Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) Posts Quarterly Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.02 EPS

Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday. The company reported $0.97 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.95 by $0.02, Briefing.com reports. The firm had revenue of $5.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.22 billion. Colgate-Palmolive had a net margin of 10.45% and a return on equity of 353.72%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.91 earnings per share.

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

• Colgate delivered accelerated organic sales and volume growth, led by emerging markets (notably Asia Pacific and Latin America) with broad-based category strength and continued investment in advertising, digital and AI capabilities.
• Management added roughly $300 million of incremental raw‑materials and logistics costs (assuming oil around $110/barrel) and lowered full‑year expectations for gross margin, though EPS guidance was maintained.
• The Strategic Growth and Productivity Program (SGPP) savings target was updated to $200M–$300M of annualized savings by end‑2028, with most benefits expected in 2027–2028 to fund growth investments and support EPS.
• North America remains a laggard on volume—impacted by late shelf resets and delayed product shipments—with management outlining a multi‑initiative turnaround (innovation, RGM, promo changes) that should drive sequential improvement but will take time.
• Hill’s pet care outperformed, showing strong organic growth ex‑private label, volume gains in Prescription and Science Diets, and management expects private‑label headwinds to taper by the back half of the year.

Colgate-Palmolive Stock Performance

CL stock traded up $1.79 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $87.15. 8,932,924 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,680,817. The firm has a market cap of $69.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.26, a PEG ratio of 4.32 and a beta of 0.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.82, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $87.95 and its 200-day simple moving average is $84.06. Colgate-Palmolive has a 1-year low of $74.54 and a 1-year high of $99.33.

Colgate-Palmolive Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 20th will be paid a $0.53 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 20th. This is an increase from Colgate-Palmolive’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.4%. Colgate-Palmolive’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 80.92%.

Key Headlines Impacting Colgate-Palmolive

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 top‑ and bottom‑line beat — Colgate reported EPS of $0.97 vs. $0.95 consensus and revenue of $5.32B (up 8.4% YoY), driven by pricing and volume growth; organic sales rose and base business EPS increased. Colgate Q1 Earnings & Sales Beat Estimates on Pricing & Volume Growth
• Positive Sentiment: Strong international demand for core oral and personal care boosted results and topline momentum, a cited driver behind the beat. Colgate‑Palmolive beats Q1 estimates on strong international demand
• Positive Sentiment: Board expands strategic growth & restructuring program — management is accelerating a multi‑year program (approved July 2025) intended to drive growth and cost savings, which supports margin recovery expectations. Colgate‑Palmolive Expands Strategic Growth and Restructuring Program
• Neutral Sentiment: Management commentary and slides — the earnings call and slide deck provide detail on region‑level trends, pricing versus volume dynamics, and the timing of savings from the restructuring program. Review the transcript/slides for forward commentary. Colgate‑Palmolive Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts updated forecasts ahead of and after the print — some revisions were already in place heading into the quarter; keep an eye on any further changes to price targets or model assumptions. Colgate‑Palmolive Earnings Are Imminent; These Most Accurate Analysts Revise Forecasts Ahead Of Earnings Call
• Negative Sentiment: Margin pressure and one‑time/SGPP charges — GAAP EPS fell YoY (to $0.80) and gross profit margin slipped ~20 bps; management flagged costs and restructuring/SGPP charges that weighed on margins this quarter. These items are a watch point for near‑term profitability until savings materialize. Colgate Announces 1st Quarter 2026 Results

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on CL shares. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on Colgate-Palmolive from $100.00 to $95.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 23rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Colgate-Palmolive from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $90.00 to $98.00 in a report on Monday, March 30th. Evercore upped their target price on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $94.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Citigroup raised their price target on Colgate-Palmolive from $95.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on Colgate-Palmolive from $85.00 to $91.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $95.56.

Insider Transactions at Colgate-Palmolive

In other news, insider John Hazlin sold 20,989 shares of Colgate-Palmolive stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $94.25, for a total value of $1,978,213.25. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 17,645 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,663,041.25. The trade was a 54.33% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Sally Massey sold 15,851 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $95.03, for a total transaction of $1,506,320.53. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 13,751 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,306,757.53. This trade represents a 53.55% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last three months, insiders sold 184,683 shares of company stock valued at $17,486,693. Insiders own 0.43% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Kemnay Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new position in Colgate-Palmolive in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Triumph Capital Management grew its stake in shares of 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 buying an additional 127 shares during the period. Jessup Wealth Management Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Motiv8 Investments LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Finally, Kelleher Financial Advisors purchased a new stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $35,000. 80.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Colgate-Palmolive

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

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