Unilever vs. Kimberly-Clark: Two Consumer Staples Giants, One Better Dividend

Unilever vs. Kimberly-Clark: Two Consumer Staples Giants, One Better Dividend

Quick Read Unilever (UL) completed its Ice Cream demerger in December 2025, boosting underlying operating margin to 20.0% and generating $5.921B in free cash flow, while Kimberly-Clark (KMB) divested its U.S. private label diaper business and posted $1.639B in free cash flow with 53 consecutive years of dividend increases at a 5.15% yield. Both consumer staples giants are reshaping portfolios to shed low-margin businesses, leaving Unilever foc…