Procter & Gamble Earnings: Predicting a Slowdown in 2021

Investors were cautiously optimistic heading into Procter & Gamble's (NYSE: PG) fiscal fourth-quarter earnings report. The consumer products titan had announced surprisingly strong sales growth in each of the last three quarters, after all, and was due for another strong showing as shoppers continued prioritizing home maintenance and cleaning supplies through the COVID-19 pandemic.

That investor optimism was tempered by expectations for slower growth due to reduced panic-buying. An impressive report from Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) last week also suggested P&G might be losing market share in a few key niches like diapers.

The company's earnings release confirmed these mixed operating trends, which convinced management to issue a conservative outlook for the new fiscal year ahead.

Source Fool.com