Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB) reported its first quarter 2025 results, showcasing resilience in a dynamic operating environment. The company's performance was driven by strong in-market execution, effective cost management, resilient consumer demand, innovative product introductions, and sustained productivity momentum. Despite facing headwinds from currency impacts, divestitures, and an uncertain geopolitical landscape, Kimberly-Clark is adjusting its full-year outlook to reflect potential incremental costs across its global supply chain.

Chairman and CEO Mike Hsu emphasized the progress made across the three pillars of Kimberly-Clark's Powering Care strategy. While acknowledging evolving external challenges leading to greater global supply chain costs, Hsu expressed confidence in the company's ability to offset these costs over time and unlock long-term potential through strong productivity momentum and strategic investments. Innovation across the value spectrum is enabling the company to gain market share and deliver Better Care for a Better World.

The company's first quarter 2025 results included the following highlights:

• Net sales of $4.8 billion, down 6.0 percent, influenced by currency and divestitures/business exits. Organic sales declined 1.6 percent.
• Reported gross margin was 35.8 percent; adjusted gross margin was 36.9 percent, down 20 basis points year-over-year.
• Diluted earnings per share were $1.70; adjusted earnings per share were $1.93, down 4.0 percent year-over-year.

A more detailed breakdown of the first quarter 2025 results is as follows:

• Net sales were 6.0 percent lower than the prior year, inclusive of negative impacts from foreign currency translation (approximately 2.4 percent) and divestitures/exits (approximately 2.0 percent).
• Organic sales decreased 1.6 percent, driven by a 1.5 percent decrease in price, with volume and mix in line with the previous year.
• Gross margin was 35.8 percent, including $53 million in charges related to the 2024 Transformation Initiative. Adjusted gross margin was 36.9 percent, down 20 basis points year-over-year.
• Operating profit was $769 million, compared to $853 million in the prior year. Adjusted operating profit was $844 million, down 6.0 percent year-over-year.
• Net interest expense was $57 million, consistent with the prior year.
• The effective tax rate was 23.8 percent, in line with the prior year. On an adjusted basis, the effective rate was 21.4 percent, compared to 23.6 percent in the prior year.
• Net income of equity companies was $44 million, compared to $61 million in the prior year, driven primarily by unfavorable currency impacts.
• Diluted EPS were $1.70 on a reported basis, down from $1.91 in the prior year. Adjusted EPS decreased 4.0 percent to $1.93.

Business segment results were also reported, highlighting changes versus the prior year:

• North America (NA): Net sales decreased 3.9 percent to $2.7 billion, with organic sales declining 0.6 percent. Operating profit increased 1.3 percent to $676 million.
• International Personal Care (IPC): Net sales decreased 8.9 percent to $1.4 billion, with organic sales decreasing 2.8 percent. Operating profit decreased 19.8 percent to $194 million.
• International Family Care & Professional (IFP): Sales decreased 7.7 percent to $791 million, with organic sales decreasing 2.3 percent. Operating profit decreased 3.6 percent to $106 million.

Cash flow provided by operations was $327 million, compared to $438 million. Capital spending was $204 million, and the company returned $466 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. Total debt was $7.2 billion as of March 31, 2025, down from $7.4 billion as of December 31, 2024.

Kimberly-Clark's 2025 outlook has been updated to reflect the current environment. Organic Sales Growth is expected to outpace the weighted average growth in the categories and countries it competes. Reported Net Sales are forecast to reflect negative impacts from currency translation and divestitures. Adjusted Operating Profit is now expected to be flat to positive on a constant-currency basis, influenced by changes in the global geopolitical landscape. Adjusted Free Cash Flow is now expected to be approximately $2 billion.

Peoples Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ: PEBO) reported its results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, with net income totaling $24.3 million, representing earnings per diluted common share of $0.68. These results reflect a slight decrease compared to both the previous quarter and the first quarter of the prior year. Despite a decrease in net interest margin, the bank remains committed to providing consistent results and driving shareholder value.

Key highlights from Peoples' first quarter 2025 include:

• Net interest income decreased slightly, driven by lower accretion income. Net interest margin decreased to 4.12%.
• A provision for credit losses of $10.2 million was recorded, primarily driven by net charge-offs.
• Total non-interest income, excluding net gains and losses, increased slightly, driven by an increase in insurance income.
• Total non-interest expense increased due to anticipated annual expenses occurring in the first quarter.
• Period-end total loan and lease balances increased, driven by growth in commercial and residential real estate loans.
• Key asset quality metrics improved, with decreases in criticized and classified loans.
• Period-end total deposit balances increased, driven by growth in money market and governmental deposit accounts.

Net interest income was $85.3 million, decreasing compared to both the linked quarter and the first quarter of 2024. This decrease was primarily driven by lower accretion income from acquisitions. The provision for credit losses was $10.2 million, driven by net charge-offs. Total non-interest income, excluding net gains and losses, increased due to seasonal performance-based commissions in insurance income. Total non-interest expense increased due to annual merit increases, stock-based compensation expenses, and health savings account contributions.

Peoples' investment portfolio primarily consists of available-for-sale and held-to-maturity investment securities. The available-for-sale investment securities balance decreased, while the held-to-maturity investment securities balance also decreased compared to the previous quarter. At March 31, 2025, Peoples had liquid and liquefiable assets totaling $723.7 million and a total borrowing capacity of $1.1 billion. The period-end total loan and lease balances increased compared to the previous quarter, driven by increases in commercial and residential real estate loans.

Key asset quality metrics improved through the first quarter of 2025. Delinquency trends remained stable, and total nonperforming assets decreased. Criticized and classified loans also decreased. At March 31, 2025, the allowance for credit losses increased compared to December 31, 2024, primarily due to macro-economic conditions, reserves on individually analyzed loans, and loan growth.

As of March 31, 2025, period-end total deposits increased compared to December 31, 2024, driven by increases in money market deposit accounts and governmental deposit accounts. Total stockholders' equity at March 31, 2025 increased compared to December 31, 2024, driven by net income and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

Equifax (NYSE: EFX) reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, showcasing a strong performance despite headwinds in the U.S. hiring and mortgage markets. The company's first quarter revenue reached $1.442 billion, representing a 4% increase, with a 5% local currency revenue growth. This figure exceeded the midpoint of the company's guidance by $37 million, driven by robust U.S. Mortgage revenue growth and significant new product innovation.

Key highlights from Equifax's first quarter 2025 include:

• U.S. Mortgage revenue up 7% despite a decline in the underlying Mortgage market.
• Workforce Solutions revenue grew 3%, with Verification Services revenue up 5%.
• USIS revenue grew 7%, driven by Mortgage revenue growth of 11% and Non-Mortgage revenue growth of 6%.
• International revenue grew 7% on a local currency basis.
• New Product Innovation delivered an 11% Vitality Index, surpassing the long-term goal of 10%.
• Over 85% of revenue is now in the EFX Cloud.
• A $3 billion share repurchase program was authorized, expected to be completed over 4 years, and a 28% increase in the second quarter dividend to $0.50 per share was approved.

CEO Mark W. Begor highlighted the company's strong performance in a challenging market environment, attributing the success to the company's focus on growth, innovation, new products, and free cash generation. Despite above-guidance results in the first quarter, Equifax is maintaining its full-year 2025 guidance due to uncertainty in the global macroeconomic environment and the direction of U.S. inflation and interest rates.

In terms of segment performance, Workforce Solutions revenue grew by 3%, driven by Verification Services revenue growth of 5%. USIS delivered strong revenue growth of over 7%, led by Mortgage revenue growth of 11% and Non-Mortgage revenue growth of 6%. International revenue grew 7% on a local currency basis, led by Latin America.

Equifax is maintaining its full-year 2025 guidance midpoint expectation for local currency revenue growth of 6% and adjusted EPS of $7.45 per share. The company expects to deliver almost $900 million of free cash flow in 2025, with a cash conversion ratio approaching 95%. Additionally, the Board of Directors authorized a 28% increase in the second quarter dividend to $0.50 per share and a new $3 billion share repurchase program to be completed over approximately 4 years.

3M (NYSE: MMM) reported its first-quarter 2025 results, revealing a mixed performance with positive developments in earnings and margins offset by a slight sales decline. The company's GAAP sales reached $6.0 billion, a 1.0% year-over-year decrease, while operating margin improved to 20.9%, up 180 basis points. Earnings per share (EPS) surged to $2.04, marking a significant 61% year-over-year increase.

Adjusted figures presented a more nuanced picture, with sales at $5.8 billion and organic growth of 1.5% year-over-year. The adjusted operating margin stood at 23.5%, a 220 basis point increase, and adjusted EPS reached $1.88, a 10% rise from the previous year. Operating cash flow was reported at $(0.1) billion, while adjusted free cash flow amounted to $0.5 billion.

Chairman and CEO William Brown emphasized the company's strong first-quarter results, highlighting positive organic sales growth, margins exceeding expectations, and double-digit EPS growth. Despite a dynamic environment, 3M remains focused on improving its business fundamentals, building a new performance culture, and advancing strategic priorities.

The company returned $1.7 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. However, cash from operations was $(0.1) billion, with adjusted free cash flow at $0.5 billion. Looking ahead, 3M updated its 2025 guidance, projecting an adjusted EPS in the range of $7.60 to $7.90, while also accounting for a tariff sensitivity of $(0.20) to $(0.40) per share.

Overall, 3M's first-quarter results reflected a blend of challenges and successes, with strong earnings and margin improvements tempered by a slight sales decline and ongoing strategic adjustments. The company's focus on operational excellence and shareholder returns remains central to its strategic vision.