Kenvue Inc. operates as a consumer health company worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Self Care, Skin Health and Beauty, and Essential Health. The Self Care segment offers cough, cold and allergy, pain care, digestive health, smoking cessation, eye care, and other products under the Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl, Nicorette, Zarbee's, ORSLTM, Rhinocort, Calpol, and Zyrtec brands. The Skin Health and Beauty segment provides face and body care, hair, sun, and other care products under the Neutrogena, Aveeno, Dr.Ci:Labo, Le Petit Marseillais, Lubriderm, Rogaine, and OGX brand names. The Essential Health segment offers oral and baby, women's health, wound, and other care products under the Listerine, Johnson's, Band-Aid, and Stayfree, o.b., tampons, Carefree, and Desitin Diaper Rash brands. The company was incorporated in 2022 and is headquartered in Skillman, New Jersey.

Kenvue Inc.

Digital transformation is becoming a key pillar of operational improvement at The Clorox Company CLX. The company is focused on strengthening its foundation by advancing digital transformation, improving execution, and unlocking value from its newly modernized enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform, while accelerating innovation to deliver superior value to consumers in a dynamic environment. As the company modernizes its systems and processes, management believes these initiatives can strengthen efficiency, streamline decision-making and support long-term growth.
A major milestone in this transformation was the completion of the final phase of Clorox’s U.S. ERP implementation. This multi-year initiative was designed to modernize the company’s systems and create a more integrated operating platform. With the transition now complete, Clorox is focused on leveraging the new infrastructure to improve execution across supply chain, demand planning and operational processes.
Management emphasized that its new operating model, supported by significant digital investments, is enabling the company to scale capabilities and enhance operational efficiency. The platform is expected to accelerate decision-making while enabling more data-driven insights across the organization. These capabilities are also strengthening revenue growth management and allowing Clorox to execute more personalized and insight-driven strategies in the marketplace. The company continues to invest meaningfully in these capabilities. Strategic spending aimed at enhancing digital infrastructure and productivity initiatives remains an important component of Clorox’s cost structure, reflecting management’s confidence in the long-term benefits of the transformation.
These digital capabilities also support Clorox’s broader strategy of driving innovation and improving the consumer shopping experience. By integrating data, analytics and supply chain visibility, the company aims to create more efficient operations while strengthening brand execution. While the ERP transition has created some near-term operational challenges, Clorox believes the upgraded digital foundation positions it for stronger efficiency and execution over time. If successfully leveraged, these investments could enhance productivity, improve margin resilience and support sustainable long-term growth.
The Zacks Rundown for CLX
In the past three months, CLX’s shares have gained 10.2% compared with the industry’s rise of 8%. CLX carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, CLX trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 17.33X, lower than the industry average of 19.03X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CLX’s current fiscal year earnings implies a year-over-year decline of 23.5%, while the same for the next fiscal year earnings suggests a year-over-year rise of 15.3%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to Consider
Some better-ranked stocks have been discussed below:
Colgate-Palmolive Company CL together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells consumer products in the United States and internationally. CL currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CL's current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 4% and 5.7%, from the year-ago reported figures. CL delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4%, on average.
Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. OLLI operates as a retailer of closeout merchandise and excess inventory in the United States. OLLI currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for OLLI's current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 16.8% and 17.7%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. OLLI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 5.2%, on average.
Kenvue Inc. KVUE operates as a consumer health company in the United States, the rest of North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia-Pacific and Latin America. KVUE currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KVUE's current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 2.9% and 0.9%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. KVUE delivered a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of 9.8%, on average.
Beyond Nvidia: AI's Second Wave Is Here
The AI revolution has already minted millionaires. But the stocks everyone knows about aren't likely to keep delivering the biggest profits. Little-known AI firms tackling the world's biggest problems may be more lucrative in the coming months and years.
See
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Can Clorox's Digital Push Accelerate Operational Efficiency?

Key Points
Genuine Parts Co. is best known for its automotive parts distribution business, but split-up plans could unlock the value of its industrial distribution subsidiary.
Once Kimberly-Clark completes its Kenvue merger, this Dividend King could see strong gains, driven by likely cost and growth synergies.
Target's turnaround remains in motion, paving the way for further share price and dividend growth.
Dividend Kings, or companies with 50 or more consecutive years of annual dividend growth, represent some of the highest-quality stocks out there. They can make for great long-term investments in both bull and bear markets.
There are 57 Dividend Kings, with all sectors represented, from consumer stocks to utility stocks. Among this smattering of blue chip dividend stocks, right now, three stand out as strong buys -- for their price appreciation potential as much as for their impressive dividend growth track records.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
The three stocks are Genuine Parts (NYSE: GPC), Kimberly-Clark (NASDAQ: KMB), and Target (NYSE: TGT).
Genuine Parts' planned spinoff could unlock tremendous value
Last month, Genuine Parts experienced a sharp post-earnings drop on disappointing results and guidance. Even as management announced a potential catalyst for the stock, investors remained focused on weak near-term operating performance.
The stock has settled, finding support between $115 and $120 per share. This could prove to be an opportune entry point for long-term investors. Post-pullback, shares now sport a forward dividend yield of 3.7%. For most of the past decade, Genuine Parts' dividend yield has been 3% or less. Furthermore, Genuine Parts has raised payouts in each of the last 71 years, with annual growth averaging 5.3% over the past 10 years.
Genuine Parts' split-up catalyst could unlock significant value. Best known for its auto parts distribution unit, Genuine Parts also has an industrial parts distribution unit. As industrial distributors, for instance, Fastenal, trade at a valuation premium to Genuine Parts, this may mean big gains for investors buying in before the split.
Kimberly-Clark could surge following its pending Kenvue merger
With its split-up plans, Genuine Parts is pursuing a strategic alternative. Kimberly-Clark, the company behind Huggies and Kleenex, is another Dividend King exploring "strategic alternatives." I'm talking, of course, about Kimberly-Clark's pending plan to acquire Kenvue (NYSE: KVUE) in a $48.7 billion cash and stock merger transaction.
Kenvue, spun off from Johnson & Johnson, owns brands like Tylenol and Band-Aid. Shareholders of both companies have voted in favor of the merger. This suggests that concerns about the deal, such as potential Tylenol legal liabilities, have dissipated. Management believes the deal could create up to $2 billion in cost synergies, making the deal accretive within a year.
Earnings growth will leave the company well-positioned to sustain its 54-year track record of consecutive annual dividend increases. Currently, Kimberly-Clark has a forward dividend yield of 3.5%. Dividend growth over the past decade has averaged 3.8%.
Further upside remains from Target's turnaround
Three months ago, investors weren't too excited about Target's turnaround potential. That's why you could buy the retailer's stock for under $90 per share. Now, the stock has rallied by over one-third, to $120 per share. Yet while this suggests you missed the boat on the turnaround trade, that's not entirely true.
Over longer timeframes, further upside potential remains. The high end of forecasts calls for 12.2% earnings growth this year. As before, Target, trading at around 15 times forward earnings, still sports a significant valuation discount to Walmart. Target's key peer among retail stocks trades for 43 times forward earnings.
Currently, shares have a forward dividend yield of 3.9%. Over the past decade, the Dividend King has raised its dividend by an average of 7.7% annually.
Should you buy stock in Genuine Parts right now?
Before you buy stock in Genuine Parts, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Genuine Parts wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $530,233!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,119,682!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 955% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 191% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of March 10, 2026.
Thomas Niel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Kenvue, Target, and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends Genuine Parts and Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

My Top 3 Dividend Kings to Buy for March 2026

Key Points
Dividend stocks have more than doubled the average annual return of non-payers, when looking back more than half a century.
Wall Street's premier nominal-dollar dividend payers are brand-name businesses with well-defined competitive advantages.
Among these companies, you'll find Wall Street's largest share repurchase program, as well as two companies sporting respective annual dividend increase streaks of 63 and 39 years.
There are countless ways for investors to make money on Wall Street, but few are as consistently successful as buying and holding high-quality dividend stocks. Based on a study by Hartford Funds, in collaboration with Ned Davis Research ("The Power of Dividends: Past, Present, and Future"), dividend stocks have more than doubled the annualized return of non-payers over more than half a century (1973-2024): 9.2% vs. 4.31%.
While it's probably not a surprise that dividend stocks have a track record of outperforming, you might be shocked to learn that some of the biggest dividend payers on the planet aren't necessarily the highest-yielding stocks. You can find higher yields than Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM), and JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), but you'd struggle to find public companies with more generous dividend programs on a nominal-dollar basis than this trio.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Collectively, seven of Wall Street's most influential businesses are returning more than $114 billion annually to their shareholders through dividends.
1. Microsoft: $27.05 billion in annual dividends paid to shareholders
Even though Microsoft's quarterly payout of $0.91 ($3.64/annually) equates to just a 0.9% yield, it's on track to dole out more than $27 billion to its shareholders from dividends over the next year.
Microsoft's ability to pay Wall Street's largest nominal dividend reflects the duality of its operating model. On the one hand, it's enjoying lightning-fast growth potential from cloud computing, its cloud infrastructure service platform, Azure, and the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions into Azure and other platforms. AI has reaccelerated Azure's growth rate to nearly 40% on a constant-currency basis.
But Microsoft is still generating exceptional operating cash flow from its legacy segments, such as Windows and Office. Even though Windows is no longer, by itself, a growth catalyst, it remains the dominant global desktop operating system and can generate robust margins for Microsoft.
2. ExxonMobil: $17.18 billion in annual dividends
Although it's quite the gap down after Microsoft, oil and gas goliath ExxonMobil is no dividend slouch. Based on a $1.03-per-quarter dividend ($4.12/annually), it's pacing nearly $17.2 billion in outlays over 12 months.
The beauty of ExxonMobil's operating model is that it's integrated. While drilling generates the most favorable margins for oil and gas companies, ExxonMobil also oversees midstream assets, such as pipelines and terminals, as well as downstream assets, including refineries and chemical plants. Midstream and downstream assets can hedge against weakness in the price of crude oil and help steady the company's operating cash flow.
But let's be honest: commodity prices matter, too! The recent start of the Iran war, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to most oil exports -- roughly 20% of the world's daily liquid petroleum travels through the Strait of Hormuz -- is boosting the spot price of crude and lifting ExxonMobil's outlook.
3. JPMorgan Chase: $16.2 billion in annual dividends
When the U.S. economy is firing on all cylinders, bank stocks offer some of Wall Street's steadiest capital-return programs. The $1.50/quarter ($6/annually) being paid by JPMorgan Chase equates to $16.2 billion in annual dividend outlays.
Banks are inherently cyclical, meaning they usually struggle during recessions and thrive during periods of economic expansion. The good news is that periods of growth last considerably longer than downturns. This allows JPMorgan Chase and its peers to spend most of their time prudently expanding their loan portfolios.
Furthermore, bank stocks benefited immensely from the Federal Reserve's aggressive rate-hiking cycle from March 2022 to July 2023. To combat the highest inflation rate in four decades, the central bank ultimately increased its federal funds target rate by 525 basis points, leading to a sizable increase in interest income for JPMorgan Chase and its peers.
4. Apple: $15.27 billion in annual dividends
In addition to Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) sporting the best share repurchase program on the planet ($841 billion spent on buybacks since fiscal 2013 began), it has one of the largest nominal-dollar dividend payments. The $0.26/quarter ($1.04/annually) it's paying shareholders equates to nearly $15.3 billion annually.
The lion's share of Apple's profits still derives from its physical devices, led by the iPhone. The incorporation of AI-driven solutions through Apple Intelligence into its physical devices appears to have reignited sales growth in recent quarters. Apple also has an incredibly loyal customer base, giving the company exceptional pricing power.
But Apple's future is all about its pivot to subscription services. Placing added emphasis on subscriptions should boost the company's operating margin over time, minimize sales fluctuations during iPhone replacement cycles, and further enhance its already impressive customer loyalty.
5. Chevron: $14.1 billion in annual dividends
Did I mention that big oil companies and jaw-dropping dividend payouts often go hand in hand? The $1.78-per-share payout ($7.12/annually) that Chevron (NYSE: CVX) declared in its most recent quarter works out to $14.1 billion in annual dividends to its investors. Chevron has hiked its base annual payout for 39 consecutive years.
Many of the same catalysts that are fueling ExxonMobil's growth are also at play for Chevron. In particular, the integrated operating model is paramount to its success. Chevron's refineries, chemical plants, and pipelines provide hedges in the event that the spot price of crude oil declines.
However, drilling is still Chevron's bread-and-butter. It's expanding its production capacity in the oil-rich Permian Basin, as well as integrating its $53 billion acquisition of Hess, which closed last July and gave Chevron a 30% stake in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana. The Guyana Stabroek Block is estimated to contain more than 11 billion oil-equivalent barrels.
6. Johnson & Johnson: $12.53 billion in annual dividends
Another elite dividend stock that's been even steadier than Chevron in raising its base annual payout is healthcare conglomerate Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ). "J&J," as Johnson & Johnson is more commonly known, has raised its dividend for 63 consecutive years. Its $1.30/quarter payout ($5.20/annually) results in the company doling out approximately $12.5 billion yearly to its shareholders.
The stability of J&J's cash flow is a function of its management team steadily shifting toward juicier-margin opportunities. It spun off its consumer health division, now known as Kenvue, in 2023 and plans to spin off its orthopedics segment (DePuy Synthes) in the quarters to come. J&J's focus has been on high-margin novel drug development and medical devices with long growth runways.
Johnson & Johnson's success also derives from continuity in the executive suite. You only need two hands to count the number of CEOs J&J has had since its founding in 1886. Long-tenured leadership means growth initiatives and strategic shifts are being seen through from start to finish.
7. Verizon Communications: $11.94 billion in annual dividends
Last but certainly not least is telecom titan Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), which is paying out one of the largest nominal-dollar dividends on Wall Street -- $0.7075/quarter ($2.83/annually), working out to $11.94 billion annually -- and sports an ultra-high yield of 5.5%. Verizon has raised its base annual dividend for 20 straight years.
Despite mediocre sales growth in the low-to-mid single digits, Verizon has benefited from wireless services, broadband access, and smartphones, effectively evolving into a basic necessity. It's enjoying a relatively low wireless churn rate, which is translating into highly predictable operating cash flow year after year.
What's more, broadband has been a cash flow bright spot. The closing of Verizon's acquisition of Frontier in January 2026 scaled its "fiber footprint to over 30 million homes and businesses," according to the company. Even though broadband isn't the double-digit growth story it was a quarter century ago, it serves as the perfect dangling carrot to encourage high-margin service bundling.
Should you buy stock in Microsoft right now?
Before you buy stock in Microsoft, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Microsoft wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $534,008!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,090,073!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 949% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 190% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of March 8, 2026.
JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Sean Williams has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Chevron, JPMorgan Chase, Kenvue, and Microsoft and is short shares of Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

These 7 Elite Dividend Stocks Pay $114 Billion Annually, Combined, to Their Shareholders

Key Points
Starboard Value LP established a new position by acquiring 5,191,327 shares of Fluor Corporation; estimated trade size was $205.73 million based on quarterly average price.
The quarter-end value of the position increased by $205.73 million, reflecting the new share purchase.
The transaction represented a 3.9% change in the fund's reportable U.S. equity assets under management (AUM).
At quarter-end, Starboard Value LP held 5,191,327 shares of Fluor Corporation valued at $205.73 million.
This new position places Fluor Corporation outside the fund's top five holdings based on reported AUM.
What happened
According to its SEC filing dated February 17, 2026, Starboard Value LP initiated a new position in Fluor Corporation (NYSE:FLR), acquiring 5,191,327 shares during the fourth quarter. The quarter-end position value increased by $205.73 million, capturing both the trade and price changes over the reporting period.
What else to know
This was a new position for Starboard Value LP; the stake accounted for 3.9% of its 13F reportable AUM as of December 31, 2025.
Top holdings after the filing:
NASDAQ: QRVO: $634.74 million (12.0% of AUM)
NYSE: KVUE: $471.06 million (8.9% of AUM)
NYSE: AQN: $390.46 million (7.4% of AUM)
NYSE: BILL: $383.14 million (7.3% of AUM)
NASDAQ: MTCH: $367.96 million (7.0% of AUM)
As of February 17, 2026, shares of Fluor Corporation were priced at $48.57, up 22.2% over the past year, with one-year alpha versus the S&P 500 at (0.00) percentage points.
Company Overview
Revenue (TTM)
$15.50 billion
Net Income (TTM)
$-350.00 million
Price (as of market close 2/17/26)
$48.57
One-Year Price Change
22.19%
Company Snapshot
Fluor Corporation is a leading global provider of engineering and construction services, with a focus on delivering complex projects for energy, infrastructure, and government clients. It provides engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services, project management, fabrication, modularization, and asset integrity solutions across energy, infrastructure, and government sectors.
The company operates a project-based business model, generating revenue through large-scale contracts in energy transition, urban infrastructure, and mission-critical government projects.
Fluor Corporation serves a global client base including oil, gas, and petrochemical companies, infrastructure and advanced technology firms, life sciences, mining, and U.S. government agencies.
What this transaction means for investors
Engineering and construction companies typically operate within extended investment cycles influenced by energy markets and government expenditure. Fluor Corporation is a key player in these cycles, building complex sites like LNG export terminals, petrochemical plants, mines, and advanced manufacturing facilities.
Fluor’s strategy in recent years has focused on restoring discipline after a period in which several large projects led to cost growth and pressured profitability. The company has worked through older contracts and shifted toward projects with more proportional risk structures, including LNG infrastructure, advanced manufacturing facilities, and U.S. government work. Within the engineering and construction sector, revenue is closely linked to large, multi-year projects, making the quality of the backlog and the contractual terms as important as the overall size of the project pipeline.
For investors, the main question is whether higher demand for energy and industrial infrastructure will lead to steady project profits. Engineering and construction companies may win big contracts when investment is strong, but their earnings depend on finishing projects without big cost overruns or delays. If Fluor can turn its backlog into steady profits and reliable cash flow, it could become known as a disciplined infrastructure builder instead of a contractor with unpredictable results.
Should you buy stock in Fluor right now?
Before you buy stock in Fluor, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Fluor wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $526,889!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,103,743!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 947% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 192% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of March 4, 2026.
Eric Trie has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bill Holdings and Kenvue. The Motley Fool recommends Match Group and Qorvo. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Starboard Value Takes Stake in Fluor as Industrial Investment Cycles Reaccelerate

Investors looking for stocks in the Consumer Products - Staples sector might want to consider either Kenvue (KVUE) or Procter & Gamble (PG). But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now? We'll need to take a closer look.
The best way to find great value stocks is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The Zacks Rank favors stocks with strong earnings estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight companies with specific traits.
Kenvue has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), while Procter & Gamble has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold) right now. This means that KVUE's earnings estimate revision activity has been more impressive, so investors should feel comfortable with its improving analyst outlook. But this is just one factor that value investors are interested in.
Value investors also tend to look at a number of traditional, tried-and-true figures to help them find stocks that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.
Our Value category highlights undervalued companies by looking at a variety of key metrics, including the popular P/E ratio, as well as the P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that have been used by value investors for years.
KVUE currently has a forward P/E ratio of 16.63, while PG has a forward P/E of 22.90. We also note that KVUE has a PEG ratio of 4.16. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. PG currently has a PEG ratio of 5.34.
Another notable valuation metric for KVUE is its P/B ratio of 3.23. The P/B ratio pits a stock's market value against its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. For comparison, PG has a P/B of 7.06.
These metrics, and several others, help KVUE earn a Value grade of B, while PG has been given a Value grade of C.
KVUE stands above PG thanks to its solid earnings outlook, and based on these valuation figures, we also feel that KVUE is the superior value option right now.
Free Report: Profiting from the 2nd Wave of AI Explosion
The next phase of the AI explosion is poised to create significant wealth for investors, especially those who get in early. It will add literally trillion of dollars to the economy and revolutionize nearly every part of our lives.
Investors who bought shares like Nvidia at the right time have had a shot at huge gains.
But the rocket ride in the "first wave" of AI stocks may soon come to an end. The sharp upward trajectory of these stocks will begin to level off, leaving exponential growth to a new wave of cutting-edge companies.
Zacks' AI Boom 2.0: The Second Wave report reveals 4 under-the-radar companies that may soon be shining stars of AI’s next leap forward.
Access AI Boom 2.0 now, absolutely free >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

KVUE vs. PG: Which Stock Is the Better Value Option?

Key Points
Starboard Value LP acquired 9,959,031 shares in Clearwater Analytics, with an estimated transaction value of $240.21 million based on quarterly average prices
Quarter-end stake value increased by $240.21 million, reflecting the purchase of a new position
Deal represents 4.55% of Starboard’s 13F reportable assets under management
Starboard’s post-trade holding: 9,959,031 shares valued at $240.21 million
The new stake represents 4.55% of fund AUM, placing it outside the fund’s top five holdings
What happened
According to a February 17, 2026, SEC filing, Starboard Value LP disclosed a new position in Clearwater Analytics (NYSE:CWAN), purchasing 9,959,031 shares. At quarter-end, the holding was valued at $240.21 million, with the change reflecting the purchase of a new position.
What else to know
This was a new position, representing 4.55% of Starboard’s 13F reportable assets under management as of December 31, 2025
Top holdings following the filing:
NASDAQ: QRVO: $634.74 million (12.0% of AUM)
NYSE: KVUE: $471.06 million (8.9% of AUM)
NYSE: AQN: $390.46 million (7.4% of AUM)
NYSE: BILL: $383.14 million (7.3% of AUM)
NASDAQ: MTCH: $367.96 million (7.0% of AUM)
As of February 17, 2026, shares of Clearwater Analytics were priced at $22.93, down 17.0% over the past year and underperforming the S&P 500 by 26.7 percentage points
Company overview
Market Capitalization
$6.99 billion
Revenue (TTM)
$731.37 million
Net Income (TTM)
$-38.81 million
Price (as of market close 2/17/26)
$22.93
Company snapshot
Clearwater Analytics is a technology company specializing in SaaS solutions for automated investment data management. The company leverages its proprietary platform to deliver integrated accounting, compliance, and risk analytics to a diverse institutional client base. Its scalable, cloud-native architecture and focus on automation provide a competitive edge in the investment data services market.
Clearwater Analytic operates a subscription-based business model, generating recurring revenue by delivering automated investment accounting, compliance, performance measurement, and risk analytics services to institutional clients.
Clearwater Analytic serves insurers, investment managers, corporations, institutional investors, and government entities seeking scalable and automated investment data management solutions.
What this transaction means for investors
Clearwater Analytics operates in a back-office corner of enterprise software that institutions rely on. After a period of broad SaaS multiple compression, the stock has trailed the broader market, pushing investors to look past growth narratives and focus on earnings quality. In investment accounting, switching systems is disruptive, and regulatory requirements is also ever-present, which makes the company’s product more structural than cyclical.
Clearwater offers cloud-based investment accounting and reporting tools for insurers and asset managers. Its platform is often the main system used for daily reconciliation and compliance tasks. This setup helps ensure steady recurring revenue, but growing the business means onboarding new clients and integrating their data, which can slow margin growth. The main question is whether more revenue will come from existing clients using the platform more deeply, rather than from new, complex client setups.
For investors, Clearwater’s value will depend on showing that revenue growth can outpace the costs of delivering its services and lead to lasting operating leverage. If the company can prove its platform scales well, it could be seen as essential financial infrastructure rather than another software provider.
Should you buy stock in Clearwater Analytics right now?
Before you buy stock in Clearwater Analytics, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Clearwater Analytics wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $456,188!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,133,413!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 916% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 194% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of February 27, 2026.
Eric Trie has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bill Holdings and Kenvue. The Motley Fool recommends Match Group and Qorvo. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Starboard Value LP Opens Major Stake in Clearwater Analytics’ Investment Accounting Platform

Key Points
Inflation has negatively impacted consumer staples companies.
Conagra stock has lost 50% of its value over the last three years.
Shares of Kimberly-Clark are down about 25% over that same period.
Continued elevated inflation rates have made it harder to find bargains at the store. It seems like the price of everything is up a lot.
However, while inflation has made most consumer products more expensive, it has had the opposite impact on the value of many leading consumer staples stocks. Shares of Conagra Brands (NYSE: CAG) and Kimberly Clark (NASDAQ: KMB) look like bargain buys right now for those with $1,000 to invest.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
A bargain dividend stock
Conagra Brands is one of the leading branded food companies in North America. Its portfolio includes Healthy Choice, Marie Callender's, and other brands.
The food stock has lost about 50% of its value over the past three years. Inflation has eaten into demand for its products, prompting customers to switch to lower-priced generic alternatives. Conagra's net sales declined by 6.8% during its fiscal 2026 second quarter (due in part to the sale of several non-core brands), while its margins remained under pressure. For the fiscal year, Conagra expects its organic sales to be roughly flat year over year, while delivering adjusted earnings of $1.70 to $1.85 per share.
With its stock price down to around $19 apiece, Conagra trades at about 11 times forward earnings. That's a bargain in today's market as the S&P 500 trades at nearly 22 times forward earnings. That cheap price is why Conagra currently has a 7.3% dividend yield, the highest in the S&P 500, where the average is around 1.2%. While the company's dividend payout ratio is approaching 80%, well above its 50%-55% target, its strong cash flow positions it to maintain the payout while it waits for market conditions to improve.
About to get a big boost
Kimberly Clark has lost about a quarter of its value over the last three years. The maker of Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, and other trusted brands has also struggled to grow sales (they were down 2.1% last year, primarily due to divestitures). Meanwhile, its adjusted earnings per share rose 3.2% to $7.53.
With Kimberly Clark's stock currently over $110 per share, it trades at about 15 times earnings. While it's not quite the bargain that Conagra is, it's still a lot cheaper than the broader market. That's why the company also offers a high dividend yield (4.3%).
Kimberly Clark recently extended its streak of dividend increases to 54 years in a row. That qualifies it as a Dividend King, a company with 50 or more consecutive years of annual dividend increases.
While the company has been growing slowly, that should change later this year. It agreed to buy Kenvue in a $48.7 billion deal last year. The acquisition of the maker of Band-Aid, Tylenol, and other leading consumer health brands should drive robust revenue and earnings growth in the coming years. Kimberly Clark expects to capture $2.5 billion in cost savings within two years of closing the deal, which should occur in the second half of this year.
Bargain buys
Conagra and Kimberly Clark have been under lots of pressure in recent years. As a result, they now trade at much lower valuations and offer higher dividend yields. That makes them bargain buys for those with $1,000 to invest right now. Investors can earn substantial dividend income while they wait for the share prices to recover as these businesses improve.
Should you buy stock in Conagra Brands right now?
Before you buy stock in Conagra Brands, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Conagra Brands wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $420,864!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,182,210!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 903% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 192% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of February 25, 2026.
Matt DiLallo has positions in Kenvue. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Kenvue. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Have $1,000? These 2 Stocks Could Be Bargain Buys for 2026 and Beyond

Key Points
For Best Buy, improvements to the macro picture could drive a comeback.
Kimberly-Clark's upcoming merger could cement its status as a dividend growth stock.
Kraft Heinz is no longer splitting up, but there may still be a path to turnaround for the floundering foods company.
Despite recent volatility, the stock market remains near record highs. However, in the case of certain stocks, including some dividend stocks, various factors have placed them under pressure.
However, after falling 20% or more from their 52-week highs, now may be the time to go bottom-fishing with these stocks. Following their respective price declines, each now has a much higher forward yields, providing steady gains regardless of price action.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
While some of these stocks have justifiably pulled back, in certain situations, the market has overreacted to perceived near-term negatives. The stocks I'm talking about are Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), Kimberly-Clark (NASDAQ: KMB), and Kraft Heinz (NASDAQ: KHC).
<img>
High-yielding Best Buy still has recovery potential
Over the past year, factors like slowing consumer spending and tariff uncertainty have weighed on Best Buy shares, pushing them over 30% lower. Worse yet, according to analysts like J.P. Morgan's Christopher Horvers, these headwinds are likely to persist in 2026.
Just recently, the analyst downgraded the stock from "Overweight" to "Neutral" and lowered his price target from $99 to $76 per share. Yet while challenging times could continue for the electronics retailer, for long-term investors, this may have created an opportune entry point for shares.
At current prices, Best Buy trades for 11.5 times forward earnings. In the past, shares have traded at a slightly higher mid-teens forward multiple. Moreover, over a longer time frame, if issues like tariffs and high inflation fade, a big earnings rebound may be in store.
In the meantime, investors can collect Best Buy's 5.9% dividend. With a forward payout ratio of just 52.7%, this dividend appears sustainable. The company also has a 22-year track record of dividend growth. Payouts have increased by an average of 15.2% annually over the past 10 years.
Kimberly-Clark's upcoming merger could exceed expectations
In November, Kimberly-Clark announced plans to acquire Kenvue for a $48.7 billion in cash and stock. If completed, this deal will create one of the world's largest consumer health and personal care companies, with brands that include Huggies, Kleenex, Tylenol, Listerine, and Band-Aid.
Kimberly-Clark shares tumbled on news of the merger. Analysts and investors appear skeptical that the deal will create shareholder value. However, investors may be underestimating the impact this transaction could have on the company's bottom line.
As noted in the merger announcement, total annualized cost savings could reach $2.4 billion. Besides being accretive to Kimberly-Clark's earnings, the deal should bode well for future dividend growth.
Kimberly-Clark is one of the Dividend Kings, with over 50 years of consecutive annual dividend growth. Dividend growth has been modest, averaging 3.8% annually. However, increased earnings growth from the merger could lead to higher dividend growth in the future.
Kraft Heinz could still bounce back, even as it puts spin-off plans on pause
Earlier this month, Kraft Heinz paused plans to split its condiments and staple foods businesses into separate companies. Many investors may have seen this event as a key near-term catalyst, but the packaged food giant's latest plans could also pave the way for higher prices.
For one, it's possible that, even among food stocks, Kraft Heinz has become oversold. Shares have fallen by 25% from the stock's 52-week high. At current prices, shares trade for less than 10 times forward earnings. Compare that to peers like General Mills and Campbell's, both of which are at forward multiples in the low to mid-teens.
Given its valuation, even a small improvement could lead to a rerating. In the meantime, Kraft Heinz investors can collect the stock's relatively high dividend. At today's prices, the stock has a forward dividend yield of 6.6%
Should you buy stock in Best Buy right now?
Before you buy stock in Best Buy, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Best Buy wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $409,970!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,174,241!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 889% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 192% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of February 24, 2026.
Thomas Niel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Best Buy and Kenvue. The Motley Fool recommends Campbell's and Kraft Heinz. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

3 Magnificent Dividend Stocks Down 20% to Buy and Hold Forever

Kenvue (NYSE:KVUE), maker of consumer health products including Tylenol, Neutrogena, and Listerine, closed Wednesday at $18.88, up 2.55%. The stock moved higher after Q4 results beat expectations and analysts raised price targets, while investors are watching progress on the pending Kimberly-Clark (NASDAQ:KMB) acquisition and related restructuring plans.
Trading volume reached 46.9 million shares, coming in roughly 3.9% above its three-month average of 45.2 million shares. Kenvue IPO'd in 2023 and has fallen 30% since going public.
How the markets moved today
The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) rose 0.56% to 6,881, while the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) gained 0.78% to finish at 22,754. Among personal care products, industry peers Estée Lauder Companies (NYSE:EL) closed at $111.61 (-0.47%) and Coty (NYSE:COTY) ended at $2.61 (+1.95%), showing mixed moves against Kenvue’s advance.
What this means for investors
Kenvue reported Q4 adjusted EPS of $0.27 compared to estimates of $0.22 on revenue of $3.78 billion that increased 3.2% year over year. Several analysts boosted Kenvue stock price targets into the $18-$20 per share range on the heels of the report.
Kenvue entered into a definitive merger agreement in November with Kimberly-Clark for a roughly $48.7 billion cash-and-stock acquisition. Kenvue announced a worldwide restructuring related to the merger, which includes reducing its workforce by 3.5% and incurring approximately $250 million in pre-tax charges for 2026. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026.
Should you buy stock in Kenvue right now?
Before you buy stock in Kenvue, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Kenvue wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $415,256!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,133,904!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 889% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 193% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of February 18, 2026.
Howard Smith has positions in Kenvue. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Kenvue. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stock Market Today, Feb. 18: Kenvue Rises After Earnings Beat Expectations

Kenvue Inc. KVUE posted solid fourth-quarter results, wherein the top and bottom lines surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Also, both metrics increased year over year. Organic growth was driven by pricing and value realization, though partially offset by softer volumes and weaker seasonal demand in the United States.
Margins improved on the back of supply-chain productivity initiatives and cost discipline despite higher brand investments. Essential Health, and Skin Health and Beauty led segmental performance, while Self Care faced seasonal headwinds.
Strength across the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) helped offset softness in North America. The company remains on track to complete its planned acquisition by Kimberly-Clark, subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions.
Kenvue Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
More on KVUE’s Q4 Results
The company posted adjusted earnings of 27 cents per share in the quarter under review. The reported figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of adjusted earnings of 22 cents. Also, the bottom line improved from adjusted earnings of 26 cents in the year-earlier quarter.
Total revenues of $3,780 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,711 million and increased 3.2% year over year. This was driven by organic sales growth of 1.2% and a favorable foreign currency impact of 2.1%. Organic growth was fueled by positive value realization of 2.3%, partly offset by a 1.1% decline in volume.
As anticipated, volumes benefited from comparing against the prior year’s go-to-market disruption in the Asia Pacific region. This tailwind was largely offset by inventory reductions by certain customers and low seasonal demand, particularly in the United States, which weighed on global weighted category growth.
KVUE’s Margin & Cost Details
Adjusted gross profit improved 3.4% year over year to $2.22 million and the adjusted gross margin increased by 10 basis points to 58.8%, reflecting productivity gains from global supply-chain optimization and favorable value realization, which helped offset inflationary pressures, tariffs and transactional foreign exchange impacts.
The company’s SG&A expenses rose 0.7% year over year to $1.54 billion. As a percentage of revenues, SG&A expenses stood at 40.6%, down 100 basis points from the year-ago period.
Adjusted operating income was $751 million, up 7% from $702 million in the year-ago quarter. The adjusted operating margin came in at 19.9%, up 70 basis points from the prior-year period. The improvement was driven by higher gross, and adjusted gross profit margins and savings from the Vue Forward initiative, partially offset by year-over-year increased brand support.
Adjusted EBITDA was $815 million, up 2.9% year over year. We note that the adjusted EBITDA margin was unchanged at 21.6% in the quarter under review.
KVUE’s Q4 Revenue Insights by Segments
Self Care: Net sales increased 1.5% year over year to $1.59 billion, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.58 billion. This was driven by a 2.7% foreign currency benefit, partially offset by a 1.2% decline in organic sales. The organic decline reflected a 3.1% decrease in volume, partly mitigated by a favorable value realization of 1.9%.
Subdued seasonal incidences in the United States weighed on the overall Self Care category, which declined year over year. Despite this backdrop, Kenvue gained a slight share in its seasonal businesses in the United States, supported by continued strong innovation performance. Although a late-quarter increase in flu incidences was insufficient to offset weakness earlier in the quarter, both consumption and share trends for Tylenol improved in December.
Compared with the prior year, organic sales rebounded in the Asia Pacific and increased across major need states in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Skin Health and Beauty: Net sales rose 2.9% year over year to $1.04 billion, which surpassed the consensus estimate of $1.03 billion. This was primarily driven by 1.5% organic sales growth and a 1.6% foreign currency benefit. Organic growth was supported by a favorable value realization of 2.3%, partially offset by a 0.8% decline in volume.
Innovation and strong commercial execution drove organic sales growth across all geographic regions outside North America compared with the prior-year period.
Essential Health: Net sales increased 6.1% year over year to $1.15 billion and beat the consensus estimate of $1.11 billion, reflecting 4.2% organic sales growth and a 1.9% foreign currency benefit. Organic growth was driven by favorable value realization of 2.9% and volume growth of 1.3%.
Growth was broad-based across major need states, led by the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and EMEA, with sequential improvement in performance in North America.
KVUE’s Region-Wise Revenue Details
North America net sales were $1.76 billion, a decrease of 4.5% from $1.84 billion in the prior year.
EMEA net sales increased 10% to $949 million from $863 million in the prior year.
The Asia Pacific net sales rose 10.7% to $703 million from $635 million in the prior-year period.
Latin America net sales increased 14.6% to $369 million from $322 million in the prior year.
Kenvue’s Financial Health Snapshot
The company ended the fiscal 2025 with cash and cash equivalents of $1.1 billion. Total outstanding debt was $8.5 billion. Net cash provided by operating activities was $2.2 billion for the 12 months of 2025 compared with $1.8 billion in the prior-year period.
The capital expenditure totaled $0.5 billion for the 12 months ended Dec. 28, 2025. The free cash flow was $1.7 billion for the 12 months ended Dec. 28, 2025, compared with $1.3 billion in the prior-year period.
Other Developments
On Nov. 2, 2025, the company entered a definitive merger agreement under which Kimberly-Clark will acquire all outstanding shares of Kenvue common stock in a cash-and-stock transaction.
Shareholders of both companies overwhelmingly approved the proposals required to complete the transaction at their respective Special Meetings of Stockholders held on Jan. 29, 2026. In addition, the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, expired on Feb. 4, 2026.
The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to the receipt of required foreign regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions as outlined in the merger agreement.
KVUE Stock Past 3-Month Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 16% in the past three months compared with the industry’s growth of 14%.
Key Picks
We have highlighted three better-ranked stocks, namely Hershey Company HSY, The Simply Good Foods Company SMPL and Interparfums, Inc. IPAR.
Hershey manufactures pantry items like baking ingredients, toppings and beverages; gum and mint refreshment products; and snack bites and mixes, as well as spreads. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hershey’s current financial-year earnings and revenues implies growth of 27.1% and 4.4%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. HSY delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 17.2%.
Simply Good Foods’ product portfolio consists primarily of nutrition bars, ready-to-drink shakes, snacks and confectionery products. It currently flaunts a Zacks Rank of 1.
SMPL delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 5.5%, on average. The consensus estimate for Simply Good Foods’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates a decline of 0.6% and growth of 1.6%, respectively, from the year-ago period’s reported figures.
Interparfums is engaged in the manufacturing, distribution and marketing of a wide range of fragrances and related products, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2. IPAR has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 5%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IPAR’s current financial-year sales and EPS calls for growth of 2.5% and a decline of 0.8%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers.
5 Stocks Set to Double
Each was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in the coming year. While not all picks can be winners, previous recommendations have soared +112%, +171%, +209% and +232%.
Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.
Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.