- Net Sales Increased 4.5%; Organic Sales1 Increased 0.7%
-
Diluted EPS Increased 47% to
$0.25 ; Adjusted Diluted EPS1 Increased 33% to$0.32
“Our year is off to an encouraging start, as our continued efforts to strengthen the business and sharpen execution resulted in delivering net and organic sales growth for the second consecutive quarter, along with meaningful year-over-year improvement in gross margin, operating margin, and EPS,” said
First Quarter Summary
- Net sales increased 4.5% vs the prior year period, reflecting Organic sales1 growth of 0.7% and a foreign currency benefit of 3.8%.
- Gross profit margin was 58.9% vs 58.0% in the prior year period. Adjusted gross profit margin1 was 60.8% vs 60.0% in the prior year period.
- Operating income margin was 19.6% vs 14.9% in the prior year period. Adjusted operating income margin1 was 24.0% vs 19.8% in the prior year period.
-
Diluted earnings per share were
$0.25 vs$0.17 in the prior year period. Adjusted diluted earnings per share1 were$0.32 vs$0.24 in the prior year period.
- Due to the pending transaction with Kimberly-Clark, the Company will not be providing forward-looking guidance.
First Quarter 2026 Financial Results
First quarter 2026 Net sales increased 4.5% vs the prior year period, reflecting Organic sales growth of 0.7% and a foreign currency benefit of 3.8%. Organic sales growth was driven by favorable value realization of 1.0%, partially offset by a 0.3% volume decrease.
Gross Profit Margin and Operating Income Margin
First quarter 2026 Gross profit margin expanded 90 basis points to 58.9% from 58.0% in the prior year period. Adjusted gross profit margin expanded 80 basis points to 60.8% from 60.0% in the prior year period. The year-over-year improvement in both measures largely reflects the savings from productivity gains attributable to our global supply chain optimization initiatives and favorable value realization, which more than offset the impact from inflation, tariffs, and lower volumes.
First quarter 2026 Operating income margin expanded to 19.6% from 14.9% in the prior year period. First quarter 2026 Adjusted operating income margin expanded to 24.0% from 19.8% in the prior year period. The year-over-year improvement in both measures reflects the year-over-year increase in Gross profit margin and Adjusted gross profit margin, as well as benefits from our cost optimization actions, including Our
Interest Expense, Net and Taxes
First quarter 2026 Interest expense, net was
First quarter Effective tax rate was 29.5% vs 29.7% in the prior year period. The Adjusted effective tax rate1 was 27.2% vs 27.5% in the prior year period. The year-over-year reduction in both measures largely reflects favorable jurisdictional mix of earnings in the current period and the impact of tax law changes, partially offset by unfavorable return to provision items.
Net Income Per Share (“Earnings Per Share”)
First quarter 2026 Diluted earnings per share were
First Quarter 2026 Business Segment Results
Self Care
First quarter 2026 Net sales increased 1.9% vs the prior year period, reflecting a foreign currency benefit of 4.2%, partially offset by Organic sales decline of 2.3%. Organic sales decline was driven by a volume decrease of 3.9%, which was partially offset by favorable value realization of 1.6%. Weak cold and flu seasons across major markets weighed on the Self Care business and more than offset continued growth in smoking cessation behind strong commercial execution on Nicorette®, which drove share gains for the brand across major markets in
First quarter 2026 Net sales increased 8.4% vs the prior year period, reflecting Organic sales growth of 5.0% and a foreign currency benefit of 3.4%. Organic sales growth was driven by volume growth of 4.2% and favorable value realization of 0.8%, as strong Organic sales growth in EMEA,
First quarter 2026 Net sales increased 4.9% vs the prior year period, reflecting Organic sales growth of 1.5% and a foreign currency benefit of 3.4%. Organic sales growth was driven by volume growth of 1.4% and slightly favorable value realization of 0.1%, with
Cash Flow and Balance Sheet
First quarter 2026 Net cash flows from operating activities were
Pending Transaction with Kimberly-Clark
As previously announced, the Company entered into a definitive merger agreement on
2026 Restructuring Initiative
As previously disclosed, on
No Conference Call
Due to the pending transaction with Kimberly-Clark, Kenvue will not be hosting a quarterly conference call. This press release will be posted on the Company’s website at investors.kenvue.com.
About Kenvue
1 Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with
The Company believes the presentation of these measures is relevant and useful for investors because it allows investors to view performance in a manner similar to the method used by management. The Company believes these measures help improve investors’ ability to understand the Company’s operating performance and makes it easier to compare the Company’s results with other companies. In addition, the Company believes these measures are also among the primary measures used externally by the Company’s investors, analysts, and peers in its industry for purposes of valuation and comparing the operating performance of the Company to other companies in our industry.
Below are definitions and the reconciliation to the most closely related GAAP measures for the non-GAAP measures used in this press release.
Adjusted diluted earnings per share: We define Adjusted diluted earnings per share as Adjusted net income divided by the weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding. Management views this non-GAAP measure as useful to investors as it provides a supplemental measure of the Company’s performance over time.
Adjusted EBITDA margin: We define EBITDA as
Adjusted effective tax rate: We define Adjusted effective tax rate as
Adjusted gross profit margin: We define Adjusted gross profit margin as
Adjusted net income: We define Adjusted net income as
Adjusted operating income: We define Adjusted operating income as
Adjusted operating income margin: We define Adjusted operating income margin as Adjusted operating income as a percentage of
Free cash flow: We define Free cash flow as
Organic sales: We define Organic sales as
Market Share Information
The Company uses market share and related metrics, including Average Weekly Recommendations, as indicators to assess business performance and trends. Market share references in this press release are derived from a combination of consumption and market share data provided by third-party vendors and internal estimates. Unless otherwise indicated, such references represent the percentage of the dollar value of sales of our products, relative to all product sales in the category in the countries in which the Company operates and purchases data.
Market share data is subject to inherent limitations, including the availability and timing of underlying information. In particular, market share data is not generally available for certain retail channels. The Company measures market share through the most recent period for which market share data is available, which generally reflects a lag time of one or two months. While the Company believes the third-party vendors it uses to provide data are reliable, it has not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of such data or its underlying assumptions. In addition, the Company’s reported market share data may differ from that reported by other companies due to differences in category definitions, geographic scope, internal estimates and other factors.
Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among other things, statements about management’s expectations of Kenvue’s future operating and financial performance, product development, market position, and business strategy. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding the pending transaction with Kimberly-Clark. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “plans,” “expects,” “will,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” and other words of similar meaning. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Kenvue and its affiliates. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the inability to execute on Kenvue’s business development strategy; inflation and other economic factors, such as interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations, as well as existing or proposed tariffs and other constraints on trade both in the
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Net sales |
|
$ |
3,909 |
|
$ |
3,741 |
|
Cost of sales |
|
|
1,607 |
|
|
1,573 |
|
Gross profit |
|
|
2,302 |
|
|
2,168 |
|
Selling, general, and administrative expenses |
|
|
1,453 |
|
|
1,537 |
|
Restructuring expenses |
|
|
71 |
|
|
60 |
|
Other operating expense, net |
|
|
11 |
|
|
13 |
|
Operating income |
|
|
767 |
|
|
558 |
|
Other expense, net |
|
|
— |
|
|
6 |
|
Interest expense, net |
|
|
95 |
|
|
94 |
|
Income before taxes |
|
|
672 |
|
|
458 |
|
Provision for taxes |
|
|
198 |
|
|
136 |
|
Net income |
|
$ |
474 |
|
$ |
322 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Net income per share |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Basic |
|
$ |
0.25 |
|
$ |
0.17 |
|
Diluted |
|
$ |
0.25 |
|
$ |
0.17 |
|
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Basic |
|
|
1,918 |
|
|
1,914 |
|
Diluted |
|
|
1,922 |
|
|
1,925 |
Organic Sales Change
The following tables present a reconciliation of the change in Net sales, as reported, to the change in Organic sales, a non-GAAP measure, for the periods presented:
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
||||||||
|
|
Reported Net
|
|
Impact of
|
|
Organic Sales Change |
||||
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
Total Organic
|
|
Price/Mix(2) |
|
Volume |
||
|
Self Care |
1.9% |
|
4.2% |
|
(2.3)% |
|
1.6% |
|
(3.9)% |
|
|
8.4 |
|
3.4 |
|
5.0 |
|
0.8 |
|
4.2 |
|
|
4.9 |
|
3.4 |
|
1.5 |
|
0.1 |
|
1.4 |
|
Total |
4.5% |
|
3.8% |
|
0.7% |
|
1.0% |
|
(0.3)% |
|
(1) Acquisitions and divestitures did not impact the reported Net sales change.
|
|||||||||
Total Segment
Segment Net sales for the periods presented were as follows:
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
||||
|
(Unaudited; Dollars in Millions) |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Self Care |
|
$ |
1,699 |
|
$ |
1,667 |
|
|
|
|
1,059 |
|
|
977 |
|
|
|
|
1,151 |
|
|
1,097 |
|
Total segment net sales |
|
$ |
3,909 |
|
$ |
3,741 |
Segment Adjusted operating income for the periods presented was as follows:
|
|
|
Adjusted Operating Income |
||||||
|
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
||||||
|
(Unaudited; Dollars in Millions) |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Self Care Adjusted operating income |
|
$ |
625 |
|
|
$ |
566 |
|
|
|
|
|
168 |
|
|
|
92 |
|
|
Essential Health Adjusted operating income |
|
|
299 |
|
|
|
239 |
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
1,092 |
|
|
$ |
897 |
|
|
Reconciliation to Adjusted operating income (non-GAAP): |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Depreciation(1) |
|
|
78 |
|
|
|
73 |
|
|
General corporate/unallocated expenses |
|
|
69 |
|
|
|
79 |
|
|
Other operating expense, net |
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
13 |
|
|
Other—impact of Deferred Markets |
|
|
(6 |
) |
|
|
(9 |
) |
|
Adjusted operating income (non-GAAP) |
|
$ |
940 |
|
|
$ |
741 |
|
|
Reconciliation to Income before taxes: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Amortization of intangible assets(2) |
|
|
65 |
|
|
|
63 |
|
|
Separation-related costs(4) |
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
38 |
|
|
Restructuring expenses and operating model optimization initiatives(3) |
|
|
78 |
|
|
|
67 |
|
|
Conversion of stock-based awards |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
Other—impact of Deferred Markets |
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
Founder Shares |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
Pending Transaction and other related costs(5) |
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Operating income |
|
$ |
767 |
|
|
$ |
558 |
|
|
Other expense, net |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
Interest expense, net |
|
|
95 |
|
|
|
94 |
|
|
Income before taxes |
|
$ |
672 |
|
|
$ |
458 |
|
Non-GAAP Financial Information
The following tables present reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP for the periods presented:
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
|||||||||||
|
(Unaudited; Dollars in Millions) |
As Reported |
Adjustments |
Reference |
As Adjusted |
||||||||
|
Net sales |
$ |
3,909 |
|
— |
|
$ |
3,909 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Gross profit |
$ |
2,302 |
|
74 |
(a) |
$ |
2,376 |
|
||||
|
Gross profit margin |
|
58.9 |
% |
|
|
|
60.8 |
% |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Operating income |
$ |
767 |
|
173 |
(a)-(c) |
$ |
940 |
|
||||
|
Operating income margin |
|
19.6 |
% |
|
|
|
24.0 |
% |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Net income |
$ |
474 |
|
141 |
(a)-(d) |
$ |
615 |
|
||||
|
Net income margin |
|
12.1 |
% |
|
|
|
15.7 |
% |
||||
|
Interest expense, net |
$ |
95 |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Provision for taxes |
$ |
198 |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Depreciation and amortization |
$ |
143 |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
EBITDA (non-GAAP) |
$ |
910 |
|
108 |
(b)-(c), (e) |
$ |
1,018 |
|
||||
|
EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) |
|
23.3 |
% |
|
|
|
26.0 |
% |
||||
|
Detail of Adjustments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
Cost of Sales |
|
SG&A/Restructuring
|
|
Other Operating
|
|
Provision for
|
|
Total |
|||||||
|
Amortization of intangible assets(2) |
|
$ |
65 |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
65 |
|
|
Restructuring expenses(3) |
|
|
— |
|
|
71 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
71 |
|
|
Operating model optimization initiatives(3) |
|
|
5 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
Separation-related costs, conversion of stock-based awards, and Founder Shares(4) |
|
|
2 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
Pending Transaction and other related costs(5) |
|
|
2 |
|
|
14 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
2 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
Impact of Deferred Markets—minority interest expense |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
3 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
Impact of Deferred Markets—provision for taxes |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
3 |
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
Tax impact on special item adjustments |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(29 |
) |
|
|
(29 |
) |
|
Total |
|
$ |
74 |
|
$ |
93 |
|
$ |
6 |
|
$ |
(32 |
) |
|
$ |
141 |
|
|
|
|
(a) |
|
(b) |
|
(c) |
|
(d) |
|
|
|||||||
|
Cost of sales less amortization |
|
$ |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
(e) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
|||||||||||
|
(Unaudited; Dollars in Millions) |
As Reported |
Adjustments |
Reference |
As Adjusted |
||||||||
|
Net sales |
$ |
3,741 |
|
— |
|
$ |
3,741 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Gross profit |
$ |
2,168 |
|
77 |
(a) |
$ |
2,245 |
|
||||
|
Gross profit margin |
|
58.0 |
% |
|
|
|
60.0 |
% |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Operating income |
$ |
558 |
|
183 |
(a)-(c) |
$ |
741 |
|
||||
|
Operating income margin |
|
14.9 |
% |
|
|
|
19.8 |
% |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Net income |
$ |
322 |
|
143 |
(a)-(d) |
$ |
465 |
|
||||
|
Net income margin |
|
8.6 |
% |
|
|
|
12.4 |
% |
||||
|
Interest expense, net |
$ |
94 |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Provision for taxes |
$ |
136 |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Depreciation and amortization |
$ |
136 |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
EBITDA (non-GAAP) |
$ |
688 |
|
120 |
(b)-(c), (e) |
$ |
808 |
|
||||
|
EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) |
|
18.4 |
% |
|
|
|
21.6 |
% |
||||
|
Detail of Adjustments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
Cost of Sales |
|
SG&A/Restructuring
|
|
Other Operating
|
|
Provision for
|
|
Total |
|||||||
|
Amortization of intangible assets(2) |
|
$ |
63 |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
63 |
|
|
Restructuring expenses(3) |
|
|
— |
|
|
60 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
Operating model optimization initiatives(3) |
|
|
6 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
Separation-related costs, conversion of stock-based awards, and Founder Shares(4) |
|
|
8 |
|
|
36 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
44 |
|
|
Impact of Deferred Markets—minority interest expense |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
4 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
Impact of Deferred Markets—provision for taxes |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
5 |
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
Tax impact on special item adjustments |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(35 |
) |
|
|
(35 |
) |
|
Total |
|
$ |
77 |
|
$ |
97 |
|
$ |
9 |
|
$ |
(40 |
) |
|
$ |
143 |
|
|
|
|
(a) |
|
(b) |
|
(c) |
|
(d) |
|
|
|||||||
|
Cost of sales less amortization |
|
$ |
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
(e) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| (1) |
Depreciation consists of depreciation of property, plant, and equipment and amortization of integration and development costs capitalized in connection with cloud computing arrangements. |
|
| (2) |
Relates to the amortization of definite-lived intangible assets (primarily trademarks, trade names, and customer lists) over their estimated useful lives. |
|
| (3) |
Restructuring expenses and operating model optimization initiatives in the fiscal three months ended |
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
||||
|
(Unaudited; Dollars in Millions) |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Employee-related costs (one-time severance and other termination benefits) |
|
$ |
48 |
|
$ |
25 |
|
Information technology and project-related costs |
|
|
30 |
|
|
40 |
|
Other implementation costs |
|
|
— |
|
|
2 |
|
Total restructuring expenses and operating model optimization initiatives |
|
$ |
78 |
|
$ |
67 |
| (4) |
Separation-related costs relate to non-recurring costs incurred in connection with our establishment of Kenvue as a standalone public company. Separation-related costs, the impact of the conversion of stock-based compensation awards, and the incremental stock-based compensation from the issuance of the Founder Shares, were composed of the following: |
|
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
||||
|
(Unaudited; Dollars in Millions) |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Information technology and other |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
33 |
|
Legal entity name change |
|
|
3 |
|
|
5 |
|
Total separation-related costs |
|
$ |
3 |
|
$ |
38 |
|
Conversion of stock-based awards |
|
|
1 |
|
|
3 |
|
Founder Shares |
|
|
2 |
|
|
3 |
|
Total separation-related costs, conversion of stock-based awards, and Founder Shares |
|
$ |
6 |
|
$ |
44 |
| (5) |
Pending Transaction and other related costs consist of expenses incurred in connection with the pending transaction with Kimberly-Clark, including advisory fees, legal costs, professional service costs, and other related costs. |
|
The following table presents reconciliations of the Effective tax rate, as reported, to Adjusted effective tax rate for the periods presented:
|
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
||
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
|
Effective tax rate |
|
29.5% |
|
29.7% |
|
Adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
Tax-effect on special item adjustments |
|
(2.4) |
|
(2.4) |
|
Taxes related to Deferred Markets |
|
0.1 |
|
0.2 |
|
Adjusted Effective tax rate (non-GAAP) |
|
27.2% |
|
27.5% |
The following table presents a reconciliation of Diluted earnings per share, as reported, to Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the periods presented:
|
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
||||||
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Diluted earnings per share |
|
$ |
0.25 |
|
|
$ |
0.17 |
|
|
Adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Separation-related costs |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
Restructuring expenses and operating model optimization initiatives |
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
Amortization of intangible assets |
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
Pending Transaction and other related costs |
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Tax impact on special item adjustments |
|
|
(0.02 |
) |
|
|
(0.02 |
) |
|
Other |
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
Adjusted diluted earnings per share (non-GAAP) |
|
$ |
0.32 |
|
|
$ |
0.24 |
|
The following table presents a reconciliation of Net cash flows from operating activities, as reported, and Purchases of property, plant, and equipment, as reported, to Free cash flow for the periods presented:
|
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
||||||
|
(Unaudited; Dollars in Billions) |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Net cash flows from operating activities |
|
$ |
0.5 |
|
|
$ |
0.4 |
|
|
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment |
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
|
Free cash flow (non-GAAP) |
|
$ |
0.4 |
|
|
$ |
0.2 |
|
Other Supplemental Financial Information
The following table presents the Company’s Net sales by geographic region for the periods presented:
|
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
||||
|
(Unaudited; Dollars in Millions) |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Net sales by geographic region |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
$ |
1,860 |
|
$ |
1,857 |
|
|
|
|
992 |
|
|
884 |
|
|
|
|
700 |
|
|
694 |
|
|
|
|
357 |
|
|
306 |
|
Total Net sales by geographic region |
|
$ |
3,909 |
|
$ |
3,741 |
The following table presents the Company’s Research and development expenses for the periods presented. Research and development expenses are included within Selling, general, and administrative expenses.
|
|
|
Fiscal Three Months Ended |
||||
|
(Unaudited; Dollars in Millions) |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Research & Development |
|
$ |
84 |
|
$ |
99 |
The following table presents the Company’s Cash and cash equivalents, Total debt, and Net debt balance as of the periods presented:
|
(Unaudited; Dollars in Billions) |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
1.1 |
|
|
$ |
1.1 |
|
|
Total debt |
|
|
(8.7 |
) |
|
|
(8.5 |
) |
|
Net debt |
|
$ |
(7.6 |
) |
|
$ |
(7.5 |
) |
|
Note: Numbers may not foot due to rounding. |
||||||||
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Source: Kenvue