New York, February 13, 2026, 17:24 EST — After-hours
- Procter & Gamble shares slipped roughly 0.7% after hours, changing hands at $160.07.
- Italy’s competition watchdog has launched an investigation into advertising for a Braun hair-removal device.
- After exercising options, Executive Chairman Jon Moeller and grooming chief Gary Coombe sold shares, according to SEC filings.
Procter & Gamble (PG) dropped roughly 0.7% to $160.07 after the bell on Friday. The consumer products giant is dealing with new regulatory attention out of Europe and, per U.S. filings, reported insider stock sales.
P&G carries serious weight in consumer staples—a corner of the market investors often favor when the waters get rough. When regulators challenge product claims like this, the story can stick, despite the unclear impact on the bottom line.
This lands just days ahead of P&G’s scheduled remarks at an investor conference—a venue where traders usually scan for any sign of changing rhetoric on pricing or demand. P&G’s been walking a tightrope, aiming to hold onto price increases while trying not to sacrifice too much volume.
Italy’s antitrust regulator is scrutinizing ads for the Braun Skin i-Expert epilator, flagging what it called overblown promises—specifically, that users could stay hair-free for two years. The authority says those claims aren’t backed up. P&G, responding by email, insisted it relies on “a rigorous process” and “proven performance data” to support its marketing, adding it will work with the regulator. (Reuters)
A Form 4 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission revealed that Executive Chairman Jon Moeller exercised stock options and unloaded 173,268 shares across Feb. 11 and 12. The sale netted about $28 million at the listed prices. Afterward, Moeller’s direct holdings came to around 319,385 shares, according to the document. (Securities and Exchange Commission)
Grooming chief Gary Coombe exercised options and offloaded 36,093 shares on Feb. 12, pulling in roughly $5.9 million at a weighted average price of $162.33, according to another Form 4. The shares were exercised at $78.52 each, the filing showed. (Securities and Exchange Commission)
The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund edged up roughly 0.3% late Friday. Colgate-Palmolive and Kimberly-Clark moved higher too. P&G, though, trailed the group as the session wrapped up and trading extended past the close.
U.S. stocks barely budged as January’s consumer price data landed softer than forecasts, fueling hopes for rate cuts—though tech names saw muted enthusiasm. “This is a good number,” said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities, weighing in after the inflation print. (Reuters)
P&G plans to stream its presentation during the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference on Feb. 19 at 9 a.m. ET, the company said Thursday. CEO Shailesh Jejurikar and CFO Andre Schulten are lined up to speak. This year’s event takes place Feb. 16-20 in Orlando, Florida. (P&G Investor Relations)
P&G last checked in with investors on Jan. 22, posting second-quarter net sales of $22.2 billion—a 1% bump. Organic sales flatlined, with no movement after factoring out currency and deal activity. The full-year forecast stayed intact. “We have confidence in our plans to deliver stronger results in the second-half of the fiscal year,” Jejurikar said. (P&G Investor Relations)
The Italy probe just threw in a new wildcard—one that doesn’t fit neatly into the model. If the company ends up on the losing end, it could be staring down fines, tweaks to its marketing, or regulators looking closer in other countries. On top of that, if consumers start rejecting price hikes more forcefully, any gains from higher prices could get wiped out by bigger losses in sales volume.
The focus now shifts to P&G and if the company signals adjustments on pricing, promo strategies or volume when it takes the stage Feb. 19. Investors will also be watching for fresh remarks from management about product claims or compliance, with regulators hovering.
