Stock Comparison
KMB vs PG: A Paper-and-Tissue Book, or the Full Household Aisle?
A head-to-head of Kimberly-Clark and Procter & Gamble covering dividends, brand mix, and size.
Updated October 16, 2026
How these figures are calculated: methodology.
Best for
- KMBInvestors who want higher current income (4.85% vs 2.73% for PG).
- PGInvestors who want direct ownership of the underlying business, with no fund wrapper or management fee.
Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.
KMB has lagged PG over the trailing twelve months, posting a -7.29% total return against 9.65%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: PG has compounded at 8.99% a year, against 2.27% for KMB. PG has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 18.0% against 22.6% for KMB. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD cumulative | 1Y cumulative | 3Y annualized | 5Y annualized | 10Y annualized | Since Mar 1980 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KMB | 8.67% | -7.29% | -0.62% | -0.76% | 2.27% | 11.12% | 22.6% | -0.21 | -0.27 | -34.1% |
| PG | 13.67% | 9.65% | 5.69% | 4.64% | 8.99% | 13.03% | 18.0% | 0.08 | 0.10 | -21.1% |
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 16, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since Mar 1980” measures every fund from March 17, 1980 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Side-by-side snapshot
| Metric |  KMB |  PG |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | The Procter & Gamble Company |
| Issuer | — | — |
| Last Close | $105.57 as of October 16, 2026 | $159.35 as of October 16, 2026 |
| Distribution rate | 4.85% | 2.73% |
| Trailing 12-month yield | 4.83% | 2.69% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 97 | 97 |
| Safety-Adjusted Yield | 4.70% | 2.65% |
| Expense ratio | — | — |
| AUM | — | — |
| Distribution frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Underlying index | — | — |
| Objective | Manufactures and markets personal care and consumer tissue products worldwide including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, and Cottonelle brands. | Provides branded consumer packaged goods including beauty, grooming, health care, fabric care, and home care products worldwide. |
| Asset class | Equity | Equity |
| Inception date | N/A | N/A |
| Beta | 0.275 | 0.377 |
| Last dividend | $1.28 | $1.0885 declared, pays 11/16/2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | 09/04/2026 | 10/23/2026 upcoming |
Bottom lineChoose KMB if you want higher current income (4.85% vs 2.73% for PG). Choose PG if you want direct ownership of the underlying business, with no fund wrapper or management fee.
KMB vs PG: tissue specialist or household giant?
Both are Dividend Kings in household products. Kimberly-Clark is concentrated in paper and personal care; P&G is the broader aisle.
| KMB | PG | |
|---|---|---|
| Mix | Paper, tissue, personal care | Full household and beauty aisle |
| Payout | Quarterly dividend | Quarterly dividend |
| Distribution rate | 4.85% | 2.73% |
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Quick verdict
KMB (Kimberly-Clark Corporation) and PG (The Procter & Gamble Company) are both quarterly-pay dividend-paying stocks, but they take different approaches.
KMB offers the higher yield at 4.85% vs 2.73% for PG. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
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Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, KMB would generate roughly $121.25 cash per distribution, while PG would produce $68.25 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
Strategy & risk
KMB is a stock built around personal care products exposure, while PG is a stock built around consumer products exposure. Beta is 0.275 for KMB and 0.377 for PG, making KMB the less volatile of the two by this measure.
Security details
KMB (Kimberly-Clark Corporation) is a stock. PG (The Procter & Gamble Company) is a stock.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between KMB and PG?
Both are Dividend Kings in household products and pay quarterly. KMB (Kimberly-Clark Corporation) distributes 4.85% and PG (The Procter & Gamble Company) distributes 2.73% as of October 2026. Kimberly-Clark is concentrated in paper, tissue, and personal care; P&G spreads across the household aisle. Mix and scale, not a small yield gap, are the decision.
What is the current distribution rate for KMB and PG?
KMB currently distributes 4.85% and PG 2.73%, based on fund data updated October 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.
Is KMB or PG better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. KMB currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
Can I hold both KMB and PG?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Is KMB or PG safer?
By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — they are effectively tied: KMB scores 97, PG scores 97. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.
How much income does $10,000 in KMB vs PG generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in KMB would generate roughly $121.25 cash per distribution ($485.00 annually). The same in PG would produce about $68.25 cash per distribution ($273.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, KMB or PG?
KMB has lagged PG over the trailing twelve months, posting a -7.29% total return against 9.65%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: PG has compounded at 8.99% a year, against 2.27% for KMB. PG has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 18.0% against 22.6% for KMB. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.