Kimberly-Clark announced a $48.7 billion agreement to acquire Kenvue, the consumer-health division spun off from Johnson & Johnson, in one of the largest deals of the decade for the sector. The transaction will combine household names like Kleenex, Huggies, Neutrogena, and Tylenol under a single umbrella, creating a consumer-goods powerhouse with an estimated $55 billion in annual revenue. Kimberly-Clark expects to realize more than $1 billion in annual cost synergies within three years through manufacturing consolidation and supply-chain efficiencies. The deal, expected to close in early 2026, aims to strengthen Kimberly-Clark’s product diversification and offset slowing demand in its traditional tissue and hygiene categories.

Market observers view the acquisition as a bold attempt to future-proof revenue streams by expanding into higher-margin personal-care and over-the-counter health products. The merger also mirrors a broader trend of consolidation as legacy players seek scale and stability amid fluctuating consumer sentiment and inflationary pressure.