New York, Feb 9, 2026, 18:45 EST — Trading after the close.
Kenvue Inc. inched higher after hours on Monday, with shares ticking up roughly 0.2% to $18.18. Earlier, the stock closed at $18.14. The day’s range: $17.99 to $18.20. About 91.5 million shares changed hands.
The consumer health company plans to release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings after the bell on Feb. 17, skipping its regular quarterly conference call due to an ongoing deal with Kimberly-Clark, according to the company.
With Kenvue, it’s not daily brand buzz driving the stock—deal structure and timing have taken over, and management has been quiet. Kimberly-Clark Chief Executive Mike Hsu, in a note to staff, said the company is aiming to wrap up the transaction sometime in the back half of 2026, pending approvals and the usual conditions, a filing showed.
Kenvue investors signed off on the merger deal back on Jan. 29, casting around 1.49 billion votes in support, while just 7.5 million opposed, according to a regulatory filing.
KVUE barely budged, even as U.S. stocks advanced on Monday. The S&P 500 climbed 0.5%, Nasdaq picked up 0.9%, so defensive consumer plays like KVUE didn’t see much action by the close.
Kenvue’s lineup covers self care, skin health and beauty, and essential health, featuring brands like Tylenol, Neutrogena, and Listerine.
The deal process isn’t finished yet, so investors will be watching the numbers for any slip in demand, margin squeeze, or marketing spend creeping higher when results arrive. Without a conference call, the language in the release itself will get extra scrutiny.
Some traders are eyeing the stock’s hefty daily volume, questioning if it points to bets on the merger’s timing, not changes in Kenvue’s underlying business. For most of the past week, Kenvue shares hovered close to the mid-$18 range.
But it’s hardly a smooth road to closing. Proxy adviser ISS is backing the deal, but flags two big question marks: ongoing litigation tied to talc baby powder, and fresh scrutiny over Tylenol’s main ingredient. Both loom large for investors. “On balance, support for the transaction is warranted,” ISS noted at the time. Reuters
All eyes now turn to Feb. 17, with Kenvue set to report after the bell. Investors want to hear if there’s any change in how the company talks about regulatory approvals or the targeted second-half 2026 closing timeline.
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