As the Q2 earnings season wraps, let’s dig into this quarter’s best and worst performers in the household products industry, including Reynolds (NASDAQ: REYN) and its peers.

Household products stocks are generally stable investments, as many of the industry's products are essential for a comfortable and functional living space. Recently, there's been a growing emphasis on eco-friendly and sustainable offerings, reflecting the evolving consumer preferences for environmentally conscious options. These trends can be double-edged swords that benefit companies who innovate quickly to take advantage of them and hurt companies that don't invest enough to meet consumers where they want to be with regards to trends.

The 10 household products stocks we track reported a mixed Q2. As a group, revenues missed analysts’ consensus estimates by 0.6% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 0.7% below.

While some household products stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 1.4% since the latest earnings results.

Reynolds (NASDAQ: REYN)

Best known for its aluminum foil, Reynolds (NASDAQ: REYN) is a household products company whose products focus on food storage, cooking, and waste.

Reynolds reported revenues of $938 million, flat year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 4%. Overall, it was a strong quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates and a decent beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

“We are executing well in a challenging operating environment while also investing in the long-term potential of our business,” said Scott Huckins, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Reynolds pulled off the biggest analyst estimates beat of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is up 6.5% since reporting and currently trades at $22.95.

Is now the time to buy Reynolds? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q2: Clorox (NYSE: CLX)

Founded in 1913 with bleach as the sole product offering, Clorox (NYSE: CLX) today is a consumer products giant whose product portfolio spans everything from bleach to skincare to salad dressing to kitty litter.

Clorox reported revenues of $1.99 billion, up 4.5% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 3.3%. The business had a very strong quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA and organic revenue estimates.

Clorox achieved the fastest revenue growth among its peers. Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 1.7% since reporting. It currently trades at $123.15.

Is now the time to buy Clorox? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Slowest Q2: Spectrum Brands (NYSE: SPB)

A leader in multiple consumer product categories, Spectrum Brands (NYSE: SPB) is a diversified company with a portfolio of trusted brands spanning home appliances, garden care, personal care, and pet care.

Spectrum Brands reported revenues of $699.6 million, down 10.2% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 5.5%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ organic revenue and EBITDA estimates.

Spectrum Brands delivered the slowest revenue growth in the group. The stock is flat since the results and currently trades at $52.81.

Read our full analysis of Spectrum Brands’s results here.

Energizer (NYSE: ENR)

Masterminds behind the viral Energizer Bunny mascot, Energizer (NYSE: ENR) is one of the world's largest manufacturers of batteries.

Energizer reported revenues of $725.3 million, up 3.4% year on year. This result beat analysts’ expectations by 3.1%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also recorded a beat of analysts’ EPS and gross margin estimates.

The stock is up 19.7% since reporting and currently trades at $26.48.

Read our full, actionable report on Energizer here, it’s free.

Kimberly-Clark (NASDAQ: KMB)

Originally founded as a Wisconsin paper mill in 1872, Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) is now a household products powerhouse known for personal care and tissue products.

Kimberly-Clark reported revenues of $4.16 billion, down 1.6% year on year. This print lagged analysts' expectations by 9.6%. Taking a step back, it was a mixed quarter as it also logged a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates but a miss of analysts’ gross margin estimates.

Kimberly-Clark had the weakest performance against analyst estimates among its peers. The stock is flat since reporting and currently trades at $124.34.

Read our full, actionable report on Kimberly-Clark here, it’s free.

Market Update

Thanks to the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been on a steady path downward, easing back toward that 2% sweet spot. Fortunately (miraculously to some), all this tightening didn’t send the economy tumbling into a recession, so here we are, cautiously celebrating a soft landing. The cherry on top? Recent rate cuts (half a point in September 2024, a quarter in November) have propped up markets, especially after Trump’s November win lit a fire under major indices and sent them to all-time highs. However, there’s still plenty to ponder — tariffs, corporate tax cuts, and what 2025 might hold for the economy.

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