Will 2018 Be Kimberly Clark's Best Year Yet?

The beauty of investing in consumer staples is that the products never go out of style. Demand for essentials like bathroom tissue, diapers, and paper towels tends to grow right along with the economy during boom times while staying steady through recessions.

The industry is enduring a slow-growth period right now that has reduced the operating outlook for the biggest players. And Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) -- because of its heavy exposure to the competitive U.S. market -- is facing particularly big challenges.

As a result, sales are likely to remain sluggish in 2018 compared to rivals Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) and Unilever (NYSE: UL). On the bright side, the company should achieve a few important financial wins during the year.

Source: Fool.com