New York, Jan 26, 2026, 19:23 (EST) — After-hours
- Procter & Gamble shares slipped roughly 0.4%, closing near $149.49 in late trading
- The company announced it has acquired Wonderbelly, a brand specializing in over-the-counter digestive wellness; terms of the deal were not revealed
- A regulatory filing revealed that Chief Brand Officer Marc Pritchard sold 95,903 shares following the exercise of his options
Procter & Gamble shares dipped in late Monday trading, most recently at $149.49, following news of a modest acquisition in its health division and the filing of an executive stock sale.
The moves matter because investors are still trying to pin down what counts as “growth” for big household-products companies when shoppers stay cautious. P&G has relied on price hikes and focusing on higher-margin categories, but gaining volume remains a challenge.
Timing is another factor. Ahead of this week’s Federal Reserve meeting, funds have been shifting between defensive stocks and riskier plays, often putting consumer staples squarely in the firing line.
P&G announced that Wonderbelly will become part of its Personal Health Care lineup, introducing a “free-from” OTC digestive wellness brand that steers clear of artificial dyes and other additives. “Bringing Wonderbelly … complements our existing brands,” said Phil McWaters, SVP of P&G Personal Health Care. Wonderbelly co-founder Lucas Kraft added the founders “can’t wait to see how they accelerate the vision.” (Procter & Gamble)
A separate filing revealed that Marc S. Pritchard, P&G’s chief brand officer, sold 95,903 shares on Jan. 23 after exercising options, at a weighted average price of $151.1495. The sale brought in roughly $14.5 million. According to the Form 4 — the SEC document tracking insider trades — he still held about 182,607 shares directly following the sale. (SEC)
The stock lagged behind as the broader market edged up. The S&P 500 gained 0.5% on Monday, but the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF dipped a bit. Colgate-Palmolive and Kimberly-Clark also saw declines. Shares of Kenvue and Haleon, both OTC product sellers, dropped as well. (AP News)
P&G reported fiscal second-quarter net sales of $22.2 billion and core earnings per share of $1.88 last week, maintaining its full-year guidance. CEO Shailesh Jejurikar commented, “Our results … keep us on track.” (PG Investor)
Investors still have cause for caution. Deals like Wonderbelly often take a while to impact the numbers, and P&G faces uneven demand alongside cost pressures that could tighten margins if consumers start trading down or promotional activity ramps up.
The next big event isn’t a P&G announcement but the Fed’s upcoming meeting. Policymakers wrap up their session on Jan. 27-28, with expectations to keep rates steady between 3.50% and 3.75%. That stance could shape the trajectory for defensive names like P&G. (Federal Reserve)
