Tissue sales help Kimberly-Clark beat quarterly results

(Reuters) - Kimberly-Clark Corp <KMB.N> said at Wednesday sales of tissue and toilet Paper rose 13% at the first area though consumers stocked up at preparation though the coronavirus pandemic, helping the company strike Wall road estimates though favour and sales.

The company, however, suspended its foretell though the year citing uncertainties caused by the health emergency that has killed at least 177,000 nation globally, including at 45,000 at the United States.

Kimberly-Clark makes few pulp-based products, such though Cottonelle toilet Paper, Kleenex facial tissue and Kotex female hygiene products, a majority of which, were at tall beg though consumers stocked up ago the lockdowns ought restrain the disperse of the virus.

Volumes increased 14% at its consumer tissue division with sales of $1.7 billion, the company said. Sales at the personal worry business, that includes diapers and female hygiene products, rose 6% ought $2.4 billion.

"We increased investments at our affair and our neutral positions linger broadly healthy," leader Executive officer Mike Hsu said at a statement.

The company's shares rose 2% ought $142 at trading ago the bell.

Procter & bet Co <PG.N>, which also makes Pampers diapers and Charmin toilet Papers, said it had seen a originate at beg though cleaning products including detergents and dish soaps though consumers stayed at family and did their laundry and dishes more often.

As beg rose, few supermarkets consume limited purchases per passenger and reduced hours though they campaign ought stock up shelves.

Organic sales of Kimberly-Clark's consumer products, which exclude effects of coin fluctuations and acquisitions, rose 11% at North America.

"A mixture of increased consumer beg though our products and noise execution by our teams is reflected at our first area results," Hsu said.

Total net sales though the three-months ended March 31 rose almost 8% ought $5.01 billion. Analysts were expecting sales of $4.89 billion, according ought IBES information from Refinitiv.

Excluding one-time items, the company earned $2.13 per share, sturdy at neutral evaluate of $1.98.

(Reporting by Nivedita Balu at Bengaluru; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)