Report
Edward Lewis

US HPC - Initiating Coverage: O/W: EL, CHD & PG; N: CLX & CL; U/W: KMB

For many years, the Household Products and Personal Care (HPC) sector offered attractive long term growth providing products that address the daily needs of millions of consumers around the world. Underlying mid-single digit category growth was supported by innovation, pricing, acquisitions and geographic expansion to support attractive high single digit sales growth which saw the sector earn a premium valuation. However, the growth profile is not what it once was and the sector's valuation has contracted as it works through a series of challenges. Analysis of these issues suggests it is too early to be broadly positive but we do see opportunities to invest in high quality growth names (EL, CHD) as well as those where underlying operational improvement is not yet reflected in valuation (PG). At the same time, we prefer to avoid those where a return to sustainable top line growth looks challenging (KMB).
Underlyings
Church & Dwight Co. Inc.

Church & Dwight develops, manufactures and markets a range of consumer products. The company's consumer products include: ARM & HAMMER? baking soda, cat litter, laundry detergent, carpet deodorizer and other baking soda based products; TROJAN? condoms, lubricants and vibrators; OXICLEAN? stain removers, cleaning solutions, laundry detergents and bleach alternatives; SPINBRUSH? battery-operated toothbrushes; FIRST RESPONSE? home pregnancy and ovulation test kits; NAIR? depilatories; ORAJEL? oral analgesic; XTRA? laundry detergent; L'IL CRITTERS? and VITAFUSION? gummy dietary supplements; BATISTE? dry shampoo; WATERPIK? water flossers and showerheads, and FLAWLESS? hair removal products.

Clorox Company

Clorox is a manufacturer and marketer of consumer products. The company sells its products through mass retailers, grocery outlets, warehouse clubs, dollar stores, home hardware centers, drug, pet and military stores, third-party and owned e-commerce channels, and distributors. The company has four reportable segments: Cleaning, which consists of laundry, home care and other products; Household, which consists of charcoal, bags, wraps and containers, cat litter, and digestive health products; Lifestyle, which consists of food products, water-filtration systems and filters, natural personal care products, and dietary supplements; and International, which consists of products sold outside the United States.

Colgate-Palmolive Company

Colgate-Palmolive manufactures and markets a variety of products in the United States and around the world. The company has two product segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition. Oral, Personal and Home Care products include toothpaste, toothbrushes and mouthwash, bar and liquid hand soaps, shower gels, shampoos, conditioners, deodorants and antiperspirants, skin care products, dishwashing detergents, fabric conditioners, household cleaners, and other similar items. Pet Nutrition products include specialty pet nutrition products manufactured and marketed by Hill's Pet Nutrition.

Estee Lauder Companies Inc. Class A

Estee Lauder Companies is a manufacturer and marketer of skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The company's products are sold under a number of brand names including: Estee Lauder, Clinique, Origins, MzAzC, Bobbi Brown, La Mer, Jo Malone London, Aveda and Too Faced. The company is also the global licensee for fragrances, cosmetics and/or related products sold under various designer brand names. The company's products include skin care, makeup and related items such as compacts, brushes and other makeup tools, fragrance sold in various forms, hair care, and other ancillary products and services.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Kimberly-Clark is principally engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of a range of products primarily made from natural or synthetic fibers using technologies in fibers, nonwovens and absorbency. The company is organized into three operating segments: Personal Care, which provides solutions and products such as disposable diapers, training and youth pants, swimpants, baby wipes, feminine and incontinence care products, and other related products; Consumer Tissue, which provides facial and bathroom tissue, paper towels, napkins and related products; and K-C Professional, which provides a range of solutions and supporting products such as wipers, tissue, towels, apparel, soaps and sanitizers.

Procter & Gamble Company

Procter & Gamble provides consumer packaged goods. The company's products are sold primarily through mass merchandisers, e-commerce, grocery stores, membership club stores, drug stores, department stores, distributors, wholesalers, baby stores, beauty stores, other stores and pharmacies. The company has five reportable segments: Beauty, which includes hair care, and skin and personal care products; Grooming, which includes shave care products; Health Care, which includes oral care and personal health care products; Fabric and Home Care, which includes fabric care and home care products; and Baby, Feminine and Family Care, which includes baby care, feminine care and family care products.

Provider
Atlantic Equities
Atlantic Equities

Formed in 2003 by an established team from Cazenove, one of the most respected investment banks in the UK, Atlantic Equities conducts and publishes fundamental, bottom up research on mid and large cap US companies.

Atlantic provide order execution through a wide range of DMA products and algorithmic trading suites.

Analysts
Edward Lewis

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