Colgate-Palmolive Company CL
Stock research in plain language · As of Oct 04, 2026 · updated once a week, after the trading week closes
What the company does
Colgate-Palmolive Company is a large-cap company in the Consumer Defensive sector (Household & Personal Products), with a market value of $67.2B, based in the USA.
It employs about 33,600 people and has been listed since Jan 03, 1977.
Colgate-Palmolive Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells consumer products in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition. The Oral, Personal and Home Care segment offers toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, bar and liquid hand soaps, shower gels, shampoos, conditioners, deodorants and antiperspirants, skin health products, dishwashing detergents, fabric conditioners, household cleaners, and other related items.
Cheap or expensive? priced in line with its group
Its price-to-earnings (P/E) is 33.2 versus 25.7 for the median of the Consumer Defensive sector in our universe (14 companies) — priced in line with its group.
Revenue is growing 5% versus the same quarter last year.
On analysts' next-year forecasts the multiple drops to 21.0 — they expect higher earnings.
The average analyst price target is 98.60, 17% above the current price (their view, not ours).
The stock sits at 44% of its one-year range (0% = the low, 100% = the high).
The risks
- ⚠️ Net debt is 27.5× shareholders' equity — high leverage.
Strengths
- ✅ Profitable — 13 of every 100 dollars of revenue stays as profit.
- ✅ Generates free cash flow — profit becomes cash in the bank.
- ✅ Buys back its shares (1% fewer shares in a year).
- ✅ Most analysts rate it buy (13 vs 0).
- ✅ Pays a dividend (2.5% a year).
What changed this week
Over the past week the stock fell 2.1% (for comparison: S&P 500 -0.2%, sector ETF XLP -1.9%).
This week's news
- Beyond the gas pump: How much oil do we really consume? finance.yahoo.com · 2026-10-03
- OPEC+ quotas review delayed amid Iran war - report finance.yahoo.com · 2026-10-02
- Asia energy stocks rise as Middle East tensions lift oil finance.yahoo.com · 2026-10-02
- Oil holds gains as U.S. weighs more Middle East military presence finance.yahoo.com · 2026-10-02
- Oil holds gains as Middle East supply risks persist finance.yahoo.com · 2026-10-01
- Colgate's Innovation and Premiumization Drive: Can Momentum Persist? finance.yahoo.com · 2026-09-30
A description of facts from the filings and the market — not investment advice or a recommendation. "Cheap" and "expensive" are always relative to the comparison group.