KIMBERLY CLARK CORPKMB
KIMBERLY CLARK CORP Goodwill & Intangibles Disclosure
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment were as follows:
| NA | IPC | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | $ | 1,128 | $ | 766 | $ | 1,894 | ||||||||||||||
| Divestiture | (15) | — | (15) | |||||||||||||||||
| Effect of foreign currency translation | — | (83) | (83) | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2024 | 1,113 | 683 | 1,796 | |||||||||||||||||
| Effect of foreign currency translation | — | 43 | 43 | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2025 | $ | 1,113 | $ | 726 | $ | 1,839 | ||||||||||||||
We completed our required annual assessment of goodwill for impairment for all our reporting units using a qualitative assessment as of the first day of the third quarter of the year ended December 31, 2025, concluding that it was more likely than not that the fair value of each reporting unit significantly exceeded the respective carrying amounts.
The carrying amounts of Other Intangible Assets, Net, were as follows:
| December 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross Carrying Amount(b) | Accumulated Amortization(b) | Net Carrying Amount | Gross Carrying Amount(b) | Accumulated Amortization(b) | Net Carrying Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Intangible assets with indefinite lives: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brand names | $ | 44 | $ | — | $ | 44 | $ | 46 | $ | — | $ | 46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Intangibles with finite lives: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trademarks and brand names | 53 | (41) | 12 | 53 | (40) | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other intangible assets(a) | 34 | (13) | 21 | 33 | (12) | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total intangible assets with finite lives | 87 | (54) | 33 | 86 | (52) | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 131 | $ | (54) | $ | 77 | $ | 132 | $ | (52) | $ | 80 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(a) Other intangible assets primarily include customer and distributor relationships.
(b) Amounts reflect impairments noted below and are subject to foreign currency adjustments.
Amortization expense relating to the intangible assets with finite lives was $2, $7 and $11 for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Based on the carrying values of the intangible assets with finite lives as of December 31, 2025, amortization expense for each of the next five years is estimated to be approximately $2.
For 2025, we completed the required annual assessment of indefinite-lived intangible assets, other than goodwill, for impairment using a qualitative assessment as of the first day of the third quarter, and we determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value is more than the carrying amount for each of these intangible assets.
2024 Intangible Asset Impairment
During the third quarter of 2024, we revised internal financial projections for our Softex and Thinx businesses to reflect updated expectations of future financial performance in light of current performance and as part of our re-organization efforts discussed in Note 2. As part of these revisions, we performed impairment assessments for our indefinite-lived brand names and finite-lived intangible assets, primarily brand names and distributor relationships. As a result of these assessments, we recognized impairment charges of $97 pre-tax ($57 after-tax) to write-down these intangible assets to their respective fair values. The valuation methods used in the assessments included the relief from royalty and distributor relationships methods. These impairment charges were primarily caused by increased attrition in our distributor relationships valuation model and the continued challenges arising from modified consumer shopping behavior in the post-COVID-19 period coupled with revisions to our long-term strategy and outlook. These noncash charges were included in Impairment of intangible assets in our Consolidated Statements of Income and in Asset impairments within Operating Activities in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
2023 Intangible Asset Impairment
In the second quarter of 2023, we conducted forecasting and strategic reviews and integration assessments of our Softex Indonesia business, acquired in the fourth quarter of 2020, and with performance below expectations since acquisition, we revised internal financial projections of the business to reflect updated expectations of future financial performance. These reviews and the subsequent revisions in the projections highlighted challenges for the Softex business arising from modified consumer shopping behavior in the post-COVID-19 period, inflationary pressures and other macroeconomic factors and increased competitive activity in the region. As a result of separate management reviews, we also have revised internal financial projections associated with our acquisition of a controlling interest in Thinx as a result of performance below expectations due to the impact of modified consumer shopping behavior in the post-COVID-19 period.
These revisions were considered triggering events requiring interim impairment assessments to be performed relative to the intangible assets that had been recorded as part of these acquisitions. These intangible assets included indefinite-lived and finite-lived brands and finite-lived distributor and customer relationships. As a result of the interim impairment assessments, we recognized impairment charges, principally arising from the impairment charge of $593 related to the Softex business, totaling $658 pre-tax ($483 after-tax) to write-down these intangible assets to their respective fair values aggregating to $188 as of June 30, 2023. The valuation methods used in the assessments included the relief from royalty and distributor and customer relationships methods. This noncash charge was included in Impairment of intangible assets in our Consolidated Statements of Income and in Asset impairments within Operating Activities in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
We believe our estimates and assumptions used in the valuations are reasonable and comparable to those that would be used by other market participants; however, actual events and results could differ substantially from those used in the valuation, and to the extent such factors result in a failure to achieve the projected cash flows used to estimate fair value, additional noncash impairment charges could be required in the future.
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 12, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Feb 13, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Feb 8, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Feb 9, 2023 | |
| 2021 | Feb 10, 2022 | |
| 2016 | Feb 8, 2017 | |
| 2015 | Feb 11, 2016 | |
About Goodwill & Intangibles Disclosures
Goodwill and intangible asset disclosures reveal the premium paid in acquisitions and how management assesses whether that premium retains its value. Since goodwill is no longer amortized under US GAAP, the annual impairment test is the only mechanism that adjusts carrying values downward — making the assumptions behind that test critically important for investors.
Key signals: a history of goodwill impairments suggests management consistently overpays for acquisitions. Watch the gap between reporting unit fair value and carrying amount — when fair value exceeds carrying amount by less than 10-20%, a small decline in business performance could trigger a write-down. For finite-lived intangibles, examine useful life assumptions across customer relationships, technology, and trade names; aggressive estimates inflate near-term earnings. Compare total intangibles-to-total-assets ratios against peers to assess acquisition dependency. Rising goodwill as a percentage of equity can signal balance sheet fragility.