The ratings on Dallas-based Kimberly-Clark Corp. (K-C), a global manufacturer and marketer of household and personal care products, reflect Standard&Poor's Ratings Services' view that the company will continue to maintain a "strong" business risk profile and a "modest" financial risk profile. Our business risk assessment is based on our expectation that the company will continue to have a diverse product portfolio with high brand equity, and maintain its very good global market position. Relevant risk factors in our business risk assessment include our view that the company will remain exposed to volatile commodity and energy costs (as seen over the past several years), and will remain sensitive to consumer trade-down under soft economic conditions. Our view that the
