Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) Issues Earnings Results

Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday. The company reported $0.95 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.91 by $0.04, FiscalAI reports. Colgate-Palmolive had a net margin of 14.47% and a return on equity of 333.39%. The business had revenue of $5.23 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.13 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.91 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 5.8% compared to the same quarter last year.

Here are the key takeaways from Colgate-Palmolive’s conference call:

• Colgate delivered stronger‑than‑expected Q4 and full‑year 2025 results, with organic sales, net sales, gross profit, base business EPS and free cash flow all growing despite raw material inflation and higher tariffs.
• Management launched a new 2030 Strategy and a Strategic Growth and Productivity Program to accelerate brand investment, science‑based innovation, omni‑channel demand generation, and digital/data/AI capabilities.
• 2026 guidance is a wide 1%–4% organic sales range due to macro and category uncertainty; foreign exchange is expected to provide a low single‑digit revenue tailwind (mainly H1) that will be used flexibly for reinvestment and margin support.
• Key portfolio strengths drove outperformance — emerging markets grew ~4.5% in Q4 (Latin America led by Mexico and Brazil), Hill’s delivered strong underlying volume and share gains, and the Prime100 acquisition is performing ahead of plan.
• North America remains the main headwind with sluggish category growth, pantry destocking and promotional pressure (notably in home care), meaning management must rely on stronger innovation and revenue growth management to restore volumes.

Colgate-Palmolive Trading Up 3.8%

Shares of CL traded up $3.22 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $88.46. The company had a trading volume of 7,013,181 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,259,129. Colgate-Palmolive has a 1-year low of $74.54 and a 1-year high of $100.18. The stock has a market cap of $71.31 billion, a PE ratio of 24.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.73 and a beta of 0.30. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $80.58 and a 200-day simple moving average of $81.42. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.90.

Colgate-Palmolive Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 13th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 21st will be issued a $0.52 dividend. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, January 21st. Colgate-Palmolive’s dividend payout ratio is presently 58.26%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

CL has been the topic of a number of research reports. Raymond James Financial decreased their price target on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $105.00 to $95.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 20th. UBS Group raised their target price on Colgate-Palmolive from $90.00 to $93.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Citigroup dropped their price target on Colgate-Palmolive from $105.00 to $95.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Colgate-Palmolive from $88.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group set a $85.00 target price on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $89.44.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Colgate-Palmolive

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC raised its stake in Colgate-Palmolive by 3.7% during the second quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC now owns 4,233 shares of the company’s stock worth $385,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the period. L2 Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 4.4% during the 3rd quarter. L2 Asset Management LLC now owns 3,800 shares of the company’s stock worth $304,000 after buying an additional 159 shares during the last quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 3.9% during the 2nd quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 4,569 shares of the company’s stock valued at $415,000 after buying an additional 171 shares during the period. Keel Point LLC lifted its holdings in Colgate-Palmolive by 4.4% in the second quarter. Keel Point LLC now owns 4,616 shares of the company’s stock valued at $420,000 after acquiring an additional 193 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Schnieders Capital Management LLC. grew its position in Colgate-Palmolive by 2.0% in the second quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 12,494 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,136,000 after acquiring an additional 245 shares during the period. 80.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

More Colgate-Palmolive News

Here are the key news stories impacting Colgate-Palmolive this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 results topped expectations: Colgate posted $0.95 EPS vs. $0.91 expected and $5.23B in revenue vs. $5.13B consensus, with revenue +5.8% y/y — a clear beat that supports the stock’s strength. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Core business momentum — oral care and pet nutrition showed strength, and Latin America rebounded, helping organic growth and supporting management’s tone on fundamentals. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Upbeat full-year sales outlook: Management forecasts annual sales above Street estimates, citing steady demand for essentials in markets like Latin America and Europe — this forward guidance supports investor expectations. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Strong cash generation and returns: Full-year operational cash was a record and the company returned $2.9B to shareholders via dividends and buybacks, which supports yield-seeking investors. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts updating models and previews: Several outlets note analysts revised forecasts ahead of the call; this increases attention on guidance and margin cadence but is largely derivative of the quarter. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Macro noise: broader market moves (e.g., Fed chair news) may amplify the stock’s intraday swing but aren’t Colgate-specific. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Large impairment and margin pressure: Management took a significant goodwill/intangible impairment tied to its skin-health business, which pushed GAAP EPS down (full-year GAAP EPS declined ~25% to $2.63) and caused a quarter-level loss on charges — this is a material one-time hit and raises questions about that segment’s recovery. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Softer China trends weighed on margins: management flagged weakness in China and skin-health that pressured margins despite top-line growth — watch margin trajectory in upcoming quarters. Article Title

About Colgate-Palmolive

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company with a long history in household and personal care categories. The business traces its roots to the early 19th century and has evolved into a multinational manufacturer and marketer of everyday consumer goods focused on health, hygiene and home care.

The company’s core activities center on oral care, personal care, home care and pet nutrition. Its product portfolio includes toothpaste, toothbrushes and mouthwash in oral care; soaps, body washes and deodorants in personal care; dishwashing liquids, surface cleaners and other household products in home care; and scientifically formulated pet foods under its pet nutrition business.