Stocks are mixed in the early going after last week’s solid finish. Gold and silver are rising modestly, while the dollar, Treasuries, and crude oil are mostly flat.
Consumer products giant Kimberly-Clark Corp. (KMB) is taking advantage of the Tylenol-driven slide in Kenvue Inc. (KVUE), announcing plans to buy the firm for $40 billion in cash and stock. The offer price of $21.01 is a 46% premium to where KVUE closed on Friday.
KVUE shares have been sliding for months amid comments from President Trump’s administration linking Tylenol usage to autism. But KMB said the deal would allow it to compete more effectively in high-growth consumer product categories. In addition to Tylenol, Kenvue makes products like Neutrogena lotions, Band-Aids, and Listerine mouthwash. Kimberly-Clark’s portfolio includes Huggies diapers, Scott toilet paper, and Kleenex tissues.
KMB, KVUE (YTD % Change)
Data by YCharts
Meanwhile, the government shutdown is entering another week – and closing in on the longest ever. The previous record of 35 days came in late 2018 and early 2019. Flight delays, closed national parks, missed paychecks, and lapsed aid programs are some of the existing or feared consequences.
Markets have managed to power ahead anyway, though economists and investors are watching for signs of spreading economic weakness. Private labor market data is softening, even as “official” numbers aren’t being reported due to the shutdown.
Finally, dealmaking in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) space shows no sign of letting up. Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) signed a $9.7 billion, five-year deal with IREN Ltd. (IREN) to give it access to computing power and Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) chips at the firm’s data centers. IREN operates facilities in British Columbia and Texas with total capacity of 2,910 megawatts. Its shares have soared more than six-fold this year thanks to the AI boom.
