuan across years; company and three executives fined 8 million yuan in total
ST Jiaoda Onlly was fined 8 million yuan in total along with three executives for shifting 23.5 million yuan in profits across years. After market close on September 18, ST Jiaoda Onlly announced that the company and Ji Min, Ji Lin, and Cao Yi had received an administrative penalty decision from the Shanghai bureau of the China Securities Regulatory Commission. The investigation found that the company's 2023 accounting error correction announcement contained false records, understating total profit for 2021 by 23.5 million yuan, equivalent to 213.52 percent of the total profit disclosed in the corrected 2021 annual report. In its 2024 annual report, the company reversed the 23.5 million yuan impairment loss that had been additionally provided for in the earlier period, overstating total profit by 23.5 million yuan, equivalent to 60.26 percent of the total profit disclosed in the 2024 annual report. As a result, the company was ordered to correct the violations, given a warning, and fined 4 million yuan; Ji Lin was fined 2 million yuan; and Ji Min and Cao Yi were each fined 1 million yuan. The company's shares have been subject to other risk warnings since August 4, 2026, with the stock abbreviation changed from Jiaoda Onlly to ST Jiaoda Onlly. In the first half of 2026, the company reported operating revenue of 140 million yuan, down 7.15 percent year on year, and a net loss attributable to the parent company of 13.973 million yuan, swinging from profit to loss compared with the same period a year earlier.
Interparfums and Marquee Brands Extend Roberto Cavalli Fragrance License to 2046
Interparfums, Inc. and Marquee Brands announced a 20-year extension of Interparfums' exclusive worldwide license agreement for Roberto Cavalli and Just Cavalli fragrances, carrying the partnership through December 31, 2046. The deal covers continued creation, development and distribution of the fragrances globally, operated by Interparfums Italia Srl, the company's wholly owned Italian subsidiary based in Florence with its seat of management in Paris. Interparfums Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jean Madar said the extension reflects the strength of Roberto Cavalli and the partnership with Marquee Brands, noting that in three years managing the license the brand has become one of the fastest-growing in the company's portfolio, with the 2025 launch of Serpentine exceeding expectations. Marquee Brands Chief Executive Officer Heath Golden said Interparfums has proven an exceptional steward of Roberto Cavalli fragrances and that extending the partnership across decades reflects the long-term role fragrance will play in the brand's global growth strategy. Interparfums has operated in the global fragrance business since 1982 and manages European operations through its 72% owned subsidiary Interparfums SA and United States operations through wholly owned subsidiaries in the United States and Italy.
Kimberly-Clark Plans Low Single-Digit Price Hikes to Offset $150 Million Input Cost Headwind
Kimberly-Clark Corporation is taking targeted pricing actions alongside a broader set of measures to manage rising input costs, with management estimating gross input cost headwinds of approximately $150 million for the second half of the year. That follows approximately $50 million of inflationary headwinds in the second quarter, primarily related to higher oil-linked input costs and some impacts from the L.A. distribution center. Management said the magnitude of the pricing actions is expected to be in the low single digits, primarily in North America, while pricing actions globally will vary by geography. The pricing actions are already in the marketplace and form part of the company's effort to maintain PNOC discipline over time, with Kimberly-Clark continuing to follow a principle of keeping pricing net of cost neutral over time. Alongside pricing, the company is delivering its highest level of productivity to date and actively managing negotiations and contracts with vendors and suppliers, using multiple levers rather than relying solely on revenue growth management.
MCA Appointed Distributor for ROJUKISS and SIS2SIS Starting 1 Oct 2026
Market Connections Asia Public Company Limited, or MCA, has notified the Stock Exchange of Thailand that Rojukiss International Public Company Limited, a manufacturer and distributor of skincare products under the ROJUKISS trademark and cosmetics under the SIS2SIS trademark, has appointed MCA as a distributor of skincare products under the ROJUKISS trademark in the cream and serum categories, and cosmetics under the SIS2SIS trademark, through Traditional Trade channels nationwide, effective from 1 October 2026 onwards.
Estee Lauder Partners With Profound for Global AI Visibility Push
Estee Lauder Companies has entered a global strategic partnership with AI marketing platform Profound to improve how its brands appear across generative AI platforms. The collaboration gives Estee Lauder a portfolio-wide view of how its brands surface on major generative AI platforms including ChatGPT and Gemini, and makes it the first prestige beauty company to deploy Profound's capabilities globally across its full portfolio and implement Generative Engine Optimization at scale. Profound's agentic tools will optimize product pages, blogs, YouTube channels and other digital content so that product information, ingredients, claims and benefits are easier for large language models to understand and surface, with AI visibility insights integrated into Estee Lauder's One Operating Ecosystem. The initiative builds on Estee Lauder's digital exposure, with online sales reaching 34% of reported sales in fiscal 2026, up three percentage points year over year. Shares of the Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 14.1% in the past month, and the stock trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 27.97 versus an industry average of 22.15.
Colgate-Palmolive Targets North America Recovery With Premium Innovation Push
Colgate-Palmolive is stepping up efforts to revive its North America business after a challenging second quarter of 2026, in which consumption declined about 1% and shipments fell roughly 3% amid category softness, heightened competitive activity and retailer destocking. Management said consumer demand weakened sharply in May on elevated gasoline prices and softer consumer confidence, though category trends improved in June and held relatively stable in July, while category growth remains below historical levels. To improve the trajectory, the company is leaning on innovation, brand investment and more targeted pricing and promotional actions, including increased support for premium toothpaste products such as Optic White Pro Series with ActivShine Technology and expansion of Fabuloso into new formats, alongside an accelerated 2026 and 2027 innovation pipeline. Colgate also plans higher advertising spending in the second half and will address selective price gaps versus competitors carefully without triggering broader promotional pressure. Management expects sequential improvement in North America but cautioned the recovery is unlikely to be linear and has not assumed a meaningful retailer inventory reload in its outlook, leaving consumer demand and volatile category growth as key risks.
e.l.f. Beauty Launches Cosmetics Brand in Brazil Exclusively Through Sephora
e.l.f. Beauty is expanding its international footprint with the launch of e.l.f. Cosmetics in Brazil exclusively through Sephora, becoming Sephora Brazil's first mass color cosmetics offering. Sephora's Brazilian platform reaches roughly 17% of the country's population, and the move builds on the brand's relationship with Sephora in Mexico, where it has reached the No. 1 cosmetics position. International sales penetration has doubled over the past five years to 21% of net sales, still well below the more than 70% international mix cited for legacy beauty peers, and Brazil is identified as the world's third-largest cosmetics market. International net sales rose 61% year over year in the fiscal first quarter compared with 29% growth in the United States, and an expanded presence with Boots in the U.K. is planned for this fall. Shares of ELF have tumbled 33.4% over the past year compared with the industry's decline of 2.3%, and the stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 25.76 versus the industry's average of 22.15.
UK watchdog opens Phase 1 probe into Unilever-McCormick $44.8bn deal
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has launched a Phase 1 investigation into McCormick & Co.'s $44.8bn acquisition of Unilever's food assets, assessing the deal's potential impact on competition in the UK. The transaction, announced in March, would see the US-headquartered seasonings and spices business take over most of the FMCG giant's food assets, including the Knorr soups and Hellmann's mayonnaise brands, but not Lipton drinks nor Unilever's operations in India, Nepal and Portugal. The CMA said it invited comments on 21 July, with interested parties given until 5 August to respond, and has set a deadline of 11 November to complete the Phase 1 probe, when it will decide whether to follow up with a more in-depth Phase 2 assessment. Last month, Unilever and McCormick decided to seek a buyer for Unilever's Colman's mustard brand, a move Unilever said was made to proactively address potential competition concerns; Colman's joins Unilever's lifestyle nutrition business, the Buavita unit, the Lipton brand and the India, Nepal and Portugal assets that are not included in the deal. Under the terms of the transaction, Unilever and its investors are to receive a mix of McCormick's existing voting and non-voting common stock equating to 65% of the combined business, with Unilever shareholders expected to own 55.1% of the enlarged group, McCormick shareholders 35% and Unilever 9.9%, alongside $15.7bn in cash subject to certain closing adjustments. The combined company, which will include McCormick brands such as Schwartz spices, French's mustard and Cholula hot sauces, will be led by McCormick CEO Brendan Foley and CFO Marcos Gabriel, with senior management representation from Unilever's food business.
McBride Full-Year Profit Falls to £59 Million on Middle East Cost Inflation
McBride plc reported a resilient but inflation-pressured full-year performance for the year ended June 30, 2026, with adjusted operating profit falling £7.1 million year over year to £59 million even as revenue rose £7.7 million, or 0.8%, according to Chief Financial Officer Mark Strickland. Chief Executive Officer Chris Smith said a 12.2% jump in raw-material and packaging costs over two months in the final quarter, linked to the Middle East crisis, cut full-year profit by about £6 million; without that effect adjusted operating profit would have been about £65 million. The company completed its acquisition of tablet manufacturer Eurotab on July 1 for net consideration of €32.8 million, a deal expected to add roughly €65 million in annual revenue, and announced a five- to eight-year manufacturing agreement with Vestacy, formerly Reckitt Benckiser's Essential Home business, that is expected to add about £170 million in revenue by the second half of fiscal 2028 and lift contract manufacturing above 25% of group sales. Private-label volume share across the five largest European economies rose one percentage point to 36.7% for the 12 months through June 2026, and the transformation program delivered £15.3 million in cumulative net benefits toward a £50 million target by fiscal 2028. Net debt rose to £122.8 million, liquidity stood at £167.6 million, and the board recommended a 3.1 pence-per-share dividend for fiscal 2026, subject to shareholder approval.
L'Oréal Overtakes LVMH as France's Most Valuable Listed Company
In the ranking of French listed companies by market capitalisation, cosmetics giant L'Oréal overtook luxury brand giant Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, or LVMH, on the 15th to take the top spot. It is the first time since 2017 that a non-luxury company has held the top market capitalisation spot on the Paris market at the close of trading. According to LSEG data, L'Oréal's market capitalisation stood at about 203 billion euros, or 234 billion dollars, late on the 15th, while LVMH's was 201 billion euros. Nick Anderson, an analyst at London research firm Berenberg, pointed to the so-called lipstick effect as the backdrop: when the economic mood sours, relatively affordable luxury goods sell more easily than expensive bags, shoes and dresses. The luxury goods industry has been shrinking over the past three years amid China's prolonged economic slump and the worsening situation in the Middle East, and an analysis by consulting firm Bain found that repeated price increases drove about 60 million consumers away from the luxury market. L'Oréal shares have risen about 5 percent so far this year, while LVMH shares have fallen about 35 percent.
Kimberly-Clark Prepares EU Asset Sales to Clear $40 Billion Kenvue Deal
Kimberly-Clark is preparing asset sales to address European Union antitrust concerns over its planned $40 billion acquisition of Kenvue, according to Reuters. The company is reportedly seeking remedies that could secure European Commission approval by the September 29 deadline and avoid a more extensive four-month investigation. Similar concerns already surfaced in Australia, where the deal won conditional approval after Kimberly-Clark agreed to divest Kenvue's Carefree and Stayfree brands. The transaction would create a consumer-health and personal-care company with approximately $32 billion of annual revenue and $7 billion of adjusted EBITDA, and Kimberly-Clark expects about $1.9 billion of annual cost synergies and $500 million of revenue synergies, though it expects to invest roughly $2.5 billion in cash to achieve the cost savings. Kimberly-Clark's first-half 2026 organic sales rose only 1.2%, and the company subsequently lowered its full-year organic sales outlook, making the scale of any EU divestitures critical to whether it can retain the expected economic benefits of the deal.
Colgate-Palmolive Explores Sale of Softsoap, Irish Spring and Speed Stick in Over $1 Billion Divestiture
Colgate-Palmolive is reportedly exploring the sale of several mass-market personal care brands, including Softsoap, Irish Spring and Speed Stick, in a portfolio reshaping effort that could generate more than $1 billion, with the company working with Goldman Sachs on the potential divestiture. Personal care accounted for roughly 17% of Colgate-Palmolive's 2025 net sales, or about $3.5 billion, while oral care remains the company's largest business. The move comes as Colgate faces pressure in North America, where organic sales declined 3% even as the company recently reported a 4.9% increase in net sales. The strategy is consistent with a broader consumer-goods shift toward simplifying portfolios and concentrating capital on higher-growth categories, with Unilever, Nestlé and other major consumer companies similarly selling slower-growing or non-core businesses. Analysts note the divestiture could sharpen strategic focus and free up capital for debt reduction, share repurchases or investment behind stronger brands, but warn that a smaller portfolio does not guarantee faster growth and that selling mature brands into a difficult market could yield a disappointing valuation.
Synergy CHC Files Chapter 11 After Costco Drops Focus Factor
Synergy CHC Corp., the maker of Focus Factor, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on September 4, 2026, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia after Costco told the company in July it would discontinue Focus Factor products following a 16-year relationship. Costco accounted for approximately 58% of Synergy's net revenue in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, and its decision triggered an $18.9 million debt acceleration from the company's lender. Reckitt Benckiser, whose Neuriva brain supplement is already sold at Costco for $43.99 per 50-capsule bottle, is positioned as the clearest beneficiary, with H1 2026 Core Reckitt like-for-like net revenue growth of 2.7% accelerating to 4.2% in the second quarter, a 60.9% gross profit margin, a 24.8% adjusted operating profit margin, £419 million in first-half free cash flow, and roughly £3 billion returned to shareholders through dividends and buybacks. Reckitt also announced a 5% increase in its interim dividend and an additional £500 million share buyback, with full-year 2026 guidance calling for 4% to 5% like-for-like net revenue growth in Core Reckitt. RBGLY trades at $14.00, down 10.62% year-to-date, with a trailing P/E of 11.36 and a forward P/E of 14.24.
Edgewell Q3 Sales Rise 1.7% But Operating Income Halves
Edgewell Personal Care reported third quarter fiscal 2026 results for the period ended June 30, with net sales of $570.1 million, up 1.7% from a year ago, and organic net sales rising 1.1%. North America organic sales grew 3.0% on volume gains across Sun, Skin Care and Grooming, while the Sun and Skin Care category posted net sales up 5.7% and organic sales up 5.0%. Adjusted EPS held at $0.72, matching the prior year and beating company guidance, and adjusted EBITDA of $78.9 million came in ahead of plan, with interest expense falling to $16.7 million from $19.4 million after the Feminine Care divestiture paid down the revolving credit facility. Margins still took a hit, as gross margin fell 210 basis points to 42.5%, advertising rose to 14.6% of sales from 13.6%, and $24.5 million in restructuring charges helped push operating income down to $25.0 million from $45.0 million, with GAAP diluted EPS dropping to $0.26 from $0.46. The Wet Shave segment saw organic sales fall 1.9% on private label supply constraints, international sales declined 1.4% amid Middle East disruption, and full-year restructuring costs are now expected to reach roughly $92 million, up from the prior $90 million estimate.
Herbalife Board Clears $250 Million Buyback as Shares Trade in Single Digits
Herbalife's board approved a new $250 million share buyback on September 8, to be spread across the next three years, a vote of confidence in a stock trading in the single digits with a battered balance sheet. CFO John DeSimone framed the repurchase as a reflection of free cash flow generation and flexibility to keep investing in the business, and the second quarter, reported August 5, brought net sales of $1.3 billion, up 5.4% year over year and at the top of guidance, or 5.8% in constant currency, marking the fourth straight quarter of year-over-year sales expansion on both a reported and constant currency basis. Latin America led with net sales up 16.6%, while Asia Pacific rose 15.2%, or 23.1% at constant currency, and adjusted EBITDA of $166.6 million landed near the top of the guided range, beating guidance outright at $174.4 million in constant currency. The same quarter produced a net loss attributable to the company of $26.3 million, driven largely by a $94.6 million charge tied to extinguishing debt after an April refinancing, with gross margin slipping to 77.7% from 78.0% and adjusted EBITDA margin down 120 basis points to 12.6%, while China sales dropped 24.5% as reported and 29.0% at constant currency and EMEA fell 3.5%, or 5.6% adjusting for currency. Management narrowed full-year 2026 guidance, trimming the reported adjusted EBITDA range to $670 million to $690 million from a prior $675 million to $705 million on FX headwinds even as the constant currency outlook was raised, and DeSimone is set to retire at the end of 2026, handing the CFO role to Scott Schaefer on January 1, 2027, with the balance sheet still carrying a total shareholders' deficit of $466.9 million as of June 30 alongside more than $2 billion in long-term debt.
dsm-firmenich Repurchases 385,000 Shares for €35.4 Million in Weekly Buyback
dsm-firmenich repurchased 385,000 of its own shares during the period from September 7, 2026 up to and including September 11, 2026, at an average price of €92.07 per share for a total amount of €35.4 million. The purchases are part of a repurchase program the company announced on February 9, 2026, covering ordinary shares with an aggregate market value of €500 million to reduce its issued capital, and which it began executing on March 12, 2026 for a total of €540 million. That €540 million total comprises €40 million to cover commitments under the Group's share-based compensation plans and €500 million to reduce issued capital. The €40 million portion earmarked for share-based compensation plans was finalized on March 23, 2026, while the €500 million capital-reduction program is intended to be completed by the end of Q3 2026. To date, 6,402,212 shares have been repurchased under the program at an average price of €72.91, for a total consideration of €466.8 million.
Estée Lauder partners with Profound to expand AI-powered brand discovery
Estée Lauder is partnering with AI marketing platform Profound to help the company see how its brands appear across generative AI platforms and identify ways to improve visibility. By using Profound's findings, Estée Lauder can optimize content across social media and product description pages, ensuring product information, ingredients, claims, and benefits are optimized for consumer visibility and easier for large language models to understand and surface to consumers. "The way people discover beauty is being rewritten in real time, and we intend to shape that shift rather than reacting to it," said Aude Gandon, Estée Lauder's global chief digital and marketing officer. Profound's CEO and co-founder James Cadwallader added that enabling this strategy at scale across an entire prestige beauty portfolio sets a new bar for what enterprise AI visibility strategy looks like in this category.
Colgate-Palmolive Explores Sale of Personal Care Brands Including Softsoap and Irish Spring
Colgate-Palmolive is exploring the potential sale of certain mass-market personal care brands, including Softsoap, Irish Spring, and Speed Stick, according to sources familiar with the matter cited by Reuters. The sources said the company is considering divesting only a few brands within its personal care unit, a subset that could be worth more than $1 billion, and Colgate-Palmolive is working with investment bank Goldman Sachs on the process. The exact number of brands that could be sold, as well as their names, has not been publicly disclosed, and neither Colgate-Palmolive nor Goldman Sachs has publicly confirmed the potential sale. The review comes despite overall sales growth, with net sales up 4.9% year over year in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, while the Personal Care segment accounted for 18% of net sales and North America net sales fell 3% to $891 million, the company's only region to decline. Chairman, President, and CEO Noel Wallace said the company was not satisfied with its North America performance and would take surgical actions by category and channel to drive market share improvement.
P&G Bets on Tide Upgrades to Revive Fabric & Home Care Growth
Procter & Gamble's Fabric & Home Care segment is showing early signs of improvement, though performance remains uneven across categories and geographies, according to Zacks Investment Research. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, Fabric Care delivered organic sales in line to up low single digits while Home Care declined, but for the full fiscal year both categories were in line to up low single digits, with management citing a meaningful inflection in U.S. Fabric Care and improving share trends in China even as competition intensified in European Fabric Care. The company completed its biggest upgrade to original Tide liquid detergent in more than two decades, materially improving product performance without raising the price, and since the launch Tide original liquid has moved from declining sales to high-single-digit growth, exceeding management's expectations. Tide evo, a proprietary unit-dose format backed by more than 50 granted patents, is progressing toward national expansion with full-scale launch support planned for fiscal 2027, while Mr. Clean's expanded Magic Eraser platform and Shower & Tub scrubber helped the brand capture 18 times its fair share of bath-cleaning category growth since launch. Management sees substantial runway in Fabric Care, noting the category has delivered growth of more than 5% over the past decade supported by double-digit growth in adjacencies such as fabric enhancers, though competitive pressure in Europe and recent softness in Home Care remain key watchpoints. Separately, Church & Dwight and Colgate-Palmolive are leaning on innovation, brand strength and household-care demand to sustain momentum, with Church & Dwight aided by ARM & HAMMER and OXICLEAN and Colgate strengthening Home Care through innovation, premiumization and focused brand support. P&G shares have lost around 4.5% in the past six months compared with the industry's 4.8% decline, and the stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 20.5X versus the industry's average of 18.2X, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate for PG's fiscal 2026 and 2027 EPS indicates year-over-year growth of 1.5% and 6.2%, respectively.
Colgate-Palmolive Hires Goldman Sachs to Explore Sale of Softsoap, Irish Spring and Speed Stick
Colgate-Palmolive has hired Goldman Sachs to explore a sale of Softsoap, Irish Spring and Speed Stick, according to Reuters reporting citing unnamed sources. No buyer has been identified and Colgate has not confirmed any sale. The pruning fits a broader Strategic Growth and Productivity Program that took a $129 million charge in the second quarter of 2026, with cumulative pretax charges now guided to $350 million to $550 million, as North America revenue fell 3.0% in the quarter to $891 million. Private equity is seen as the likeliest buyer, with Yellow Wood Partners and Platinum Equity both recently acquiring similar mature personal care brands, while every named strategic acquirer is blocked by scale gaps, leverage limits or an active acquisition lock-up. Church & Dwight, with a $22.3 billion market cap and $6.23 billion in trailing 12-month revenue, has been divesting slower-growth lines; Edgewell Personal Care, at a $1.2 billion market cap, is too small for the reported price tag and is guiding adjusted net debt leverage to 3.3x to 3.4x; and Kenvue is itself being acquired by Kimberly-Clark for $48.7 billion and has withdrawn all forward guidance. Colgate shares changed hands at $87.49 in premarket trading on September 14, 2026, down 3.7% over one week but up 9.9% year to date, with a market cap near $69.2 billion.
Shiseido Posts First-Half Operating Profit of 41.9 Billion Yen, Up 132% Year on Year
Shiseido announced its financial results for the first half of the fiscal year ending December 2026, reporting operating profit of 41.9 billion yen, up 131.8% from the same period a year earlier. Sales revenue came to 498.9 billion yen, up 6.2% year on year, while net profit was 29.6 billion yen, up 211.4%, and earnings per share stood at 74.32 yen. In the immediately preceding fiscal year ended December 2025, sales revenue was 969.9 billion yen, down 2.1%, with an operating loss of 28.7 billion yen and a net loss of 40.6 billion yen, meaning the company has swung back into profit from a loss-making period. The company formulated its Action Plan 2025-2026 in November 2024 and says it completed key structural reform measures in the prior fiscal year toward achieving a core operating profit margin of 7% in 2026. Its full-year forecast calls for sales revenue of 990 billion yen, up 2.1%, operating profit of 59 billion yen, net profit of 42 billion yen, and an annual dividend of 60 yen, with the first-half operating profit of 41.9 billion yen reaching 71% of the full-year forecast.
Kimberly-Clark has extended its dividend increase streak to 54 consecutive years with its Q2 2026 declaration, even as it works to close a $48.7 billion acquisition of Kenvue by the end of 2026. The board raised the quarterly payout to $1.28 per share, up from $1.26 in late 2025 and $1.22 in 2024, for an annualized forward dividend of $5.12, with the next payment scheduled for October 2, 2026. Kimberly-Clark enters the transition with $956 million in cash and total debt of roughly $6.52 billion as of June 30, 2026, while full-year 2025 operating cash flow of $2.777 billion covered $1.138 billion of capex and $1.66 billion of dividends before any Kenvue-related financing. CEO Mike Hsu called the transaction a powerful next step in the company's transformation and a unique, generational value creation opportunity, and management said roughly 50 teams and 600 people are working on synergy planning. Q2 2026 adjusted EPS of $2.12 beat the $2.01 estimate and adjusted gross margin expanded 190 basis points to 38.8%, but the stock is down 20.36% over the past year to $98.15, pushing the yield near 5.16%.
Botanee subsidiary obtains medical device registration certificate for injectable sodium hyaluronate solution
Botanee announced on the evening of September 11 that its wholly owned subsidiary, Shanghai Botanee Health Technology Co., Ltd., received the Medical Device Registration Certificate of the People's Republic of China from the National Medical Products Administration on September 10. The product is an injectable sodium hyaluronate solution. The announcement shows that the product is used in medical institutions for superficial injection into the facial dermis to temporarily improve adult skin dryness and dull complexion. The company stated that obtaining the medical device registration certificate further supplements its medical device product line in the skin health field, complements its existing functional skincare products and related businesses, enriches its product matrix, and helps further enhance its core competitiveness and comprehensive market expansion capabilities.
Colgate Explores Sale of Softsoap, Irish Spring, Speed Stick Brands
Colgate-Palmolive is exploring the sale of several well-known personal-care brands in a potential transaction worth more than $1 billion, as it moves to streamline its portfolio amid pressure on North American growth. The company is working with Goldman Sachs on a possible divestiture of brands including Softsoap, Irish Spring and Speed Stick, according to Reuters. The assets under review represent only part of Colgate's personal-care business, which accounted for 17% of 2025 sales, or roughly $3.5 billion, and could collectively fetch more than $1 billion. The move comes amid a broader consumer-goods portfolio reset, with companies including Unilever and Nestle selling noncore businesses as tariffs, higher input costs and financially stretched consumers pressure earnings. Colgate has a market value of roughly $70 billion, and its shares are up about 11% this year, but while net sales increased 4.9%, North American organic sales fell 3%, prompting CEO Noel Wallace to say improving the business would require a long-term turnaround.
Judge Lets Estée Lauder Expand Counterfeit Suit Against Walmart
A California district court judge has rejected Walmart's bid to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Estée Lauder, allowing the case to proceed and expanding its scope beyond the 17 products tested for authenticity. Estée Lauder filed the suit last February, accusing Walmart of facilitating the sale of counterfeit versions of its licensed products by its namesake banner, La Mer, Le Labo, Clinique, Aveda, and Tom Ford, which were sold by third parties on Walmart's website. The complaint also claims Walmart allowed Estée Lauder trademarks to be used in its search engine, enabling the retailer to further profit from those sales. Walmart argued the complaint lacked factual allegations tying it to other products sold by third-party sellers on Walmart.com and that the products were not sufficiently related to warrant inclusion in a single suit. Judge Hernan Vera ruled that Walmart's request for dismissal is unjustified at this stage, opening the opportunity for Estée Lauder to expand its lawsuit beyond the 17 items tested.
Colgate-Palmolive explores $1B sale of Softsoap, Irish Spring, Speed Stick brands
Colgate-Palmolive is exploring the sale of several mass-market personal care brands in a divestment that could fetch more than $1 billion, according to a Reuters report citing people familiar with the matter. The New York-based consumer products giant is working with Goldman Sachs to gauge buyer interest in select assets, including Softsoap, Irish Spring, and Speed Stick. The targeted brands are a subset of Colgate's broader personal care division, which spans deodorants, soaps, shower gels, and skin care lines. The move reflects a wider trend among multinational consumer packaged goods companies trimming secondary brands to focus capital and marketing on higher-margin core categories such as oral care and pet nutrition. Colgate, which carries a market capitalization of approximately $70 billion, has posted a roughly 4% stock gain over the past year.
Colgate-Palmolive weighs sale of personal care brands including Softsoap and Irish Spring
Colgate-Palmolive is considering a sale of certain mass-market personal care brands, including Softsoap, Irish Spring and Speed Stick. The consumer goods company is working with Goldman Sachs on a sales process, according to a Reuters report on Friday that cited people familiar with the matter. Colgate only plans to divest a few brands within its personal care unit, a subset of the business that could see more than $1 billion in a sale. Colgate and Goldman Sachs declined to comment to Reuters. Shares of Colgate ticked lower by 0.1% on Friday.
Dao Brokerage Sees NEO Benefiting from Thai Chai Thai Plus Phase 2 Extension, Recommends Buy with 31 Baht Target
Dao Securities (Thailand) Public Company Limited issued an analysis dated September 11, 2026, giving a positive view on Neo Corporate Public Company Limited, or NEO, following the Ministry of Finance's ongoing expedited consideration of extending the Thai Chai Thai Plus Phase 2 program, after energy prices remain high and the war situation has not ended. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas disclosed that there are still funds remaining for relief measures and that the majority of voices support extending the program by about one to two months. A conclusion is expected within two to three weeks, or by the end of September. Currently, about 26 million people have joined the Thai Chai Thai Plus program, and there are about 13 million state welfare card users, bringing the total base of beneficiaries from government measures to about 40 million people. Dao Securities views that if the Thai Chai Thai Plus Phase 2 program is extended, it will help support revenue in the fourth quarter of 2026 to continue expanding and give profit in that period a chance to grow compared with the same period last year by more than previously estimated. Previously, fourth-quarter 2026 profit was expected to slow both year on year and quarter on quarter after the end of the Thai Chai Thai Plus Phase 1 program. For the third quarter of 2026, Dao Securities expects NEO's profit to grow outstandingly year on year and hold steady quarter on quarter, supported by revenue that is likely to set continuous new records from growth in all product groups, especially domestic revenue that benefits from a full quarter of the Thai Chai Thai Plus program, together with product price increases starting in July 2026. Meanwhile, the gross profit margin is expected to expand year on year but may decline slightly from the previous quarter due to recognition of depreciation from the new Household product group factory. For the full-year 2026 estimate, Dao Securities still expects NEO's net profit at 642 million baht, up 14% year on year, supported by total revenue expected to expand 12% year on year, driven by revenue growth in all product groups, especially the Household and Personal Care groups, which are likely to grow outstandingly. However, the full-year gross profit margin is expected to decline slightly from the impact of the war situation, while the ratio of selling and administrative expenses to sales is likely to decrease from more efficient expense control. Dao Securities maintains its buy recommendation on NEO and a target price of 31.00 baht, based on a 2026 PER of 14.5 times, or 0.5 standard deviation above the average since listing on the stock exchange. It views the current valuation level as still attractive, as it trades at a PER of only 11.2 times, close to 0.75 standard deviation below the average since listing, and does not yet reflect the trend of profit returning to growth during 2026-2027.
Betaini Subsidiary Receives Medical Device Registration Certificate for Injectable Sodium Hyaluronate Solution
Betaini announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Shanghai Betaini Health Technology Co., Ltd., received a medical device registration certificate from the National Medical Products Administration on September 10, 2026. The product is an injectable sodium hyaluronate solution for superficial dermal injection in the face, temporarily improving adult skin dryness and dull complexion. The company stated that this product further supplements its medical device product line in the skin health field, enriches its product matrix, and helps enhance core competitiveness.
Botanee Subsidiary Receives Medical Device Registration Certificate for Injectable Sodium Hyaluronate Solution
Botanee announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Shanghai Botanee Health Technology, has obtained a Medical Device Registration Certificate from the National Medical Products Administration for its injectable sodium hyaluronate solution. The registration number is 20263131919, effective September 10, 2026, and valid until September 9, 2031. The product is intended for superficial dermal injection in the mid-face in medical institutions to temporarily improve dry skin and dull complexion in adults. In the first half of 2026, Botanee achieved revenue of 2.592 billion yuan and net profit attributable to the parent of 292 million yuan.
Oddity Tech reported a 25% revenue decline in Q2 2026, which management attributes to a technical 'algorithm dislocation' with its largest advertising partner, causing audience drift and higher customer acquisition costs for IL MAKIAGE. The company is prioritizing technical remediation over growth for IL MAKIAGE, while SpoiledChild remains on track for $350 million in 2026 revenue. Oddity launched METHODIQ, a new brand targeting the 'beauty and medicine' convergence, and plans to launch 'BRAND 4' in 2027. The company repurchased 11.7 million shares year-to-date, reducing shares outstanding by about 20%, and bought back $50 million face value of zero-coupon exchangeable notes for $35 million. Management expects IL MAKIAGE to return to growth by 2027, with gross margins recovering to the high 60s.
Spectrum Brands Drives Growth via Innovation and Digital Expansion
Spectrum Brands Holdings is strengthening its growth strategy through investments in innovation, digital commerce, and operational capabilities, reporting a 7.7% increase in net sales and a 6.6% rise in organic net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2026, with all three businesses contributing to growth. The company is focusing on fewer, bigger, and bolder innovations, particularly in Global Pet Care and Home & Garden, where products like Wasp and Hornet Traps have gained wider distribution. Spectrum Brands is also expanding its digital presence, launching TikTok Shops for brands such as Good 'n' Fun and DreamBone, and enhancing direct-to-consumer capabilities in Europe. Operationally, the company has made significant progress on its S/4HANA ERP transformation, with all Global Pet Care and Home & Garden businesses and most of Home & Personal Care now on a unified platform, which is expected to drive efficiency and profitability. The company's partnership with Oaktree aims to develop new growth pillars and maximize value within Home & Personal Care. Spectrum Brands' shares have gained 17.1% over the past six months, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 EPS indicates a year-over-year rise of 17.5%.
e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. reported a 61% year-over-year increase in international net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2027, outpacing the 29% growth in the United States, with international penetration now representing 21% of total net sales, up from about 10% five years ago. The growth is driven by broader retail distribution, deeper market penetration, and new brand launches, including strong performance in the UK and Germany, where the e.l.f. brand saw improved trends after launching at DM and resuming marketing efforts. Naturium, which launched with Sephora in Australia and New Zealand, has become the No. 1 body brand at Sephora in those markets and will enter Sephora in Canada and Mexico this fall. rhode has achieved record-setting launches with Sephora in North America and the UK and with Mecca in Australia and New Zealand, reaching the No. 1 beauty-brand ranking at both retailers. e.l.f. Beauty is also expanding into Brazil through Sephora this fall, building on its No. 1 cosmetics-brand ranking with Sephora in Mexico. Shares of e.l.f. Beauty have gained 87.3% over the past three months, outperforming the industry and the S&P 500, which rose 27.1% and 3.5%, respectively. The stock trades at a forward P/E of 28.17, above the industry average of 23.73 and the sector average of 17.02.
ODDITY shares surge 14% on Q2 beat and raised FY26 guidance
ODDITY shares jumped 14% on Thursday after the company posted second-quarter results that topped Wall Street estimates and issued a stronger-than-expected full-year profit outlook. The consumer tech company reported revenue of $181 million for the quarter, beating estimates of $178 million but down 25% from a year earlier. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.20, ahead of the $0.16 estimate, while adjusted EBITDA reached $13 million, more than the $8.8 million analysts had projected. For fiscal 2026, ODDITY guided adjusted EBITDA of $30 million to $32 million, well above the $10.7 million estimate, with revenue expected to decline 19% year-over-year. For the third quarter, the company forecast adjusted EBITDA of $18 million to $20 million against estimates of $6.3 million, with revenue seen down 5% from a year earlier. Gross margin was 68.7%, down 360 basis points from a year ago. Net income for the quarter was $13 million, and the company held $561 million in cash, cash equivalents and investments. "We made progress during the quarter, including strong results for both SpoiledChild and METHODIQ," said Oran Holtzman, ODDITY co-founder and CEO. "We remain hopeful that IL MAKIAGE is on track to achieve normalization and we continue to work in close partnership with our largest advertising partner to solve the technical issue." ODDITY is a consumer tech company that uses AI and data science to build digital-first beauty and wellness brands, including IL MAKIAGE, SpoiledChild and METHODIQ, serving over 70 million users.
dsm-firmenich has provided a weekly update on its share repurchase program, which was announced on February 9, 2026, to repurchase shares worth €500 million and reduce issued capital. The program was expanded on March 12, 2026, to a total of €540 million, with €40 million earmarked for share-based compensation plans and €500 million for capital reduction. Between August 31 and September 4, 2026, the company repurchased 275,000 shares at an average price of €94.52 per share, totaling €26.0 million. To date, the company has repurchased 6,017,212 shares at an average price of €71.69, for a total consideration of €431.4 million. The €40 million buyback for compensation plans was completed on March 23, 2026, and the €500 million capital reduction program is expected to conclude by the end of Q3 2026.
Proya Subsidiary Plans to Invest 100 Million Yuan in Venture Capital Fund
Proya announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Proya Hainan plans to contribute 100 million yuan to subscribe for limited partnership interests in Ningbo Zhixing Yueheng Venture Capital Partnership, a limited partnership. The partnership has a target total committed capital of 3.1 billion yuan and will mainly invest in areas such as technology manufacturing, biomedicine, technology, and consumer goods. In the first half of 2026, Proya achieved revenue of 5.375 billion yuan and net profit attributable to the parent company of 1.168 billion yuan.
Kenvue-Kimberly-Clark Deal Nears Closing With Risks Ahead
Kenvue Inc. is moving closer to its planned combination with Kimberly-Clark Corporation, with shareholder approvals secured and the U.S. antitrust waiting period expired, though the cash-and-stock transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to remaining foreign regulatory approvals and customary conditions. Kenvue shareholders are expected to receive 0.14625 Kimberly-Clark shares plus $3.50 in cash for each Kenvue share, and they are expected to own about 46% of the combined company on a fully diluted basis after closing. Kimberly-Clark has announced a post-closing organizational structure, but Kenvue is not providing forward-looking financial guidance while the deal is pending, and expected benefits may not be realized. Recent results show execution challenges: second-quarter 2026 net sales rose 3% to $3,955 million and organic sales increased 1.6%, but adjusted earnings of 31 cents per share missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 32 cents, while adjusted gross margin fell 70 basis points to 60.2% due to inflation, tariffs, and unfavorable transactional foreign exchange. Self Care remains a pressure point with first-half organic sales down 0.9%, while Skin Health and Beauty provided a stronger offset with organic sales up 4.4% and segment adjusted operating income rising 46.9% to $354 million. The balance sheet adds risk: Kenvue had $8.5 billion of total debt and $1.1 billion of cash as of June 28, 2026, and the 2026 restructuring program is expected to carry approximately $250 million of pre-tax charges before delivering approximately $200 million of annualized pre-tax gross cost savings. Legal and macro pressures persist, including the Second Circuit vacating the prior acetaminophen judgment in July 2026 and remanding the litigation, talc-related liabilities outside the U.S. and Canada, and annualized gross tariff exposure estimated at approximately $80 million. Major milestones are complete, but the expected fourth-quarter closing still carries regulatory, operational, and financial risk.
BIC has announced its strategic roadmap to 2030, aiming to reignite consistent organic growth, strengthen profitability, and enhance cash generation. The plan, named BIC to the Future, focuses on four everyday essentials categories—Stationery, Lighters, Shavers, and Brushes—with a simplified portfolio and consumer-centric offerings. The company targets an organic net sales compound annual growth rate of approximately 3% from 2026 to 2030, an adjusted EBIT margin above 15.5% by 2030, and free cash flow exceeding 250 million euros in 2030, with cumulative free cash flow of 900 to 950 million euros from 2027 to 2030. To support these goals, BIC will invest about 100 million euros in operational expenditures from 2027 to 2030, expecting annualized recurring savings of 80 million euros by 2030. The company also plans to maintain a growing dividend with a payout ratio between 40% and 50% of adjusted earnings per share.