Kimberly-Clark to Acquire Kenvue in $48.7 Billion Health & Wellness Mega-Deal

Kimberly-Clark Corporation has unveiled a transformative $48.7 billion acquisition of Tylenol-maker Kenvue, creating a consumer health behemoth with 10 billion-dollar brands. The cash-and-stock deal offers Kenvue shareholders a 46% premium at $21.01 per share—$3.50 in cash plus 0.14625 Kimberly-Clark shares per KVUE share.

The combined entity projects $32 billion in annual revenue, serving nearly half the global population. Market reaction was immediate: Kenvue shares surged 16% on the announcement while Kimberly-Clark stock tumbled 12.5% as investors digested the strategic play. Expected synergies of $2.1 billion underscore the merger's operational rationale.

This consolidation reflects broader trends in consumer health sector M&A, where scale advantages are increasingly critical. The transaction's 2026 closing timeline allows for regulatory scrutiny across multiple jurisdictions—a necessary hurdle for deals of this magnitude.