Wall Street expects a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when Colgate-Palmolive (CL - Free Report) reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on October 30. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis consumer products maker is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.92 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +1.1%.
Revenues are expected to be $5.33 billion, up 3.9% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.02% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Colgate-Palmolive?For Colgate-Palmolive, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +0.01%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination indicates that Colgate-Palmolive will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Colgate-Palmolive would post earnings of $0.95 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.99, delivering a surprise of +4.21%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Colgate-Palmolive appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
Have you been searching for a stock that might be well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak in its upcoming report? It is worth considering Colgate-Palmolive (CL - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Consumer Products - Staples industry.
This consumer products maker has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 3.16%.
For the last reported quarter, Colgate-Palmolive came out with earnings of $0.99 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.95 per share, representing a surprise of 4.21%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $0.95 per share and it actually produced earnings of $0.97 per share, delivering a surprise of 2.11%.
Price and EPS Surprise
With this earnings history in mind, recent estimates have been moving higher for Colgate-Palmolive. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the company is positive, which is a great sign of an earnings beat, especially when you combine this metric with its nice Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Colgate-Palmolive currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.01%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on October 30, 2026.
Investors should note, however, that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss, but a negative value does reduce the predictive power of this metric.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) will provide a live webcast of its 2026 third quarter earnings conference call on Friday, October 30, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. ET. The call will be hosted by Chairman, President and CEO, Noel Wallace, Chief Financial Officer, Stan Sutula, and Executive Vice President, Investor Relations, Claire Ross. Investors may access the earnings press release, prepared materials and the live audio webcast on Colgate’s website at https://investor.colgatepalmolive.com/events-and-webcasts. For those unable to participate during the live webcast, a recorded version of the webcast will be made available through the Investor Center section of Colgate’s website.
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Colgate-Palmolive Company is a caring, innovative growth company that is reimagining a healthier future for all people, their pets and our planet. Focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition, we sell our products in more than 200 countries and territories under brands such as Colgate, Palmolive, Ajax, Axion, Darlie, elmex, EltaMD, Fabuloso, Filorga, hello, Hill’s Prescription Diet, Hill’s Science Diet, Irish Spring, Lady Speed Stick, meridol, PCA SKIN, Prime100, Protex, Sanex, Softsoap, Sorriso, Soupline, Speed Stick, Suavitel and Tom’s of Maine. We are recognized for our leadership and innovation in promoting sustainability and community wellbeing, including our achievements in decreasing plastic waste and promoting recyclability, saving water and improving children’s oral health through our Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program, which has reached approximately two billion children and their families since 1991. For more information about Colgate-Palmolive and how we make more smiles, visit www.colgatepalmolive.com. CL-E
Colgate-Palmolive (CL +1.54%) has paid a quarterly dividend since 1895. Moreover, this consumer staples stock has 63 years of consecutive annual dividend increases under its belt. This growth streak makes it a Dividend King, or a stock with over 50 consecutive years of dividend growth.
With this long track record of payouts, investors pay attention when this consumer staples stock declares a dividend. On Sept. 17, Colgate-Palmolive declared its next quarterly dividend, payable Nov. 13, to shareholders of record as of Oct. 20, giving investors until Oct. 19 to purchase a position to qualify for the payout.
With this in mind, let's see how many Colgate-Palmolive shares you'd need to buy to generate $1,000 in yearly dividends.
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Colgate-Palmolive, its dividend, and the math behind $1,000 per year Colgate-Palmolive currently has a quarterly dividend of $0.53 per share. Annualized, that's $2.12 per share. Divide $1,000 by that figure, and you get around 472 shares. An investor who owns 472 shares would collect around $1,000.64 in dividends annually.
$94.21+$1.43 (+1.54%)
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Based on Colgate-Palmolive's share price of $91.61 at the time of writing, those 472 shares would cost approximately $43,240. This works out to a forward dividend yield of around 2.3%. Compared to some high-yielding dividend stocks, this yield may not sound particularly high, but consider the advantages of investing in lower-yielding dividend stocks with decades-long track records of dividend growth.
The long-term picture with durable dividend stocks It's an understatement to say that reaching Dividend King status is a testament to a business's durability and dividend. Companies like Colgate-Palmolive, which have been able to raise payouts over decades, are fundamentally strong businesses that weather recessions, downturns, and more severe economic crises.
Colgate-Palmolive's dividend growth has averaged around 3.2% yearly for the past decade. If this trend holds, this stock's modest annual increases will compound, leading to the quarterly dividend contributing a greater percentage to overall returns. Past performance is not indicative of future results, but companies like Colgate-Palmolive have a strong chance of delivering steady total returns over time.
The best dividend stocks for retirement -- the kind you can potentially hold for decades -- aren't about chasing yield. They're about investing in businesses with a durable competitive advantage. Leading consumer staples that sell everyday brands are a good place to look.
Procter & Gamble (PG +0.43%), Coca-Cola (KO +0.32%), Colgate-Palmolive (CL +0.19%), and Hershey (HSY +0.12%) have all paid dividends for decades. These are time-tested businesses with strong brand power that can pay dividends for years to come. In fact, three of these stocks are Dividend Kings -- companies that have raised their payouts for 50 years or more.
Here's why these stocks are still great investments today.
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1. Procter & Gamble Procter & Gamble owns a stable of strong brands like Tide, Pampers, Gillette, and Dawn. The company leverages deep consumer insights and invests in superior product performance and packaging to drive sales. Ultimately, that has led to 70 consecutive years of dividend increases.
As of Oct. 6, the stock offers a forward dividend yield of 2.92%, based on its current quarterly payment of $1.0885. The company paid out 65% of its $15.2 billion in trailing free cash flow to fund the dividend, leaving plenty of wiggle room to manage the payout even in a recession.
The company posted adjusted sales and earnings growth of 1% year over year in fiscal 2026, demonstrating the kind of resiliency you want in a weak consumer spending environment, making it a buy-and-never-sell investment.
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2. Coca-Cola Coca-Cola owns 32 brands that each generate at least $1 billion in annual sales. In addition to its core Coca-Cola brand, it owns Sprite, Minute Maid, and Costa Coffee, among many others. Its broad beverage portfolio and worldwide bottling network are very difficult for competitors to replicate.
The beverage giant has paid dividends for 64 consecutive years. Its forward yield is 2.46%, as of Oct. 6. The dividend has consumed about 77% of the trailing-12-month free cash flow of $14.3 billion, supporting sustainable payouts even during a soft year for sales.
Coca-Cola posted its strongest volume increase in 17 years last quarter (excluding the pandemic). That's a testament to the enduring value of this iconic brand and why the stock is a top dividend payer to hold for the long term.
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3. Colgate-Palmolive Colgate's toothpaste portfolio, Hill's Pet Nutrition, and Irish Spring soap support steady financials that fund growing dividends for shareholders. The company has paid a dividend every year since 1895 and raised it annually for 63 years.
Over the past year, it distributed 43% of its trailing free cash flow of $3.9 billion in dividends, bringing the forward yield to 2.42%. Solid execution in global markets, with particular strength in Latin America, is contributing to a strong year. Trailing-12-month free cash flow grew 14% year over year through the second quarter of 2026.
Colgate is not without challenges. Its North American business posted a 3% year-over-year decline in sales in Q2 2026, although management is making adjustments to improve performance. Over the long term, people's need to brush their teeth and feed their pets will continue to provide high visibility for sales, which should support a solid dividend investment.
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3. Hershey Hershey is another time-tested consumer goods business with several top brands in its arsenal, including Reese's, Skinny Pop, and Dot's Pretzels. The stock offers a high forward yield of 3.61%, more than supported by free cash flow. The company paid out 52% of its $2.2 billion in trailing free cash flow.
Higher costs from the spike in cocoa prices forced the company to pause dividend increases in 2025. Still, it resumed dividend increases in February 2026, hiking the quarterly dividend by 6% to $1.452 per share. The company has navigated multiple recessions and market cycles, paying a dividend for 96 consecutive years.
Hershey sees a long runway of growth for its core brands, but it isn't dependent on chocolate alone. It has assembled a strong snack portfolio, anchored by the Dot's brand, which is the main growth engine in snacks. If cocoa prices continue to ease in 2027, as management expects, the stock could rebound, making now a good opportunity to lock in a high yield on this top chocolate stock.
Key Takeaways Colgate is expanding premium oral-care offerings to support product mix, sales and margins.Colgate is using differentiated products to address whitening, sensitivity and gum-health needs.Colgate is expanding in emerging markets as incomes and branded oral-care penetration increase. Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL - Free Report) continues to strengthen its performance through innovation, premiumization, brand investments and expansion across emerging markets. The company’s strategy focuses on introducing differentiated products, improving its oral-care portfolio and leveraging its strong global brands to drive consumer demand. Investments in premium products and innovation can support sales growth and help Colgate maintain its competitive position in the global consumer-products market.
Colgate benefits from its strong presence in oral care, with brands such as Colgate providing significant scale and consumer recognition. The company is also expanding its offerings in higher-value categories, including electric toothbrushes, specialized toothpaste and other premium oral-care products. Such initiatives can help improve its product mix and support higher revenue and margins.
Innovation remains an important part of Colgate’s strategy. The company continues to introduce products designed around changing consumer preferences, including whitening, sensitivity, gum health and other specialized oral-care needs. By focusing on differentiated products, Colgate can encourage consumers to trade up and potentially generate higher value per purchase.
Colgate is also focusing on expanding its presence in emerging markets, where rising incomes, greater awareness of oral hygiene and increasing penetration of branded products can create long-term growth opportunities. Its extensive international distribution network allows the company to benefit from these trends while maintaining a broad geographic revenue base.
While Colgate’s innovation, premiumization, brand strength and emerging-market expansion provide several avenues for growth, sustaining momentum will depend on its ability to balance pricing with volume, successfully launch differentiated products and manage costs. Continued investments in brands and innovation will support long-term growth.
Colgate’s PeersThe Procter & Gamble Company (PG - Free Report) focuses on strengthening its brands through innovation, premiumization and targeted marketing investments. The company is emphasizing superior product performance, differentiated offerings and productivity initiatives to support organic sales while managing cost pressures. PG is also leveraging e-commerce, digital capabilities and data-driven marketing to improve consumer engagement and expand reach. International expansion and emerging-market opportunities remain important long-term growth drivers for Procter & Gamble.
The Clorox Company (CLX - Free Report) is strengthening brands, driving innovation, improving productivity and expanding core categories. Clorox also emphasizes pricing, mix improvement and cost savings to offset inflation and protect margins. CLX’s digital and e-commerce initiatives aim to improve consumer reach and engagement, while supply-chain and operational improvements support efficiency and product availability. The company is also prioritizing portfolio optimization and disciplined investments to support sales growth and profitability.
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (CHD - Free Report) has been strengthening its market position through a robust brand portfolio, strategic pricing and innovation. Leveraging its strong brand equity, CHD exercises pricing power to bolster profitability and overall growth. Church & Dwight also uses strategic acquisitions to enter attractive categories and broaden its brand portfolio.
CL’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesColgate’s shares have gained 2.7% in the past six months compared with the industry’s 4.4% growth.
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From a valuation standpoint, CL trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 21.5X compared with the industry’s average of 18.4X.
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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CL’s 2026 and 2027 EPS indicates year-over-year growth of 4.9% and 5.2%, respectively. The company’s EPS estimate for 2026 has been stable, while that for 2027 has moved south in the past 30 days.
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Colgate currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Colgate-Palmolive (CL -0.23%), Procter & Gamble (PG -0.42%), and Coca-Cola (KO -0.13%) are three dividend stocks I'd be happy to put $1,000 into each and then forget about. I'm confident that leaders in toothpaste, laundry detergent, and soft drinks can keep paying me dividends for decades.
Their dividend histories support a buy-and-forget approach. All three are Dividend Kings -- companies that have raised their dividends for at least 50 consecutive years. As of Sept. 25, they yield about 2.4% to 3%, reflecting the staying power of their brands and their ability to hold up through just about any economic backdrop.
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Colgate-Palmolive Colgate-Palmolive controls more than 40% of the global toothpaste market and also owns a portfolio of personal and home care brands. Selling everyday essentials is why the company has been able to raise its dividend for 63 consecutive years.
The company generates strong margins across its brands. On a trailing 12-month basis, it generated $3.9 billion in free cash flow. Its dividend payout as a percentage of free cash flow was 43%, based on its current quarterly dividend of $0.53 per share, which puts its forward yield at about 2.47% -- close to $25 in annual income on a $1,000 investment.
The business is performing well in a sub-optimal consumer spending environment. Net sales increased 4.9% year over year to $5.4 billion in the second quarter of 2026. Organic sales -- excluding currency effects, acquisitions, and divestitures -- rose 2.4%.
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Over the past five years, the dividend has grown at a 3.3% annualized rate. With solid free cash flow generation, management intends to keep investing in innovation and brand support. Analysts expect Colgate's earnings to grow at an annualized rate of 5% over the coming years, which should translate into similar growth in free cash flow and dividends.
Procter & Gamble Procter & Gamble owns some of the strongest consumer brands on the planet -- including Tide, Pampers, Gillette, Crest, and Charmin -- which sets it up for consistent sales, profits, and dividend growth. That broad lineup of daily use products has powered 70 consecutive years of dividend increases.
Like many consumer companies, P&G has faced sales pressure amid inflationary pressures. Organic sales rose just 1% year over year in fiscal 2026 (ended in June), and they were flat in the most recent quarter. Even so, the company paid out 67% of free cash flow as dividends over the past year, suggesting the payout remains safe and sustainable.
The quarterly dividend is currently $1.0885 per share, yielding 2.98% forward. This would pay close to $30 in annual income on a $1,000 investment. Over the past five years, P&G has grown its dividend at a 5% annualized rate, and analysts expect earnings to rise 5% annually over the long term.
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This could be a good time to take a closer look at the stock, as management aims to reaccelerate sales and regain market share over the next 12 to 18 months. If it succeeds, that progress could be a catalyst for stronger stock performance in the years ahead.
Coca-Cola Coca-Cola is another consumer staple built around affordable products people buy every day. Each year, it sells billions of servings across a wide lineup that includes soft drinks, water, sports drinks, juice, and coffee. Beyond its namesake soda, Coca-Cola has 32 brands that each generate $1 billion in annual sales.
Earlier this year, the company raised its dividend for the 64th consecutive year. At its current quarterly rate of $0.53 per share, the forward yield is 2.41%, supported by a free cash flow payout ratio of 77%. A $1,000 investment would earn about $24 in annual income.
Coca-Cola is executing well right now. In the second quarter, global unit case volume rose 5% year over year. Organic revenue increased 6%, and a mix of expense leverage and improved margins helped drive adjusted earnings up 11% versus the year-ago quarter.
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The dividend has grown at a 4.5% annualized rate over the past five years. With the company's current momentum, analysts now expect its earnings to grow 7% per year over the long term. Consumers have been buying Coke products for over a century, and that's not likely to change. It owns dozens of brands across different categories to meet consumer needs for almost any occasion, which should continue to drive steady sales and dividend growth for a long time.
Investors looking for stocks in the Consumer Products - Staples sector might want to consider either National Vision (EYE) or Colgate-Palmolive (CL). But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks?
Colgate-Palmolive has sent dividend checks without interruption since Grover Cleveland's second term, but a 130-year streak and a shrinking North American business now sit in uncomfortable tension with a premium valuation that leaves almost no room for error.
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Few dividend records in American finance rival the one Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL | CL Price Prediction) boasts. The company has paid a dividend continuously since 1895, and as of its Q4 2025 report, extended its streak of consecutive annual increases to 63 years. That places it in the tiny club of Dividend Kings, alongside peers like Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) and Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB). A record like that is history, though, and history is not a forecast.
What the Cash Actually Says The dividend itself is intact and growing. The current quarterly payout sits at 53 cents per share, up from 52 cents in early 2026, giving an annualized forward dividend of $2.12 per share. Its trailing 12-month dividend yield is 2.48%. Cash coverage is comfortable: full-year 2025 operating cash flow of $4.198 billion against dividend payout of $1.823 billion and CapEx of $564 million.
Colgate also returned $2.9 billion to shareholders in 2025 through dividends and buybacks, and management reiterated on the Q2 2026 call that “free cash flow up 18% and we’ve returned $1.4 billion to shareholders” in the first half alone.
Where the Growth Is (and Isn’t) Growth is bifurcated. Latin America revenue jumped 13.7% in Q2 2026 and Asia Pacific rose 4.9%, but North America fell 3.0% with volume down 3.9%. CEO Noel Wallace acknowledged the softness plainly, telling analysts the U.S. business faces category softness, heightened competitive activity, retailer inventory reductions, and select price gaps versus competitors. That is where challenger brands and private label bite. Wallace framed the response this way:
“While we expect the volatile market conditions to continue in the balance of 2026, we are confident that the strength of our global portfolio and clear business strategy should enable us to deliver consistent, compounded earnings per share growth and drive long-term shareholder value.”
Global scale still matters. Colgate holds a 41.2% global toothpaste share, a moat P&G cannot easily attack and one Church & Dwight (NYSE:CHD) has never approached at the category level.
Valuation Problem: Priced for Perfection A record this good is widely known and priced accordingly. Alpha Vantage shows a trailing PE of 34 and a forward PE of 21, with shares at $86.33 and a five-year total price gain of 26.79%. Analyst target sits at $98.80. For context, shares are up 11.26% year-to-date but off 5.22% over the past month as the market digested the North America drag. A 2.4% yield with mid-single-digit EPS growth is a reasonable retirement-income proposition, but it is not cheap relative to Colgate’s own history.
Does the Streak Still Deserve Capital? The dividend is safe. Coverage is strong, the balance sheet supports it, and management raised Base Business EPS growth guidance to mid-single-digit in July. The harder question is total return at 21x forward earnings when North America is shrinking and China remains, as Wallace put it, a market down 1% to 2%.
Emerging market strength and the Hill’s therapeutic franchise are the two levers worth watching. If North America stabilizes by year-end and organic growth trends toward the upper end of the 1% to 4% organic sales guide, the multiple holds. If it does not, the yield alone will have to do the work, and dividend investors comparing CL to KMB or PG will find the case tighter than the 131-year record suggests (we ranked 10 Dividend Kings by valuation right now in a free report you can grab here).
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
The Federal Reserve recently raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to a target range of 3.75% to 4.00%, marking its first rate hike in more than three years as policymakers work to combat persistent inflation. But if the Fed keeps raising interest rates, dividend investors should not need to abandon stocks.
You just need companies whose customers keep showing up, whose boards treat the dividend as a core obligation, and whose 2026 moves point to staying power rather than quick fixes. Three stocks fit that narrative and are solid buys today.
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1. McDonald's: a "Dividend King" tied to everyday eating McDonald's (MCD +0.99%) sits near the top of my dividend reliability list. In September, the board marked the company's 50th consecutive year of dividend increases and joined the club of "Dividend Kings," a small group of U.S. companies with half a century of annual raises. The latest declaration set the quarterly dividend at $1.93 per share, up 4%, with an annualized rate of $7.72, and management framed that record as proof of a durable business model and disciplined capital allocation.
Underneath this consistent payout, the story is simple. McDonald's sells affordable food in more than one hundred countries, runs an asset‑light franchise system, and keeps reinvesting in digital ordering, drive‑throughs, and store upgrades.
On top of this, McDonald's is reworking its value strategy after U.S. sales growth slowed recently, Bloomberg reported, with plans for a longer-term approach aimed at budget-conscious customers. It is using temporary deals and app promotions, including $2 breakfast sandwiches and free fries with a $1 purchase, to boost demand. So, if rates climb or cost pressures rise, the McDonald's customer base leans on value and convenience, which helps support cash flow that can continue to cover a growing dividend.
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2. Colgate-Palmolive: toothpaste and soap funding a long dividend record Colgate-Palmolive (CL -0.06%) lives in bathrooms and kitchens -- my bathroom included -- which is exactly why it holds up in tighter conditions. In March 2026, the board raised the quarterly common stock dividend to $0.53 per share from $0.52, lifting the annual rate to $2.12. Colgate has also paid uninterrupted dividends on its common stock since 1895.
The underlying business is built on repeat use. Second‑quarter 2026 results showed net sales up 4.9% and organic sales up 2.4%, with gross margin expanding by 140 basis points and base business earnings per share rising 8%.
I like Colgate because it has a strong global presence and sells products people use every day. Its brands reach more than 200 countries, with recent growth led by emerging markets including India, Brazil, Mexico, and China. Things like toothpaste and soap are purchases consumers tend to keep making even when the economy slows, giving Colgate a dependable cash flow even when the market gets tough.
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3. Walmart: value, automation, and a dividend baked into the plan Walmart (WMT -1.74%) anchors budgets when the cost of money rises. In its 2026 reporting and annual materials, Walmart made it clear that its capital allocation approach starts with investing in growth, then prioritizes the dividend, and finally repurchases shares with remaining free cash flow. That framework has maintained a regular dividend while the company invests heavily in automation, data, and digital capabilities.
In the past, Walmart has said it will turn rising rates and inflation into reasons to get more efficient rather than pull back. Recently, this has looked more like leaning into automation. Last year, more than 60% of U.S. stores received part of their freight from automated distribution centers, and roughly half of e‑commerce volume flowed through automated facilities.
Those investments support the core promise of low prices and quick delivery, which helps keep traffic and membership strong even when borrowing costs climb.
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How these three can work through more hikes If the Fed continues to keep pushing rates higher, McDonald's, Colgate-Palmolive, and Walmart give you three different streams of cash backed by everyday behavior: eating out, brushing teeth, and cleaning. All three have raised or reaffirmed dividends in 2026 and are treating those payments as part of how they run the business, not a leftover, which is exactly the mindset you want on your side when the cost of money stays in motion longer than you do.
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What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.8% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Colgate-Palmolive (CL - Free Report) Colgate-Palmolive Company’s business strategy closely defines efforts to increase its leadership in key product categories through innovation in core businesses, tracking adjacent categories growth and expansion into new markets and channels. Due to a shift of consumer preference toward organic and natural ingredients, the company is expanding its Naturals range, including Naturals toothpaste. It is ranked as a leading consumer goods company with a global household penetration.
CL is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. CL has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 4.9% for the current fiscal year.
For fiscal 2026, nine analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.06 to $3.87 per share. CL boasts an average earnings surprise of +3.2%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, CL should be on investors' short list.
Fluoride-free, anti-sensitivity toothpaste — formulated with naturally derived Calcium Carbonate and Arginine — for whitening and sensitivity relief
, /PRNewswire/ -- As more consumers seek trusted fluoride-free oral care, Tom's of Maine is expanding its natural care portfolio with Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste, an anti-sensitivity toothpaste with naturally derived Arginine and Calcium Carbonate. Arginine, a naturally derived amino acid, and Calcium Carbonate, a naturally derived mineral, work together to reduce hypersensitivity, while Calcium Carbonate also helps whiten teeth by removing surface stains. It's now also formulated with hydroxyapatite, the primary mineral that makes up tooth enamel.
Tom's of Maine introduces Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste to meet rising consumer Demand Tom's of Maine has spent more than 50 years being passionately committed to making products with naturally derived ingredients – and this formula continues that commitment. The fluoride-free, SLS-free formula is vegan, gluten-free, and made without artificial flavors, sweeteners, dyes or potassium nitrate.
"We're meeting the demand for fluoride-free alternatives the Tom's of Maine way," said Cristiane Martini, VP, General Manager at Tom's of Maine & NA Sustainability. "For us, it's about creating more than just another ordinary toothpaste — harnessing the power of naturally derived ingredients, such as arginine and calcium carbonate, to deliver effective oral care, while staying true to what has always made Tom's different."
Tom's of Maine Hydroxyapatite is not an ordinary toothpaste.
Enamel-safe whitening removes surface stains Relieves hypersensitivity with naturally derived Arginine and Calcium Carbonate Fluoride-free and SLS-free Contains hydroxyapatite, the primary mineral that makes up tooth enamel Tom's of Maine Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste is available now in Gentle Mint flavor at Amazon.com for an MSRP of $11.99 (4.4 oz), with availability expanding to additional retailers in 2027.
As a certified B Corp, Tom's of Maine is committed to transparency, environmental care, and community impact. To learn more about our sustainability efforts, visit TomsofMaine.com or follow us on TikTok and Instagram.
About Tom's of Maine®
Tom's of Maine®, a Colgate-Palmolive® (NYSE: CL) company, has been making natural, safe, and effective personal care products for more than 50 years. It all began when Tom and Kate Chappell moved to Maine in 1968 looking for a healthier, simpler life for their growing family. And when they couldn't find personal care products that were free from artificial flavors, fragrances, sweeteners, colors and preservatives, they decided to make their own. Tom's of Maine products – including toothpaste, deodorant, mouthwash, bar soap, dental floss, and toothbrushes – are made from naturally sourced and derived ingredients. A Certified B Corporation, Tom's of Maine is committed to upholding a purpose-driven business and has a long-standing commitment to supporting nature and healthy families. Tom's of Maine has supported hundreds of nonprofits by giving back 10% of its annual profits, and employees are encouraged to use 5% of their paid time volunteering for causes they are passionate about. All of Tom's products are cruelty-free, and most are vegan, kosher, halal-certified, and gluten-free. Visit us online at http://www.tomsofmaine.com/.
Key Takeaways Procter & Gamble spans 10 major categories, with nine holding or growing organic sales in FY26.Colgate leans on oral-care leadership, premiumization and emerging-market growth across its portfolio.Both companies are investing in digital tools, AI and brand building to sharpen engagement and support growth. The Procter & Gamble Company (PG - Free Report) and Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL - Free Report) are two of the world’s most established consumer staples companies, but their competitive strengths are built on different foundations.
PG operates a broad portfolio spanning beauty, grooming, health care, fabric and home care, and family care, supported by globally recognized brands and leading positions across numerous categories. Colgate, meanwhile, is more concentrated, with a particularly powerful presence in oral care alongside personal care, home care and pet nutrition. This difference in business mix shapes how the two companies compete for market share. PG relies on its scale, category breadth, innovation and premium brands to defend leadership across multiple consumer markets, while Colgate draws strength from its dominant global toothpaste franchise and deep oral-care expertise.
As consumer preferences, pricing dynamics and competitive intensity evolve, comparing their market positions offers a revealing look at two distinct routes to sustained brand leadership.
The Case for PGProcter & Gamble’s investment case rests on the scale and resilience of a portfolio that spans 10 major product categories and seven regions. In fiscal 2026, nine of 10 categories held or grew organic sales, while five of 10 held or gained global share. Twenty-six of its top 50 category-country combinations held or grew share, and aggregate global share exited the year flat after improving in the second half.
Its strategy centers on product superiority, premium brand positioning, innovation and disciplined reinvestment. PG is leaning into faster-growing Beauty and Health segments, while strengthening core franchises such as Tide, Charmin and Bounty. Its consumer base skews somewhat toward households earning above $100,000, although the portfolio spans price points and pack sizes for more value-conscious shoppers.
E-commerce grew 6% year over year and reached 20% of sales, while AI-enabled brand building, data platforms and digital retail partnerships are being scaled to sharpen engagement and conversion.
The company’s fiscal 2026 organic sales rose more than 1%, core EPS increased 1% to $6.89 and productivity savings reached $2.8 billion before tax. PG also returned more than $15 billion to shareholders, while continuing to fund innovation, advertising and digital capabilities.
The Case for CLColgate’s investment case is anchored in its global scale, category leadership and diversified exposure across Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Hill’s Pet Nutrition. In the second quarter of 2026, organic sales grew in four of five divisions and three of four categories, while emerging markets advanced in the mid-single digits, led by India, Brazil, Mexico and China. Hill’s also outperformed its category, with organic sales, excluding private label, rising 4% against a roughly flat U.S. category.
Colgate is leaning on premiumization, science-led innovation and disciplined revenue growth management. In Oral Care, premium products such as Optic White, Elmex and Meridol are central to share expansion, while Hill’s targets pet owners seeking veterinarian-backed, science-based nutrition.
Emerging markets broaden the demographic opportunity, with Colgate balancing accessible price points for value-conscious consumers against premium offerings for higher-income shoppers. Europe’s toothpaste strategy shows this positioning clearly, with super-premium offerings driving growth while Colgate remains under-indexed in premium segments globally, leaving room for further expansion.
Digital capability is becoming another competitive lever. Colgate is scaling Promo AI, omni-demand generation and agentic tools, while 70% of vice presidents have received advanced AI training. Financially, the free cash flow rose 18%, $1.4 billion was returned to shareholders, the gross margin expanded 100 basis points and advertising increased double digits, supporting brand investment without sacrificing profitability.
How Do Estimates Compare for PG & CL?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Procter & Gamble’s fiscal 2027 sales and EPS implies year-over-year growth of 1.8% and 1.5%, respectively. EPS estimates for fiscal 2027 have moved down by a penny in the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Colgate’s 2026 sales and EPS suggests year-over-year growth of 4.8% and 4.9%, respectively. EPS estimates for 2026 have moved up by a penny in the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Consensus trends point to steadier but softer momentum for Procter & Gamble, with modest sales and earnings growth expectations and a slight downward EPS revision. Colgate shows comparatively stronger near-term momentum, supported by healthier projected sales and earnings growth and a recent upward EPS revision, signaling relatively firmer analyst confidence.
Price Performance & Valuation of Procter & Gamble, & ColgateIn the past year, PG shares have lost 4.2%, while the CL stock has risen 7.6%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Procter & Gamble is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings multiple of 20.62X, below its median of 23.33X in the last five years. Colgate’s forward 12-month P/E multiple sits at 21.43X, below its median of 23.49X in the last five years.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Share-price trends have diverged, with Procter & Gamble declining in the past year while Colgate has delivered positive returns. This suggests investors have recently shown greater confidence in Colgate’s growth trajectory and operating momentum, whereas PG’s slower growth profile and near-term cost pressures may have weighed on sentiment.
From a valuation standpoint, the figures provided indicate that both PG and Colgate are trading below their respective historical median forward P/E multiples. This suggests that current valuations are less demanding than their longer-term norms, potentially reflecting cautious expectations around consumer demand, inflation and earnings growth.
ConclusionTaken together, the face-off favors Colgate. While Procter & Gamble offers unmatched scale, portfolio breadth and brand strength, Colgate currently shows stronger operating momentum, supported by premiumization, oral-care leadership, emerging-market growth and expanding digital capabilities. Its superior one-year share performance also reflects comparatively stronger market confidence.
Colgate’s earnings outlook further strengthens its case. Consensus estimates point to healthier sales and profit growth, while the recent upward earnings revision signals improving confidence in its earnings potential. PG’s growth outlook appears more subdued alongside a slight downward estimate revision. Overall, Colgate emerges as the stronger pick in this comparison.
Both Procter & Gamble and Colgate currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Board of Directors of Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.53 per common share, payable on November 13, 2026, to shareholders of record on October 20, 2026. The Company has paid uninterrupted dividends on its common stock since 1895. * * * Colgate-Palmolive Company is a caring, innovative growth company that is reimagining a healthier future for all people, their pets and our planet. Focused on Oral Care, Personal Care.
Two Dividend Kings with 50-plus years of consecutive raises have reported earnings, and one of them is funding its payout in a way that should raise eyebrows. The question is whether that really makes it the riskier bet.
Altria (NYSE:MO | MO Price Prediction) and Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) both belong to the small club of consumer-staples payers that keep hiking every year. A Dividend King is a company with a half-century of annual increases. Both companies recently reported quarterly results, and both have raised their payouts. Yet one funds its checks in a way that looks far riskier on paper. Which payout actually stands on thinner ice?
Altria traded at $70.03 in premarket on September 17, up 21.6% year to date. Colgate was last seen at $87.50, up 10.1%.
Altria Turns Cigarettes Into Cash, Then Sends It All Out Altria’s smokeable engine is a cash printer. FY2025 operating cash flow reached $9.29 billion against capital expenditures of just $216 million. It paid $6.96 billion in dividends against reported net income of $6.947 billion. On a GAAP basis for fiscal 2025, Altria distributed slightly more than it earned, weighed by the $2.2 billion NJOY impairment. Cash coverage is wide. Earnings coverage is tight.
The balance sheet shows the tradeoff. Shareholders’ equity is negative $3.211 billion, a result of years of buybacks rather than operating losses. CFO Heather Newman told investors: “We remain committed to returning significant value to shareholders.” Debt-to-EBITDA stands at 1.9 times.
Colgate Covers Its Payout Twice Over, but Earnings Wobbled Colgate generated FY2025 operating cash flow of $4.198 billion, spent $564 million on capex, and paid $1.823 billion in dividends against net income of $2.132 billion. Both earnings and free cash flow clear the dividend with room to spare. Shareholders’ equity remains positive at $236 million—thin, but above zero.
The wrinkle: Q4 2025 net income came in at negative $37 million, dragged by a Filorga goodwill charge, and FY2025 net income fell below FY2024’s $2.889 billion. CEO Noel Wallace said, “Free cash flow up 18% and we’ve returned $1.4 billion to shareholders.”
Durability, Line by Line (FY2025) Metric Altria Colgate Operating cash flow $9.29B $4.19B Capex $216M $564M Dividends paid $6.96B $1.82B Net income $6.95B $2.13B Shareholders’ equity −$3.21B $236M Total Return Cuts Against the Intuition The riskier-looking balance sheet has been the winner. Altria returned 112.7% over five years and 123.1% over ten. Colgate returned 29.7% and 54.5% across the same windows. The market is pricing Altria’s cash yield above its structural volume decline, and pricing Colgate’s slower earnings for what it is.
What Would Pressure Each Payout For Altria, watch whether smokeable pricing continues to offset volume declines. Cigarette shipments fell 3.2% in Q2, with price realization of 4.5%. If price stops covering the volume slide, cash coverage narrows fast. For Colgate, watch North America organic sales, which fell 3.0% in Q2 2026, and further Filorga writedowns.
Why Colgate’s Payout Rests on Firmer Ground Both dividends are currently funded. A retiree focused on durability will lean toward Colgate: earnings and cash flow both cover the check, equity is positive, and the business spans four categories across five geographies. Altria suits the yield-hungry investor who is comfortable with a shrinking end market and a persistently negative book value.
On the specific question the headline poses, Altria is the one paying out more than it earns on a GAAP basis for FY2025—and that is the payout standing on thinner ice. (For a broader shortlist screened the same way, see ten Dividend Kings ranked by valuation in a free report here.)
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Key Takeaways Colgate expects sequential North America improvement, though recovery may be uneven amid soft category trends.Premium toothpaste, Fabuloso expansion and accelerated innovation are central to Colgate's growth strategy.CL plans higher advertising, targeted pricing and disciplined promotions to support market-share recovery. Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL - Free Report) is stepping up efforts to improve its North America business after a challenging second quarter of 2026. Management expressed dissatisfaction with the region’s performance, which was hurt by category softness, heightened competitive activity and inventory reductions at key retailers. Consumer demand weakened sharply in May amid elevated gasoline prices and softer consumer confidence, though category trends improved in June and remained relatively stable in July. Consumption declined about 1% in the quarter, while shipments fell roughly 3%, reflecting retailer destocking. Importantly, category growth remains below historical levels, suggesting that a meaningful recovery may take time.
To improve the trajectory, Colgate is leaning on innovation, brand investment and more targeted pricing and promotional actions. The company plans to increase support behind premium toothpaste products, including Optic White Pro Series with ActivShine Technology, while expanding Fabuloso into new formats. Management is also accelerating its 2026 and 2027 innovation pipeline, particularly across premium offerings, an area where the company believes it remains under-indexed in North America. At the same time, Colgate identified selective price gaps versus competitors and intends to address them carefully without triggering broader promotional pressure. Higher advertising spending is also planned for the second half to strengthen brand visibility and support market-share recovery.
The second-half outlook, however, remains dependent on the health of consumer demand and category trends. Colgate expects sequential improvement in North America, but management cautioned that the recovery is unlikely to be linear and has not assumed a meaningful retailer inventory reload in its outlook. Instead, the company is focusing on factors it can control, including stronger new-product execution, competitive price-pack architecture, disciplined promotions and higher brand support. Broader consumer uncertainty and volatile category growth remain key risks. Still, if premium innovation gains traction and increased marketing spending translates into better consumption and market share, North America could become a more meaningful contributor to Colgate’s growth in the back half of 2026.
CL’s Zacks Rank & Share Price PerformanceShares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 5.8% in the past year, outperforming both the industry, which fell 8.9%, and the broader Consumer Staples sector, which rose 4.1%.
CL Stock's Past Year Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Is CL a Value Play Stock?Colgate currently trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 21.63X, which is higher than the industry average of 18.44X. This valuation positions the stock at a premium relative to both its sector and industry peers, suggesting that investors may be pricing in stronger growth prospects, brand strength or operational efficiency compared with competitors.
CL P/E Ratio (Forward 12 Months)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderThe Vita Coco Company, Inc. (COCO - Free Report) , a leading beverage company that develops, markets and distributes coconut water and other plant-based beverages, currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). COCO delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 21.9%, on average. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for The Vita Coco Company’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings per share (EPS) calls for growth of 31.6% and 63.8%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.
The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF - Free Report) distributes specialty food and center-of-the-plate products in the United States, the Middle East and Canada. At present, CHEF flaunts a Zacks Rank #1.
The consensus estimate for Chefs' Warehouse’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 10.6% and 33.7%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures. Chefs' Warehouse delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 30.4%, on average.
Medifast, Inc. (MED - Free Report) , which is a leading manufacturer and distributor of clinically proven healthy living products and programs, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). MED missed the average earnings surprise by a sharp margin in the trailing four quarters.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Medifast’s current financial-year sales indicates a decline of 27.3% from the year-ago number.
Colgate is reportedly shopping Softsoap, Irish Spring, and Speed Stick with Goldman Sachs running the process, but the names most investors would expect to step up all have reasons to sit this one out.
Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL | CL Price Prediction) is reportedly shopping a slice of its portfolio that many investors forgot it still owned. Reuters reported on Friday, September 11, 2026, citing unnamed sources, that Colgate is exploring a sale of Softsoap, Irish Spring, and Speed Stick and has hired Goldman Sachs to run the process.
No buyer has been identified, and Colgate has not confirmed any sale. Colgate shares changed hands at $87.49 in premarket trading on September 14, 2026. The stock is down 3.7% over one week. Yet it is up 9.9% year to date and 3.3% higher than a year ago. The market cap is near $69.2 billion.
Why Colgate Would Sell These Brands Reuters characterizes oral care as almost half of Colgate-Palmolive’s net sales. The pruning fits a broader Strategic Growth and Productivity Program (SGPP) that took a $129 million charge in the second quarter of 2026. Cumulative pretax SGPP charges now guided to $350 million to $550 million. North America revenue fell 3.0% in the quarter to $891 million. Colgate’s chief executive described the U.S. business as a long-term turnaround in remarks delivered at the Barclays consumer conference. Selling mature mass-market offerings would fund premium innovation and reduce the drag from the weakest region.
Ranking the Plausible Buyers 1. Private Equity Is the Base Case The Reuters reporting itself points here. Yellow Wood Partners has bought this exact type of asset twice recently, taking a large tranche of beauty and personal care brands off Unilever and agreeing to buy Nestle’s vitamins business. Platinum Equity took a stake in Nestle’s waters and premium beverages business. Neither firm is publicly traded. Financial sponsors underwrite mature cash-generative brands based on free cash flow, brand awareness, and shelf space. Softsoap, Irish Spring, and Speed Stick supply all of that.
2. Church & Dwight: Bigger, but Wrong Mandate Church & Dwight (NYSE:CHD) is a serial acquirer with a market cap of $22.3 billion and a trailing 12-month revenue of $6.23 billion. Its stated strategy is fast-moving consumables with a balanced value/premium mix, and its recent tuck-ins have been Touchland and Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater. Cash and equivalents fell to $254.8 million, down 72.4% year over year on M&A spend. Management has been divesting slower-growth lines rather than adding legacy mass-market bar soap.
3. Edgewell Personal Care: The Right Fit at the Wrong Scale Edgewell Personal Care (NYSE:EPC) owns Schick, Banana Boat, and Cremo, and Speed Stick would nest cleanly next to them. The problem is arithmetic. Edgewell’s market cap is $1.2 billion, a small fraction of the reported price tag for the three brands. Adjusted net debt leverage is guided to 3.3x to 3.4x at fiscal year end, and the company just divested Feminine Care to pay down its revolver. Edgewell is in simplification mode.
4. Kenvue: Off the Board Kenvue (NYSE:KVUE) is itself being acquired by Kimberly-Clark for $48.7 billion, with Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) cleared, shareholders approved, and closing expected in the fourth quarter of 2026 pending foreign regulatory approvals. Kenvue’s market cap is $34.2 billion, and the company has withdrawn all forward guidance. A company being acquired is not in a position to buy.
5. Strategic Mega-Caps: Silent Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and Reckitt are the theoretical universe of buyers with checkbooks large enough. None has been connected to this process by any source. Unilever is a seller of exactly these categories.
What to Watch Whether a buyer emerges and whether the brand list expands beyond the three names reported by Reuters. Whether Colgate addresses the process on its next earnings call. How proceeds are deployed: premium innovation, share repurchases, or Hill’s expansion following the Prime100 acquisition. The Kenvue closing timeline, which locks that company out until it clears. The real question is whether shedding mature brands fixes the North America problem in what Colgate’s chief executive has already framed as a long-term turnaround, or whether it simply makes the company smaller.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Colgate-Palmolive is upgraded to a buy as organic growth momentum returns and profitability remains sector-leading. CL's recent organic sales growth of 2.4% and 2026 guidance approaching long-term targets underpin optimism for multiple expansions. Despite a premium forward P/E (~22.7x), CL's superior EBITDA margins, robust free cash flow, and dividend reliability justify its valuation.
Colgate-Palmolive (CL.N) is exploring a sale of certain mass-market personal care brands, including Softsoap, Irish Spring and Speed Stick, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The consumer goods company is working with investment bank Goldman Sachs (GS.N) on the process, the sources said, who asked not to be named in order to discuss a private matter.
Colgate's personal care unit includes deodorants, bar and liquid soaps, shower gels, and skin care products. It currently only plans to divest a few brands in the unit, which together could fetch over $1 billion, the sources added.
Colgate and Goldman Sachs declined to comment.
CONSUMER GOODS SECTOR SHAKEUP
Many consumer conglomerates are reshaping and focusing their portfolios to better weather the storm of tariffs, financially pressured consumers and higher costs for energy and other inputs that are impacting their earnings. Offloading pieces of a broader portfolio also helps concentrate resources on core brands.
This year has seen Unilever (ULVR.L) agree to sell its food business to McCormick (MKC.N) for $45 billion. It also spun off its Magnum (MICCT.AS) ice cream unit last year following the sale of more than 20 beauty and personal care brands to Yellow Wood Partners in 2024.
Earlier this month, Nestle agreed to sell its vitamins business to Yellow Wood for around $1 billion after divesting a stake in its waters and premium beverages business to another buyout firm, Platinum Equity.
New York-based Colgate has a roughly $70 billion market capitalization, and its stock is up around 11% year to date, according to data provider LSEG. In its most recent quarterly earnings, net sales rose 4.9%. Organic sales in its North American market, however, fell 3%.
Colgate CEO Noel Wallace told the Barclays consumer conference this week that it was facing intensifying competition in North America and getting the business where it needs to be would involve a "long-term turnaround".
Colgate's entire personal care unit, which includes both mass and prestige brands, accounted for 17% of net sales in 2025, implying around $3.5 billion of net sales.
Its largest segment is oral care, which includes its namesake Colgate toothpaste brand and accounted for almost half of net sales. Its other segments are home care and pet nutrition.
Investors interested in Consumer Products - Staples stocks are likely familiar with National Vision (EYE) and Colgate-Palmolive (CL). But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now?
Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) Barclays 19th Annual Global Consumer Staples Conference September 9, 2026 8:15 AM EDT
Company Participants
Noel Wallace - Chairman, CEO & President
Conference Call Participants
Lauren Lieberman - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
Presentation
Lauren Lieberman
Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
Okay. We're going to get started. So next up this morning, we're very happy to have Colgate-Palmolive here, and the company's Chairman, President and CEO, Noel Wallace. This year, we're going to do things a little bit differently and go right into a fireside chat, which I'm excited about. So thank you for that opportunity.
Question-and-Answer Session
Lauren Lieberman
Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
So 2026 is the first year of the 2030 strategy period, but it's also a year with continued macro volatility. When you step back from the quarter-to-quarter noise, maybe what's the single biggest change, or is it a few things that you're trying to drive inside Colgate this year?
Noel Wallace
Chairman, CEO & President
Yes, I think the fortune is we're coming off the '25 strategic plan where we developed, in my view, a lot of momentum behind the business. And going into the 2030 plan, it's much easier to execute a strategy when you have momentum behind you versus when you're chasing that momentum. So it's really now about perfecting some of the capabilities and scaling some of those capabilities that we've been developing over the last 5 years.
So we've done a lot of work in AI. We've done a lot of work in analytics. We've done a lot of work in revenue growth management. We're now really pushing ourselves very differently in the area of innovation. So we feel like we're in a stage where we're not necessarily trying to play catch-up. We're now scaling these capabilities across the organization. So that momentum
The S&P 500 (^GSPC -0.38%) dividend yield is hovering around a historic low near 1%. If you're trying to generate more passive income, you don't have to settle for that. Some of the best-known consumer brands offer higher yields.
Three quality dividend stocks I'd buy this month are McDonald's (MCD -1.52%), Colgate-Palmolive (CL -1.47%), and Procter & Gamble (PG -0.33%). These stocks yield 2.3% or more, and their dividends are supported by strong free cash flow.
Image source: Getty Images.
1. McDonald's At the time of this writing, shares of McDonald's are trading about 23% below their recent highs, pushing the forward dividend yield up to 2.89% -- nearly three times the market average.
The sell-off stems from soft U.S. comparable sales, which rose just 0.8% year over year in the second quarter. Notably, management didn't place the blame on high gas prices or other external headwinds. They pointed to execution issues -- and that kind of determination to improve operations is what can drive excellent returns for shareholders over time.
McDonald's remains a global powerhouse with a profitable business model, generating revenue from fees paid by franchised restaurants. About 95% of its restaurants are franchised. Over the last year, it generated $7.8 billion in free cash flow on $28 billion in revenue and paid out 67% of free cash flow as dividends.
Management also sees room to expand margins by reducing complexity and improving restaurant efficiency and service times. The dividend has grown about 7% annually over the past five years, and stronger margins should help maintain that trend.
With a 49-year streak of dividend increases and a renewed focus on productivity, McDonald's looks well-positioned to reward patient income investors.
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2. Colgate-Palmolive Colgate-Palmolive is trading roughly 17% off its recent highs, lifting its forward dividend yield to 2.35%. It's a classic staples business: steady demand, resilient cash flow, and a long history of annual dividend growth.
Trailing-12-month revenue rose 5% year over year to $21 billion, supported by premium products like Hill's pet nutrition and strength in international markets.
Colgate is a global leader in toothpaste, with 41% market share in 2025. Selling everyday essentials in oral and personal care generates reliable sales and the free cash flow that funds consistent dividend growth. TTM free cash flow increased 14% to $3.8 billion, and the company paid out 43% of that free cash flow as dividends.
Colgate has raised its dividend for 63 consecutive years. The dividend has grown at about 3% annually over the last five years. With management focused on lowering costs, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, to support margin expansion, investors should expect continued dividend growth over the long term.
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3. Procter & Gamble Procter & Gamble is down about 18% from its highs, bringing its forward dividend yield to 2.96%. That's compelling for a company whose products consumers buy year-round, in good economies and bad.
Growth has cooled amid sluggish consumer spending, but organic sales still increased 1% year over year. P&G is also dealing with margin pressure from higher costs, which has weighed on margins. Even so, adjusted earnings still grew 1%, showing the business can absorb turbulence.
Big consumer brands inevitably hit slower patches -- but P&G's dividend track record is hard to match. It has paid a dividend for 136 years and raised it for 70 straight years, including through every recession in the past half-century.
In fiscal 2026 (ending in June), P&G returned $10 billion in dividends out of $15 billion in free cash flow, a payout ratio of roughly 67%. With a five-year dividend growth rate of around 5% and a portfolio anchored by brands like Tide, Gillette, and Oral-B, P&G's dividend streak appears well-positioned to continue.
Some dividend stocks raise their payouts through one recession, maybe two. A handful of consumer staples names have kept writing bigger checks through every downturn for decades, and the cash flow behind that streak is more durable than most investors…
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Consumer staples are the closest thing income investors have to an all-weather income engine. Toothpaste, laundry detergent, and soft drinks keep moving off shelves whether GDP is expanding or contracting, and that steady cash conversion is what funds decades of uninterrupted dividend raises. The proof point sits inside Procter & Gamble’s latest fiscal 2026 report: management confirmed the newly declared quarterly payout of $1.0885 per share marks the 70th consecutive year of dividend increases and the 136th consecutive year of dividend payments since incorporation in 1890. Here are three staples names anchored by that kind of raise durability.
Procter & Gamble Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG | PG Price Prediction) pays an annualized forward dividend of $4.354 per share, funded by the same declared quarterly rate of $1.0885. Shares closed at $146.92 on September 3, and the stock is up 4.75% year to date.
Fiscal 2026 delivered operating cash flow of $19.556B, capex of $4.409B, and free cash flow of $15.835B, up 12.74%. Against a fiscal 2026 dividend payout of $10.232B, that is comfortable coverage with room for buybacks. The balance sheet shows cash of $9.942B against shareholders equity of $54.31B. And management is not just holding the line: for fiscal 2027 the company plans approximately $10 billion in dividends and $5 billion in share repurchases.
The bull case for income investors is pricing power that shows up in the results. Fiscal 2026 saw 9 of 10 product categories held or grew organic sales and $2.8 billion before tax of productivity improvement across cost of goods sold and SG&A. That productivity funds the raise. Tide Original Liquid received its biggest upgrade in over two decades and moved from declining to high single-digit growth. The 70-year raise streak has been earned through similar innovation cycles across multiple recessions (we ranked ten members of that 50-year-plus club by today’s valuations in a free Dividend Kings report).
Fiscal 2027 carries an approximately $1 billion after-tax commodity, energy, and transport headwind, roughly an 8% drag on core EPS growth, and management flagged that first-quarter EPS will be down 5% or more versus the prior year as high-cost inventory rolls through.
Coca-Cola Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) trades at $88.81 with a dividend yield of roughly 2.31%. The current quarterly dividend of $0.53 per share is up from $0.51 across 2025, $0.485 in 2024, and $0.46 in 2023. The dividend record in the data stretches back to 1999 at $0.16 per share, showing a steady climb through the 2001 recession, the 2008 financial crisis, and the 2020 pandemic.
Management raised its 2026 outlook to free cash flow of approximately $12.4 billion, and fiscal 2025 dividend payments were $8.779B against operating cash flow of $7.408B. First-half 2026 cash generation has already accelerated, with year-to-date free cash flow of approximately $6.9 billion and net debt leverage of 1.4 times EBITDA, below the company’s target range of 2 to 2.5 times. Return on equity is a striking 45.97% and interest coverage sits at 8.32.
Second-quarter unit case volume grew 5% and Trademark Coca-Cola volume grew 5%, its strongest volume growth in 17 years, excluding COVID recovery. Q2 2026 revenue came in at $13.38B, up 6.7% year over year, and gross margin held at 61.63%. Coca-Cola’s revenue growth management toolkit (mini cans, multipacks, targeted price points) is exactly the pricing power staples buyers need to see.
In terms of risk, the pending sale of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa will create a 2-3% headwind to comparable net revenues, and the ongoing IRS tax dispute remains unresolved after oral arguments before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals at the end of June.
Colgate-Palmolive Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) trades at $90.09, up 16.12% year to date. The current quarterly dividend of $0.53 per share equates to an annualized forward payout of $2.12 per share, up from $0.52 across 2025 and $0.50 across 2024. The reported history shows steady annual step-ups from $0.36 in 2014 through today.
Fiscal 2025 operating cash flow was $4.198B against capex of $564M and dividend payout of $1.823B. First-half 2026 momentum is accelerating: Q1 free cash flow was $609M, up 27.94%, and management reported year-to-date free cash flow up 18% with $1.4 billion returned to shareholders. The company’s capital efficiency, reflected in a reported return on equity of 45.97%, is enabled by an aggressive buyback program that has pushed reported equity down to just $236M, so equity optics are misleading and cash flow is the right lens.
The bull case is genuine pricing power backed by margin recovery. Q2 2026 gross margin expanded 100 basis points, and full-year gross margin guidance was upgraded to roughly flat, from previously down. Base Business EPS growth guidance was raised to mid-single-digit. Emerging markets grew mid-single digits led by India, Brazil, Mexico, and China, and Hill’s Pet Nutrition delivered organic growth excluding private-label discontinuations of 4%.
However, the bears will note that North America organic sales declined 3.0% in Q2, with volume down 3.9%, and Strategic Growth and Productivity Program charges now project cumulative pretax of $350-550M.
Bringing the Three Together These three names all sell products that consumers reach for regardless of the economic cycle, and the cash-flow statements prove it: P&G, Coca-Cola, and Colgate-Palmolive each generated multi-billion-dollar free cash flow in fiscal 2025 and raised payouts anyway. P&G brings the verified 70-year raise streak and the deepest coverage cushion. Coca-Cola pairs the highest yield in the group with accelerating volume and the lowest leverage. Colgate-Palmolive offers the fastest recent dividend growth cadence and margin recovery. For retirement income built to survive downturns, this trio is a template.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Baypointe Partners LLC reduced its stake in Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL – Free Report) by 80.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 10,000 shares of the company’s stock after selling 40,000 shares during the quarter. Colgate-Palmolive makes up approximately 2.2% of Baypointe Partners LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 14th largest position. Baypointe Partners LLC’s holdings in Colgate-Palmolive were worth $917,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.
A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of CL. Kemnay Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC increased its position in Colgate-Palmolive by 86.7% during the fourth quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 323 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. TD Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Colgate-Palmolive by 61.4% during the fourth quarter. TD Capital Management LLC now owns 326 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares during the period. Triumph Capital Management boosted its holdings in Colgate-Palmolive by 62.9% in the 4th quarter. Triumph Capital Management now owns 329 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 127 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jessup Wealth Management Inc acquired a new position in Colgate-Palmolive in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. 80.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Noel Wallace sold 161,021 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.92, for a total transaction of $14,801,050.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 362,231 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $33,296,273.52. The trade was a 30.77% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, COO Panagiotis Tsourapas sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.05, for a total value of $920,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 64,901 shares in the company, valued at $5,974,137.05. This represents a 13.35% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 175,191 shares of company stock valued at $16,110,903 in the last three months. 0.43% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Colgate-Palmolive Price Performance CL stock opened at $89.89 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $71.66 billion, a PE ratio of 35.67, a P/E/G ratio of 4.20 and a beta of 0.33. Colgate-Palmolive Company has a 12-month low of $74.54 and a 12-month high of $99.33. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.82. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $91.95 and its 200 day moving average price is $89.88. Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 31st. The company reported $0.99 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.95 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $5.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.36 billion. Colgate-Palmolive had a net margin of 9.68% and a return on equity of 464.63%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.92 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Colgate-Palmolive Company will post 3.87 EPS for the current year.
Colgate-Palmolive Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 14th. Investors of record on Monday, July 20th were issued a $0.53 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, July 20th. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. Colgate-Palmolive’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 84.13%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group restated a “hold” rating on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $104.00 price objective on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Citigroup increased their price objective on Colgate-Palmolive from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein restated a “market perform” rating on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a research report on Thursday, August 13th. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $99.00.
View Our Latest Report on CL
Colgate-Palmolive Profile (Free Report)
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.
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Stock to Watch: Colgate-Palmolive (CL - Free Report) Colgate-Palmolive Company’s business strategy closely defines efforts to increase its leadership in key product categories through innovation in core businesses, tracking adjacent categories growth and expansion into new markets and channels. Due to the shift of consumer preference to organic and natural ingredients, the company is expanding its Naturals range, including Naturals toothpaste. It is ranked as a leading consumer goods company with a global household penetration.
CL is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. CL has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 4.9% for the current fiscal year.
Nine analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.06 to $3.87 per share. CL also boasts an average earnings surprise of +3.2%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, CL should be on investors' short list.
Colgate-Palmolive remains a Buy, offering defensive qualities, a resilient global portfolio, and an attractive margin of safety at current valuation. Q2 results showed 4.9% net sales growth and 8% base EPS growth, with strong performance outside North America and continued innovation driving market share gains. CL maintains robust free cash flow, supports a 2.36% dividend yield, and continues share repurchases, underpinned by manageable debt and disciplined capital allocation.
Both Procter & Gamble and Colgate-Palmolive just cut checks to shareholders within days of each other, but one of these Dividend Kings carries a coverage cushion and valuation profile that separates it decisively from the other.
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Two of the market’s most reliable dividend payers just cut checks to shareholders within days of each other. Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG | PG Price Prediction) paid $1.0885 per share on August 17, 2026, while Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) paid $0.53 per share on August 14, 2026. Both are Dividend Kings. Both operate in the same aisle at the grocery store. Only one grades higher on the metrics that matter right now.
Streak Length: A Narrow Win for P&G P&G has raised its dividend for 70 consecutive years and paid dividends every year since 1890. Colgate is no slouch, with 63 consecutive years of annual increases. Both firms sit comfortably in the Dividend Aristocrat and Dividend King club, so streak length alone is a rounding error. What matters is what those dividends are worth today and how safely they are funded.
Yield and Recent Raises: P&G Delivers More Cash P&G’s forward annualized dividend now stands at $4.354 per share, translating to a yield of 2.93%. The company raised its quarterly payout from $1.0568 to $1.0885 earlier this year, a 3% bump that CFO Andre Schulten flagged on the fiscal 2026 call.
Colgate raised its quarterly dividend from $0.52 to $0.53 starting with the April 2026 ex-date, roughly a 2% increase. Its forward annualized payout is $2.12 per share, yielding 2.33%. On both raw yield and raise cadence, P&G edges ahead.
Payout Coverage: Where the Grades Diverge Coverage is where the scorecard tilts sharply in favor of P&G. The company earned $6.89 in fiscal 2026 core EPS against a forward dividend of $4.354. Free cash flow reached $15.835 billion, and management delivered 100% adjusted free cash flow productivity for the year. That’s a well-covered dividend with room to grow.
Colgate’s EPS profile is tighter than the competition. Trailing diluted EPS sits at $2.54 against a $2.12 forward dividend. That coverage cushion is thinner than P&G’s, and Colgate trades at a trailing P/E of 35 versus P&G at 22. Investors are paying more per dollar of earnings at Colgate for a smaller yield.
Capital Return Firepower P&G returned over $15 billion to shareholders in fiscal 2026, including over $10 billion in dividends and $5 billion in share repurchases. Management guided to a repeat performance in fiscal 2027. As Schulten put it: “We expect to pay over $10 billion in dividends and to repurchase approximately $5 billion in common stock, combined a plan to return $15 billion of cash to share owners in fiscal 27.”
Colgate returned $1.4 billion to shareholders through the first half of 2026, with free cash flow up 18%. The absolute numbers are smaller, but so is the company: market cap sits near $71.5 billion versus P&G’s $339.6 billion.
Price Action Complicates the Story There is another story behind the scorecard, however. Colgate shares are up 15.51% year to date and 9.28% over the past year. P&G has managed just 4.26% year to date and is down 4.2% over the past year. Colgate’s premium valuation reflects that momentum, but momentum can cut both ways when a dividend costs 35 times earnings to own.
Verdict: P&G Grades Higher on the Dividend Scorecard P&G wins on yield, coverage, valuation, absolute capital return, and streak length. Colgate wins on recent price performance and a leaner operating footprint. For investors buying the dividend rather than the trade, P&G’s 2.93% yield backed by $10 billion in planned fiscal 2027 payouts earns the higher grade. Colgate remains a quality holding, but at 35 times earnings, the market is charging a premium for a slower-growing distribution. Watch fiscal 2027 core EPS delivery at P&G, which management guided to $6.89 to $7.11, to see if the coverage cushion holds.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Algert Global LLC reduced its position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL) by 12.0% in the undefined quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 73,454 shares of the company's stock after selling 9,986 shares during the quarter. Algert Global LLC's holdings in Colgate-Palmolive
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) Chairman, President and CEO, Noel Wallace, will participate in a fireside chat on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 8:15 a.m. ET at the Barclays 2026 Global Consumer Staples Conference. Investors may access a live webcast of this fireside chat on Colgate's website at www.colgatepalmolive.com. For those unable to participate during the live webcast, a recorded version of the webcast will be made available through the ‘Investor Center' page of.
Allstate Corp lessened its position in Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL – Free Report) by 36.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 51,406 shares of the company’s stock after selling 29,541 shares during the period. Allstate Corp’s holdings in Colgate-Palmolive were worth $4,713,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.
Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in CL. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 83,947,987 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,633,570,000 after purchasing an additional 1,026,985 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Colgate-Palmolive by 1.4% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 22,103,901 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,754,657,000 after buying an additional 304,426 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley grew its stake in Colgate-Palmolive by 1.7% during the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 19,246,217 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,520,836,000 after buying an additional 323,367 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 8.1% during the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 13,532,417 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,240,652,000 after buying an additional 1,010,872 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $861,670,000. Institutional investors own 80.41% of the company’s stock.
Colgate-Palmolive Stock Performance CL stock opened at $91.02 on Monday. The business’s fifty day moving average is $91.89 and its 200-day moving average is $90.13. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.82. The company has a market cap of $72.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.26 and a beta of 0.33. Colgate-Palmolive Company has a twelve month low of $74.54 and a twelve month high of $99.33.
Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 31st. The company reported $0.99 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.95 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $5.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.36 billion. Colgate-Palmolive had a return on equity of 464.63% and a net margin of 9.68%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 4.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.92 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Colgate-Palmolive Company will post 3.86 EPS for the current year. Colgate-Palmolive Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 20th were issued a dividend of $0.53 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, July 20th. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. Colgate-Palmolive’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 84.13%.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a report on Friday, July 31st. Barclays lifted their price objective on Colgate-Palmolive from $80.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 21st. Morgan Stanley reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $104.00 price objective on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Finally, Piper Sandler increased their target price on Colgate-Palmolive from $92.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 9th. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $99.00.
Get Our Latest Analysis on CL
Insider Transactions at Colgate-Palmolive In other news, Director John T. Cahill sold 4,170 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.37, for a total transaction of $389,352.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 28,373 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,649,187.01. The trade was a 12.81% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Noel R. Wallace sold 161,021 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.92, for a total value of $14,801,050.32. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 362,231 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $33,296,273.52. This trade represents a 30.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. 0.43% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
(Free Report)
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.
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Allworth Financial LP trimmed its holdings in shares of Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL – Free Report) by 14.5% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 32,804 shares of the company’s stock after selling 5,571 shares during the quarter. Allworth Financial LP’s holdings in Colgate-Palmolive were worth $3,008,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Kemnay Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 86.7% in the fourth quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 323 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares during the period. TD Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 61.4% in the fourth quarter. TD Capital Management LLC now owns 326 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Triumph Capital Management raised its stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 62.9% during the 4th quarter. Triumph Capital Management now owns 329 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 127 shares during the period. Finally, Jessup Wealth Management Inc bought a new stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. 80.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Director John T. Cahill sold 4,170 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.37, for a total value of $389,352.90. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 28,373 shares in the company, valued at $2,649,187.01. This represents a 12.81% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Noel R. Wallace sold 161,021 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.92, for a total transaction of $14,801,050.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 362,231 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $33,296,273.52. The trade was a 30.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Insiders own 0.43% of the company’s stock.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms recently commented on CL. Barclays boosted their target price on Colgate-Palmolive from $80.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $104.00 to $103.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Piper Sandler raised their price target on Colgate-Palmolive from $92.00 to $96.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Colgate-Palmolive from $92.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $99.00. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Colgate-Palmolive
Colgate-Palmolive Trading Up 1.5% Colgate-Palmolive stock opened at $91.02 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $72.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.19 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.82. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $91.89 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $90.14. Colgate-Palmolive Company has a 12 month low of $74.54 and a 12 month high of $99.33.
Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, July 31st. The company reported $0.99 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.95 by $0.04. Colgate-Palmolive had a return on equity of 464.63% and a net margin of 9.68%.The business had revenue of $5.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.36 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.92 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 4.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Colgate-Palmolive Company will post 3.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Colgate-Palmolive Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 14th. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 20th were paid a $0.53 dividend. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, July 20th. Colgate-Palmolive’s dividend payout ratio is 84.13%.
Colgate-Palmolive Profile (Free Report)
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.
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Key Takeaways CL's volumes are improving, margins are holding up and management raised its Base Business earnings outlook.Emerging-market organic sales rose 4.8%, while North America fell 3% as U.S. demand and competition weighed.CL trades at 22.5X forward earnings, above key benchmarks, while favorable estimate revisions add support. Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL - Free Report) enters the second half of 2026 with better operating momentum. Volumes are improving, margins have held up better than expected and management lifted its Base Business earnings outlook.
The restraint is valuation. CL still trades above its sub-industry, sector and the broader market, while weakness in North America leaves less room for execution misses.
Colgate's Growth Mix Is Getting HealthierSecond-quarter organic sales rose 2.4%, with organic volume up 0.8% and pricing contributing 1.6%. Worldwide organic volume improved sequentially for a third straight quarter, giving Colgate a more balanced growth mix than one driven mainly by price.
Emerging markets added breadth, with organic sales up 4.8%. Latin America rose 5.3% and Asia Pacific increased 5.2%, while management expects the second half to be somewhat more volume-driven as innovation and brand penetration efforts scale.
CL's Margin Outlook Improves Despite Higher CostsGross profit margin expanded 140 basis points year over year to 61.5% in the second quarter. Revenue growth management, productivity, pricing and mix helped absorb higher investment, including a 15% increase in advertising.
Management now expects full-year gross profit margin to be roughly flat year over year, versus a prior expectation for a decline. That upgrade matters because raw-material and tariff costs are still expected to be higher in the second half than in the second quarter.
Colgate's North America Weakness Caps the UpsideNorth America remains the clearest operating drag. Second-quarter organic sales fell 3% and organic volume declined 3.9% as softer U.S. categories, retailer inventory reductions, heavier competition and some market-share loss pressured results.
Competitive intensity is meaningful. The Procter & Gamble Company (PG - Free Report) competes in oral care through brands including Crest and Oral-B, while The Clorox Company (CLX - Free Report) has a broad home-care portfolio. Colgate plans selective pricing and promotional actions, but persistent category softness could slow the volume recovery.
CL's Valuation Leaves Less Room for ErrorCL trades at 22.47X forward 12-month earnings, above the Zacks sub-industry's 18.38X, the sector's 17.2X and the S&P 500's 20.6X. That premium raises the hurdle for further upside if U.S. demand or cost pressures worsen.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The stock is not at an extreme relative to its own history. Its current multiple sits below the five-year median of 23.5X, with the five-year range spanning 19.4X to 28.8X. The valuation therefore looks elevated versus external benchmarks but less stretched versus Colgate's historical norm.
Colgate's Earnings Revisions Add SupportThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in the current fiscal year has moved higher, with the estimate up 1.3% over four weeks and 1.1% over 12 weeks. Second-quarter Base Business earnings of 99 cents per share also beat the consensus mark of 95 cents by 4.2%.
Projected EPS growth for the current fiscal year is 4.3%. That keeps the valuation-growth trade-off in focus because estimate revisions are favorable, but the expected earnings growth rate remains modest relative to the stock's forward multiple.
CL's Mixed Style Scores Reinforce PatienceThe operating picture has improved, but the valuation premium and North American pressure argue for patience rather than treating recent progress as an unqualified buying signal. CL currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), consistent with a balanced near-term stance. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
CL has a VGM Score of B, a Growth Score of B and a Momentum Score of B, but a Value Score of D. The B grades are favorable within their respective styles, while the Value Score is a counterweight. Because the Zacks Style Scores complement the Zacks Rank, the mix shows favorable growth and momentum characteristics alongside weaker value characteristics.
Key Takeaways CL's Base Business EPS rose 8% to 99 cents, beating consensus by 4.2% as net sales reached $5.36 billion.Colgate now expects mid-single-digit Base Business EPS growth and roughly flat gross margins for 2026.CL raised advertising 15% to $777 million as higher second-half raw-material and tariff costs loom. Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL - Free Report) strengthened its 2026 profit outlook after a second-quarter earnings beat and 140-basis-point gross-margin expansion. Base Business EPS rose 8%, while organic sales growth reflected contributions from both volume and pricing.
The update shifts attention to durability. Management is raising the earnings and margin view while keeping advertising elevated, but higher second-half raw-material and tariff costs and continued North American weakness could absorb part of the operating gains.
CL's Q2 Beat Sets a Stronger Earnings BaseBase Business earnings were 99 cents per share, up 8% year over year and 4.2% above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 95 cents. Net sales increased 4.9% to $5.36 billion, edging above the consensus mark of $5.35 billion.
Organic sales advanced 2.4%, with organic volume up 0.8% and pricing contributing 1.6%. Worldwide organic volume improved sequentially for a third consecutive quarter, broadening the growth profile beyond pricing alone.
Colgate's 140-Basis-Point Margin Gain MattersGAAP and Base Business gross profit margin expanded 140 basis points to 61.5%. Revenue growth management, productivity, pricing and mix supported the improvement, giving Colgate more room to absorb inflation and fund growth initiatives.
Base Business operating profit increased 5% to $1.1 billion, while operating margin edged up 10 basis points to 21.4%. Those gains came despite higher selling, general and administrative expenses and continued brand investment.
CL's Raised 2026 Outlook Signals ConfidenceManagement now expects mid-single-digit Base Business EPS growth in 2026, up from its prior low- to mid-single-digit view. It also improved both GAAP and Base Business gross profit margin outlooks to roughly flat year over year from down previously.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The top-line framework did not change. Colgate still expects net sales growth of 2-6% and organic sales growth of 1-4%, with the latter including the private-label pet food exit. Execution, rather than a higher sales target, is carrying the profit upgrade.
Colgate Is Still Investing Behind GrowthAdvertising spending increased 15% to $777 million from $678 million a year ago. Management expects investment to remain elevated in the second half, with premium, science-led innovation and omnichannel demand generation central to the strategy.
The company is funding growth rather than protecting the new earnings target by cutting brand support. That trade-off matters because raw-material and tariff costs are expected to be higher in the second half than in the second quarter.
CL's Regional Divergence Tests the UpgradeLatin America delivered 5.3% organic sales growth, Asia Pacific posted 5.2% and Europe, Middle East and Africa rose 2%. North America moved the other way, with organic sales down 3% and organic volume declining 3.9%.
The Procter & Gamble Company (PG - Free Report) is a useful comparison because its portfolio includes Crest and Oral-B in oral care and major fabric and home-care brands. The Clorox Company (CLX - Free Report) provides another household-staples reference point through its cleaning, household and natural personal-care businesses.
Colgate's Rating Mix Tempers the EventThe second-quarter event improved Colgate's profit setup, but it did not remove the main risks. Margin execution and earnings growth have strengthened, while North America, promotional pressure and higher second-half costs keep the outlook balanced.
CL currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). It also has a VGM Score of B, Growth Score of B, Momentum Score of B and Value Score of D. The rank is consistent with a hold posture rather than a top-ranked buy signal, while the Style Scores show favorable growth and momentum characteristics but weaker value. The Style Scores complement the Zacks Rank rather than override it. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG trimmed its stake in Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL – Free Report) by 26.5% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 157,966 shares of the company’s stock after selling 56,921 shares during the quarter. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG’s holdings in Colgate-Palmolive were worth $14,482,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Kemnay Advisory Services Inc. bought a new position in Colgate-Palmolive in the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 86.7% during the fourth quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 323 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. TD Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 61.4% during the fourth quarter. TD Capital Management LLC now owns 326 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares during the period. Triumph Capital Management raised its position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 62.9% during the fourth quarter. Triumph Capital Management now owns 329 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 127 shares during the period. Finally, Jessup Wealth Management Inc bought a new position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive in the 4th quarter worth $26,000. 80.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have commented on CL. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $106.00 to $109.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their target price on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $102.00 to $104.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Piper Sandler raised their price target on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $92.00 to $96.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Colgate-Palmolive from $92.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Colgate-Palmolive presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $99.00.
Get Our Latest Stock Report on Colgate-Palmolive Colgate-Palmolive Stock Down 1.3% Shares of NYSE:CL opened at $89.68 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $71.49 billion, a PE ratio of 35.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.25 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.82, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 0.67. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $91.86 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $90.13. Colgate-Palmolive Company has a 1 year low of $74.54 and a 1 year high of $99.33.
Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, July 31st. The company reported $0.99 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.95 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $5.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.36 billion. Colgate-Palmolive had a return on equity of 464.63% and a net margin of 9.68%.The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.92 EPS. Analysts forecast that Colgate-Palmolive Company will post 3.86 earnings per share for the current year.
Colgate-Palmolive Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 20th were given a $0.53 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, July 20th. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.4%. Colgate-Palmolive’s payout ratio is currently 84.13%.
Insider Transactions at Colgate-Palmolive In other news, CEO Noel R. Wallace sold 161,021 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.92, for a total transaction of $14,801,050.32. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 362,231 shares in the company, valued at $33,296,273.52. This trade represents a 30.77% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, Director John T. Cahill sold 4,170 shares of Colgate-Palmolive stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.37, for a total transaction of $389,352.90. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 28,373 shares in the company, valued at $2,649,187.01. This trade represents a 12.81% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.43% of the stock is owned by insiders.
(Free Report)
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.
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Abacus FCF Advisors LLC reduced its position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL – Free Report) by 55.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 59,534 shares of the company’s stock after selling 73,371 shares during the period. Abacus FCF Advisors LLC’s holdings in Colgate-Palmolive were worth $5,458,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CL. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 1.2% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 83,947,987 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,633,570,000 after acquiring an additional 1,026,985 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Colgate-Palmolive by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 22,103,901 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,754,657,000 after purchasing an additional 304,426 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in Colgate-Palmolive by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 19,246,217 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,520,836,000 after purchasing an additional 323,367 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in Colgate-Palmolive by 8.1% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 13,532,417 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,240,652,000 after purchasing an additional 1,010,872 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new position in Colgate-Palmolive in the 4th quarter valued at $861,670,000. 80.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have recently commented on CL. Barclays increased their target price on Colgate-Palmolive from $80.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $101.00 price target on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $102.00 to $104.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $99.00.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Colgate-Palmolive Insider Activity In related news, Director John T. Cahill sold 4,170 shares of Colgate-Palmolive stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $93.37, for a total transaction of $389,352.90. Following the transaction, the director owned 28,373 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,649,187.01. This trade represents a 12.81% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Noel R. Wallace sold 161,021 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.92, for a total transaction of $14,801,050.32. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 362,231 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $33,296,273.52. This represents a 30.77% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Corporate insiders own 0.43% of the company’s stock.
Colgate-Palmolive Price Performance Colgate-Palmolive stock opened at $90.94 on Thursday. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $91.85 and its 200 day simple moving average is $90.14. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.82. The stock has a market cap of $72.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.09, a P/E/G ratio of 4.28 and a beta of 0.33. Colgate-Palmolive Company has a 12-month low of $74.54 and a 12-month high of $99.33.
Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 31st. The company reported $0.99 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.95 by $0.04. Colgate-Palmolive had a net margin of 9.68% and a return on equity of 464.63%. The business had revenue of $5.36 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.36 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.92 earnings per share. Colgate-Palmolive’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Colgate-Palmolive Company will post 3.86 earnings per share for the current year.
Colgate-Palmolive Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 14th. Investors of record on Monday, July 20th were issued a $0.53 dividend. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, July 20th. Colgate-Palmolive’s dividend payout ratio is currently 84.13%.
(Free Report)
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.
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Key Takeaways CL remains below its 50-day SMA, signaling weaker short-term momentum after a recent rebound.Colgate-Palmolive faces softer U.S. demand, retailer inventory cuts and heightened competition.CL posted 4.9% Q2 sales growth, while emerging markets and improved gross-margin execution offered support. Shares of Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL - Free Report) have witnessed some near-term pressure, with the stock slipping below its key 50-day simple moving average (SMA), signaling a loss of short-term technical momentum. On Monday, CL closed at $90.21, below its 50-day SMA of $91.56. Although the stock rebounded 1.4% in the next trading session to close at $91.46, it remained marginally below the updated 50-day SMA of $91.32.
A stock’s move below the 50-day SMA is generally viewed as a sign of weakening short-term momentum, as it indicates that recent buying interest is losing strength. For Colgate-Palmolive, the breach warrants attention, particularly after the stock failed to sustain its recent momentum.
SMA is an essential tool in technical analysis that helps investors evaluate price trends by smoothing out short-term fluctuations. This approach also provides a clearer perspective on a stock's long-term direction.
CL Stock Trades Below 50 Day SMAs
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CL has delivered a lackluster performance, with its shares declining 3.8% in the past six months compared with the Zacks Consumer Products – Staples industry’s 5% fall. However, the stock has outperformed the broader Zacks Consumer Staples sector, which fell 10.2%, while underperforming the S&P 500’s 11.8% gain over the same period.
CL’s Six-Month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
At its current price of $91.46, CL stock trades 22.7% above its 52-week low of $74.55 and roughly 7.9% below its 52-week high of $99.33.
The recent technical weakness comes despite a solid second-quarter 2026 performance. Colgate-Palmolive reported net sales of $5.36 billion, up 4.9% year over year, while organic sales advanced 2.4%. Base Business earnings increased 8% to 99 cents per share. The company also delivered strong gross-margin performance and continued to increase advertising investments behind its brands.
Nevertheless, several near-term challenges appear to be keeping investors cautious.
Here's Why CL Stock Faces Near-Term PressureThe biggest concern remains the North American business. Management expressed disappointment with the second-quarter performance in the region amid softer category demand, heightened competitive activity and inventory reductions by major retailers. The company also identified selective pricing gaps versus competitors and plans to address them while stepping up advertising and premium innovation during the second half.
North America net sales and organic sales declined 3% in the second quarter, with a 3.9% volume decline more than offsetting a 0.9% increase in pricing. This weakness contrasts with stronger results in several international markets and remains an important hurdle for Colgate as it attempts to improve its U.S. trajectory.
Consumer uncertainty is another concern. Management highlighted significant month-to-month volatility in category trends, noting that elevated gasoline prices and weaker consumer confidence have made shoppers more cautious. Although U.S. category trends improved after a particularly weak May, they remained below historical levels.
Cost pressures could also intensify in the second half. Colgate expects raw-material costs and tariffs to be higher in the back half than in the second quarter. Even so, strong revenue growth management, pricing, productivity and favorable mix allowed the company to raise its full-year gross-margin outlook to roughly flat from its prior expectation for a decline.
Hill’s Pet Nutrition also faces a softer category backdrop. Excluding the private-label exit, Hill’s delivered roughly 4% organic growth, but the exit created an approximately 200-basis-point drag on volume. Management believes the pet category may be near a bottom, though inflation could continue to pressure demand.
Still, Colgate-Palmolive's international operations provide an important cushion. Emerging markets led second-quarter growth, with strength in India, Brazil, Mexico and China, while Europe continued to benefit from innovation, premiumization and market-share gains.
Here’s How Estimates Are Shaping for CLThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for Colgate-Palmolive’s earnings per share (EPS) for the current and upcoming fiscal years has been revised upward over the past 30 days. For fiscal 2026 and 2027, EPS estimates have moved upward by 1.3% and 0.5% to $3.86 and $4.07, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
CL’s Valuation PictureValuation remains another factor investors should consider. CL currently trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of about 22.92X, above the Zacks Consumer Products - Staples industry average of 18.12X. The premium valuation suggests that investors are already assigning considerable value to Colgate-Palmolive’s strong brands, global footprint, margin execution and long-term growth prospects.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The premium becomes more important in the context of the stock’s recent technical weakness. While Colgate-Palmolive continues to deliver healthy profitability and international growth, persistent U.S. pressure, elevated promotional competition and rising input costs could limit near-term upside if operating trends fail to improve sufficiently.
Should You Buy CL Stock After the SMA Breach?Colgate-Palmolive has several fundamental strengths, including its dominant global oral-care franchise, emerging-market momentum, improving gross-margin execution, strong cash generation and continued investments in premium innovation and brand support.
However, the drop below the 50-day SMA points to weakening short-term momentum. U.S. category softness, retailer inventory reductions, heightened competitive activity and rising raw-material and tariff costs could continue to create volatility. Meanwhile, CL's premium valuation leaves less room for execution setbacks.
Given the mixed technical picture and balanced fundamental outlook, investors may prefer to wait for a more decisive move back above the 50-day SMA before becoming more constructive on the stock. Existing investors may continue to hold their positions, particularly while CL remains above its 200-day moving average.
Colgate-Palmolive currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Stocks to ConsiderDarling Ingredients Inc. (DAR - Free Report) develops, produces and sells sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients. At present, Darling Ingredients sports a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The consensus estimate for Darling Ingredients’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 12.8% and 926.5%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. DAR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 38.9%, on average.
The J. M. Smucker Company (SJM - Free Report) , which manufactures and markets branded food and beverage products, carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. SJM delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 1.5%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for J. M. Smucker’s current fiscal-year earnings indicates growth of 8.9% from the year-ago figures.
US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD - Free Report) engages in the marketing, sale and distribution of fresh, frozen and dry food and non-food products to foodservice customers in the United States. It currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. USFD delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 1.5%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for US Foods Holding’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 5.3% and 16.3%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.
Key Takeaways CL's Q2 revenues rose 4.9% to $5.36B, with organic sales growth in four of five divisions.Emerging markets led growth, with India up double digits and Brazil, Mexico and China also advancing.CL expects more volume-led growth as raw-material costs and tariffs rise from second-quarter levels. Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL - Free Report) delivered a solid second-quarter 2026 performance despite a volatile global operating backdrop, supported by broad-based sales growth, emerging-market momentum and resilient execution across much of its portfolio. Organic sales increased in four of its five divisions and three of its four categories, with emerging markets leading growth, with strength in India, Brazil, Mexico and China. Europe also benefited from innovation, premiumization and market-share gains, while Hill’s Pet Nutrition continued to outperform its category. However, weakness in the United States, heightened competitive activity and cautious consumer spending remain key hurdles as CL enters the second half.
CL’s second-quarter revenues totaled $5.36 billion, up 4.9% year over year, while earnings came in at 99 cents per share. Free cash flow increased 18%, helping the company return $1.4 billion to its shareholders. Gross margin expanded 100 basis points year over year and improved 90 basis points sequentially, supported by pricing, favorable mix, productivity initiatives and revenue growth management. Latin America grew about 5%, reflecting a balanced 2.8% increase in pricing and 2.6% volume growth, with Brazil advancing high single digits and Mexico growing mid-single digits. Hill’s generated roughly 4% organic growth excluding private label, despite an approximately 200-basis-point drag on volume from the private-label exit. Meanwhile, India posted double-digit growth and Greater China advanced at a mid-single-digit pace despite a challenging category environment.
Looking ahead, sustaining this momentum will depend on CL’s ability to offset softer category trends and mounting cost pressures. Management expects growth to become somewhat more volume-driven in the second half while raw-material costs and tariffs rise from second-quarter levels. The company is stepping up advertising, premium innovation and targeted pricing and promotional actions to improve its U.S. trajectory, while continuing to scale revenue growth management, Promo AI, digital capabilities and productivity programs globally. Although consumer uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and inflation could restrain category growth, CL’s geographic diversification and focus on premium products may help it outperform underlying markets and preserve earnings momentum.
CL’s Zacks Rank & Share Price PerformanceShares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 5.1% in the past year, outperforming both the industry, which fell 8.7%, and the broader Consumer Staples sector, which rose 1.6%.
CL Stock's Past Year Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Is CL a Value Play Stock?Colgate currently trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 22.61X, which is higher than the industry average of 18.12X. This valuation positions the stock at a premium relative to both its sector and industry peers, suggesting that investors may be pricing in stronger growth prospects, brand strength or operational efficiency compared with competitors.
CL P/E Ratio (Forward 12 Months)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderDarling Ingredients Inc. (DAR - Free Report) develops, produces and sells sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients. At present, Darling Ingredients sports a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The consensus estimate for Darling Ingredients’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 12.8% and 926.5%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. DAR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 38.9%, on average.
The J. M. Smucker Company (SJM - Free Report) , which manufactures and markets branded food and beverage products, carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. SJM delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 1.5%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for J. M. Smucker’s current fiscal-year earnings indicates growth of 8.9% from the year-ago figures.
US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD - Free Report) engages in the marketing, sale and distribution of fresh, frozen and dry food and non-food products to foodservice customers in the United States. It currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. USFD delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 1.5%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for US Foods Holding’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 5.3% and 16.3%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.
For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.
The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.
Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
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That's where the Style Scores come in.
You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
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Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Colgate-Palmolive (CL - Free Report) Colgate-Palmolive Company’s business strategy closely defines efforts to increase its leadership in key product categories through innovation in core businesses, tracking adjacent categories growth and expansion into new markets and channels. Due to the shift of consumer preference to organic and natural ingredients, the company is expanding its Naturals range, including Naturals toothpaste. It is ranked as a leading consumer goods company with a global household penetration.
CL is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. CL has a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 4.6% for the current fiscal year.
Eight analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.05 to $3.86 per share. CL also boasts an average earnings surprise of +3.2%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, CL should be on investors' short list.
For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.
Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.
Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Colgate-Palmolive (CL - Free Report) Colgate-Palmolive Company’s business strategy closely defines efforts to increase its leadership in key product categories through innovation in core businesses, tracking adjacent categories growth and expansion into new markets and channels. Due to the shift of consumer preference to organic and natural ingredients, the company is expanding its Naturals range, including Naturals toothpaste. It is ranked as a leading consumer goods company with a global household penetration.
CL is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Momentum investors should take note of this Consumer Staples stock. CL has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 1.4% over the past four weeks.
For fiscal 2026, seven analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.05 to $3.86 per share. CL boasts an average earnings surprise of +3.2%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, CL should be on investors' short list.
John T. Cahill, Director of Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL +0.29%), reported a sale of 4,170 shares of Common Stock on Aug. 6, 2026, as disclosed in an SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summaryMetricValueTransaction value~$389,353Shares sold4,170Post-transaction shares (directly held)28,373Post-transaction shares (indirectly held)36,357Post-transaction value$6.02 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($93.37); post-transaction value based on Aug. 6, 2026, market close ($93.00).
Key questionsWhat was the structural context of this disposal?
The transaction was an exercise and sale of stock options awarded in May 2019 that became exercisable in annual installments, representing a routine realization of long-term incentive compensation.How is the insider's remaining equity structured?
Following the sale of 4,170 shares, the director's equity is split between 28,373 shares held directly and 36,357 shares held indirectly by a trust, maintaining a multi-layered ownership structure.What does the timing of the sale indicate regarding valuation?
The sale was executed at $93.37 per share, slightly above the market close of $93.00 on the transaction date, and occurred as the stock had produced a 10% total return over the preceding 12 months as of Aug. 6, 2026.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-08-06)$93.00Market Capitalization$74.6 billionRevenue (TTM)$21.0 billionNet Income (TTM)$2.0 billionCompany SnapshotColgate-Palmolive operates a diversified portfolio of consumer goods spanning oral hygiene products (toothpastes, toothbrushes, mouthwashes), personal care items (soaps, shower gels, shampoos, conditioners), and pet nutrition offerings, generating revenue across its Oral, Personal, and Home Care divisions and Pet Nutrition segment.The company generates revenue through the production, marketing, and global distribution of branded consumer products to retail channels, leveraging established brand recognition and extensive distribution networks to maintain market share across multiple consumer categories.Colgate-Palmolive serves mass-market consumers globally, with primary customers including retail chains, supermarkets, and e-commerce platforms that distribute its products to households and individual consumers across developed and emerging markets.Colgate-Palmolive is a multinational consumer goods manufacturer with a market capitalization of $74.6 billion and TTM revenue of $21.0 billion, positioning it as a significant player in the household and personal products sector. The company maintains competitive advantages through its portfolio of globally recognized brands, established distribution infrastructure, and diversified product offerings across oral care, personal care, and pet nutrition categories. With 33,600 employees and operations spanning multiple geographic regions, Colgate-Palmolive leverages scale and brand equity to sustain market leadership in the consumer defensive sector.
What this transaction means for investorsSimply put, investors shouldn’t fret over this sale. The transaction by Director Cahill was part of a prearranged option exercise and sale that doesn’t indicate any market timing or judgment regarding Colgate Palmolive stock.
As for the blue chip dividend-paying business itself, Colgate-Palmolive remains one of the most recognizable steady-Eddie investments out there. Currently trading at 19 times free cash flow, CL stock is slightly cheaper than normal, but is more of an income-generating investment at this point in its business life cycle. Paying a 2.3% dividend yield and having raised its payments for 62 straight years, Colgate’s returns to shareholders and defensive consumer-goods positioning make it a perfect cornerstone for investors focused on safety.
That said, over the last five years, Colgate’s organic sales, free cash flow, and dividend have only increased by 6%, 5%, and 2% annually, so investors shouldn’t expect market-smashing returns. In its last quarter, sales and EPS both rose by 5%, while it maintained its No. 1 and No. 2 positions across its myriad products and verticals. Ultimately, Colgate Palmolive is a top-tier holding for stability, but one I’m not particularly interested in as I’d rather have steadier growth options.
Josh Kohn-Lindquist has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Colgate-Palmolive. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Colgate-Palmolive Company remains rated Hold due to valuation concerns, tepid organic growth, and persistent North American weakness. Q2 net sales rose 4.9%, but organic growth lagged at 2.4%, below both inflation and CL's long-term target. Dividend and buyback returns are sustainable, but market pricing implies aggressive long-term growth assumptions not fully supported by fundamentals.
Dividend stock investors have an excellent choice with this company.
*Stock prices used were the afternoon prices of July 28, 2026. The video was published on July 30, 2026.
Parkev Tatevosian, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Colgate-Palmolive. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Parkev Tatevosian is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through his link, he will earn some extra money that supports his channel. His opinions remain his own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.
Organic Sales Growth: Organic sales growth was reported in four of five divisions and three of four categories.Emerging Markets Sales: Sales in emerging markets
Key Takeaways CL's Q2 earnings rose 8% as organic sales growth and productivity supported profitability.Latin America led growth, while North America declined and Asia Pacific delivered solid organic gains.CL raised its 2026 earnings growth outlook as gross margin expectations improved despite higher spending. Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL - Free Report) posted second-quarter 2026 results, wherein earnings and sales beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate and grew year over year. Results benefited from higher organic sales and gains from strategic efforts. On a Base Business basis (non-GAAP basis), earnings were 99 cents per share, up 8% year over year and beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 95 cents by 4.2%.
Net sales rose 4.9% to $5.36 billion and came above the consensus mark of $5.35 billion. Organic sales grew 2.4%, supported by a 0.8% increase in organic volume and 1.6% pricing growth. A 2.4% favorable foreign-exchange impact also aided sales. Our model had anticipated organic sales growth of 2.7% for the reported quarter.
The company maintained a 41.3% year-to-date share of the global toothpaste market. It also held a 32.7% share of the worldwide manual toothbrush market. These leadership positions support management's strategy of investing in innovation and brand-building initiatives. Colgate expects strong investment levels to continue through the remainder of 2026.
Hill's Pet Nutrition net sales rose 3.4%, while organic sales increased 2.1%. Pricing improved 3.9%, but organic volume declined 1.8%, partly reflecting the company's exit from private-label pet food.
This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company’s shares have gained 4.9% in the past three months compared with the industry’s 2.1% growth.
CL's Margin Gains Offset Cost PressuresGAAP and Base Business gross profit margin expanded 140 basis points year over year to 61.5%. The improvement strengthened profitability despite a difficult operating environment and continued spending behind brands.
Base Business operating profit increased 5% to $1.1 billion. The adjusted operating margin edged up 10 basis points to 21.4%, showing that stronger gross margin performance and productivity actions helped absorb higher investments.
Base Business selling, general and administrative expenses were $2.1 billion, while the adjusted expense rate increased 120 basis points to 39.6% of sales. We had expected selling, general and administrative expenses to increase 30 basis points to 38.7% of sales.
Advertising spending climbed 15% to $777 million from $678 million a year ago. Management said elevated investment will continue in the back half as the company focuses on premium, science-led innovation and omnichannel demand generation.
CL's Regional Sales Picture Stays MixedNorth America net sales fell 3% and organic sales also declined 3%, reflecting a 3.9% drop in volume that more than offset 0.9% pricing growth. The region accounted for 17% of total company sales.
Latin America remained the strongest growth contributor, with net sales up 13.7% and organic sales rising 5.3%. Volume grew 2.6%, pricing increased 2.8% and foreign exchange contributed 8.4%.
Europe, Middle East & Africa net sales increased 3.5%, while organic sales rose 2%. A 3.2% volume gain more than offset a 1.2% pricing decline, and currency added 1.6%.
Asia Pacific net sales advanced 4.9% and organic sales grew 5.2%, driven by 4.1% volume growth and 1.1% pricing. Foreign exchange reduced the region's reported sales growth by 0.3%.
Our model had expected sales to decline 0.9% year over year in North America, rise 7% in Latin America, jump 6.1% in Europe, Middle East & Africa and rise 7% in Asia Pacific.
CL Strengthens Cash Flow and LiquidityNet cash provided by operations reached $1.7 billion in the first six months of 2026, up from $1.5 billion a year ago. Free cash flow before dividends increased to $1.5 billion from $1.3 billion.
CL ended June with $1.4 billion in cash and cash equivalents and total debt of $7.9 billion. During the first half, the company paid $879 million in dividends and purchased $597 million of treasury shares.
Colgate Updates 2026 Profitability OutlookColgate maintained its 2026 net sales growth outlook of 2-6% and organic sales growth guidance of 1-4%. Foreign exchange is still expected to provide a low-single-digit positive impact at current spot rates.
Management now expects both GAAP and Base Business gross profit margin to be roughly flat year over year, improving from its prior expectation of a decline. It also raised its Base Business earnings growth forecast to mid-single digits from low- to mid-single-digit growth, while retaining its view for double-digit GAAP earnings growth.
Stocks to Consider in the Consumer Staples Space United Natural Foods (UNFI - Free Report) , which is the leading distributor of natural, organic and specialty food and non-food products, currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for United Natural Foods’ current financial-year sales indicates a drop of 2.1% from the prior-year level. UNFI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 29.9%, on average.
Medifast, Inc. (MED - Free Report) , which is a leading manufacturer and distributor of clinically-proven healthy living products and programs, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). MED missed the average earnings surprise by a sharp margin in the trailing four quarters.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Medifast’s current financial-year sales indicates a decline of 25.9% from the year-ago number.
Freshpet, Inc. (FRPT - Free Report) , which manufactures and markets natural fresh foods, refrigerated meals, and treats for dogs and cats, currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Freshpet’s current financial-year sales indicates growth of 9.5% from the prior-year level. FRPT delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 49.4%, on average.
3 Dividend Kings With Income, Stability, and a Possible CatalystColgate-Palmolive NYSE: CL said its second-quarter 2026 results reflected broad-based organic sales growth, gross-margin expansion and higher advertising spending, while executives outlined steps to improve performance in North America amid softer category trends and elevated competition.
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Noel Wallace said organic sales grew in four of the company’s five divisions and in three of its four categories. Growth was led by emerging markets, including India, Brazil, Mexico and China, while Europe and the Hill’s pet nutrition business also contributed.
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3 Up-and-Coming Stocks That Could Be the Next NVIDIA“We’re pleased to have delivered another quarter of strong top and bottom-line growth, particularly in the context of continued global volatility,” Wallace said. The company’s free cash flow increased 18% through the second quarter, and it returned $1.4 billion to shareholders, according to Wallace.
The company also said John Faucher, executive vice president of M&A and special projects, will retire at the end of September. Wallace said the call was Faucher’s 40th quarterly earnings call with Colgate-Palmolive.
Margins Supported by Pricing, Mix and Productivity 3 Sectors That Look Most Vulnerable Ahead of May 15Colgate-Palmolive reported gross-margin expansion of 100 basis points in the quarter, including a modest benefit from tariff refunds. Wallace said most of the improvement came from the company’s core operations, including pricing, revenue growth management, productivity initiatives and product mix.
Chief Financial Officer Stan Sutula said material costs were slightly below the company’s expectations during the quarter, as higher raw-material costs were partially offset by tariff refunds. He said the company does not expect meaningful additional refunds.
Management said it now expects gross margin to be roughly flat for the full year, an improvement from its prior expectation for a decline. Sutula cautioned that raw-material costs and tariffs are expected to be higher in the second half than in the second quarter, although comparisons will be easier year over year. He said oil prices around $90 could make fourth-quarter costs somewhat lower than the company had previously assumed.
Wallace said the company has been incorporating expected cost increases into its profit-and-loss planning and is using pricing, revenue growth management and promotional artificial-intelligence tools to protect profitability. The company increased advertising by double digits during the quarter and plans to maintain elevated investment behind its brands.
“We believe our efforts in revenue growth management, promo AI, and funding the growth give us the ability to invest in advertising to build our brands while driving profit and EPS growth,” Wallace said.
North America Improvement Plan Wallace said the company was not satisfied with its U.S. performance. He attributed part of the weakness to category softness in May, heightened competition and inventory reductions by certain retailers. While category conditions improved in June and remained steadier in July, Wallace said they were still below historical levels.
Management said retailer inventory reductions caused shipments to trail consumption in North America, and Wallace said the company has not assumed that retailers will rebuild inventories during the second half.
Colgate-Palmolive plans to increase distribution and support for recent launches, including Optic White Pro Series with ActivShine technology and Fabuloso products in new formats. The company also plans to take “surgical” actions in specific categories and retail channels where it identified price and promotional gaps versus competitors.
Increase brand support across core U.S. businesses. Expand premium innovation in 2026 and 2027. Address selected price and promotion gaps without broadly escalating promotional activity. Focus on improving market share and delivering sequential improvement in the second half. Wallace said the company is particularly focused on premium opportunities, where it believes it is under-indexed in North America. He pointed to the company’s experience in Asia and Europe, where stronger innovation, premium offerings, go-to-market changes and online expansion have supported improvement.
Hill’s Gains Share in a Soft Pet Market Hill’s continued to outperform the broader pet-food category, according to Wallace. Excluding discontinued private-label business, Hill’s organic sales rose 4%, compared with a category that Wallace characterized as roughly flat, particularly in the U.S.
Private-label discontinuations reduced Hill’s volume by 200 basis points. Excluding those discontinuations, volume was approximately flat during the quarter, while the therapeutic business delivered growth in both volume and pricing, supporting mix and gross-margin improvement.
Wallace said Hill’s gained traction in cat food, wet food and small-pet offerings, while Science Diet dog food was weaker as consumers shifted toward smaller pets and ownership of larger pets declined. International Hill’s sales rose at a solid mid-single-digit rate, he said.
The company is also rolling out fresh pet food in the U.S. following its Prime acquisition. Wallace described the rollout as deliberate and said the company’s initial objective is to establish the brand’s scientific credentials and professional support rather than pursue significant early volume.
The offering includes three single-protein diets, with the company emphasizing their intended benefits for digestion, coat condition and overall pet health. Distribution will be phased through professional, pet-specialty and neighborhood veterinary channels rather than launched simultaneously across all retailers.
Emerging Markets, China and AI Initiatives Latin America delivered approximately 5% organic growth, with pricing up 2.8% and volume up 2.6%, Wallace said. Brazil grew at a high-single-digit rate and Mexico grew at a mid-single-digit rate. Management said Colgate Total market shares have been rebuilding, particularly in Brazil, following prior reformulation-related issues.
In India, the company reported double-digit growth, supported by both indirect trade and modern trade. Wallace said the company is pursuing premiumization while also maintaining price-pack architectures designed to attract consumers entering its categories.
Greater China rose at a mid-single-digit rate, while the Colgate China business delivered mid-single-digit growth and Hawley & Hazel, which includes the Darlie brand, posted low-single-digit organic growth. Wallace said China remains a challenging market due to declining brick-and-mortar sales, rapid e-commerce shifts and aggressive competition, but he highlighted the market’s role in developing digital talent and social-first innovation.
Wallace also said Colgate-Palmolive is scaling AI across pricing, productivity, innovation, marketing and data analytics. The company has trained much of its workforce on AI tools, including about 70% of vice presidents in advanced AI training, according to Wallace. He said the company is moving from AI pilots toward broader implementation, including promotional optimization, content creation and more automated internal processes.
About Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL)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.
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For the quarter ended June 2026, Colgate-Palmolive (CL - Free Report) reported revenue of $5.36 billion, up 4.9% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.99, compared to $0.92 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +0.2% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.35 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.95, the EPS surprise was +4.21%.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how Colgate-Palmolive performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Net Sales- Oral, Personal and Home Care- North America: $891 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $908.99 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -13.2%.Net Sales- Oral, Personal and Home Care- Asia Pacific: $782 million compared to the $770.07 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +13.8% year over year.Net Sales- Oral, Personal and Home Care- Europe, Middle East & Africa: $1.12 billion compared to the $1.17 billion average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +51.9% year over year.Net Sales- Oral, Personal and Home Care- Latin America: $1.37 billion compared to the $1.33 billion average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +13.7% year over year.Net Sales- Pet Nutrition: $1.2 billion versus the five-analyst average estimate of $1.19 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +3.3%.Net Sales- Total Oral, Personal and Home Care: $4.17 billion versus the five-analyst average estimate of $4.17 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +5.4%.Operating profit- Pet Nutrition: $269 million versus $267.14 million estimated by three analysts on average.Operating profit- Total Oral, Personal and Home Care: $1.08 billion compared to the $1.04 billion average estimate based on three analysts.View all Key Company Metrics for Colgate-Palmolive here>>>
Shares of Colgate-Palmolive have returned -3.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Colgate-Palmolive Company reported stable overall Q2 results. Organic revenues grew moderately, and margins stayed good. Growth varies by market. CL's advertising investments are yielding results in Latin America and Asia Pacific, but competitive pressure is weakening results in North America. I estimate CL stock to have a fair value of $92.4.
Palmolive products are displayed on a shelf in a supermarket in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, October 29, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
July 31 (Reuters) - Colgate-Palmolive (CL.N), opens new tab on Friday reaffirmed its annual sales forecast even after posting a quarterly rise as the toothpaste maker continues to grapple with muted demand in North America, sending its shares down 2.5%.
Higher food and fuel prices tied to the Middle East conflict have hit lower-income shoppers hard, making it harder for U.S. consumer goods companies to meet demand across both budget and premium segments.
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The company's North America organic sales fell 3% in the quarter, driven by a 3.9% drop in volumes, as slower category growth, market share losses, increased competition and inventory reductions at key retailers weighed on sales.
It, however, continues to expect annual net sales to grow 2% to 6%, and raised the base of its 2026 adjusted earnings forecast to mid-single-digit growth, up from its prior low- to mid-single-digit forecast.
Colgate, however, warned additional headwinds relative to the forecast, as new 10% and 12.5% tariffs imposed by the Trump administration are expected to more than offset the benefit from tariff refunds received in the second quarter.
Rival Procter & Gamble (PG.N), opens new tab on Tuesday forecast slower revenue growth in fiscal 2027 after quarterly sales missed estimates and margins fell under a "very challenging geopolitical and economic environment".
Colgate-Palmolive posted a 4.9% rise in net sales to $5.36 billion for the three months ended June 30, in line with analysts' estimates, according to data compiled by LSEG.
Adjusted earnings per share of 99 cents surpassed analysts' estimate of 95 cents.
Reporting by Sanskriti Shekhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Colgate-Palmolive (CL - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.99 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.95 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.92 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +4.21%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this consumer products maker would post earnings of $0.95 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.97, delivering a surprise of +2.11%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.
Colgate-Palmolive, which belongs to the Zacks Consumer Products - Staples industry, posted revenues of $5.36 billion for the quarter ended June 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.20%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $5.11 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Colgate-Palmolive shares have added about 15.9% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 8.7%.
What's Next for Colgate-Palmolive?While Colgate-Palmolive has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Colgate-Palmolive was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.91 on $5.35 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $3.81 on $21.39 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Consumer Products - Staples is currently in the bottom 18% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Another stock from the same industry, BBB Foods (TBBB - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on August 12.
This discount retailer is expected to post quarterly loss of $0.18 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -38.5%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
BBB Foods' revenues are expected to be $1.42 billion, up 47.5% from the year-ago quarter.
