NYSE:CL

Colgate-Palmolive Shares Slip Despite Solid Q2 Results and Improved Profit Outlook

Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) shares fell 1.15% on Friday despite reporting solid second-quarter results, as investors looked past steady sales growth and focused on the company's softer GAAP earnings and a still-challenging consumer environment.

The consumer products company reported second-quarter net sales of $5.36 billion, up 4.9% year over year, while organic sales increased 2.4%. GAAP earnings per share declined 5% to $0.86, though adjusted (Base Business) EPS rose 8% to $0.99, reflecting continued pricing power and improved operating performance.

Margins Improve Despite Challenging Market Conditions

Colgate expanded its gross profit margin by 140 basis points to 61.5%, supported by pricing actions and productivity initiatives. Organic sales grew across three of its four product categories and four of its five geographic divisions, while worldwide organic volume improved for the third consecutive quarter.

The company also continued investing heavily behind its brands, increasing advertising spending by 15% during the quarter as it executes its long-term strategy focused on premium, science-led innovation.

Guidance Updated

Colgate maintained its full-year sales and GAAP earnings guidance while improving its profitability outlook. The company now expects gross profit margin to be roughly flat for the year, compared with its previous expectation for a decline, and raised its adjusted earnings outlook to mid-single-digit growth from its prior forecast of low- to mid-single-digit growth.

Management said it remains confident that its global brand portfolio and strategic investments will support consistent long-term earnings growth despite ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty.

What to Watch

Investors will continue monitoring consumer demand, pricing trends and the company's ability to balance brand investment with margin expansion. Performance in Hill's Pet Nutrition, along with continued market share leadership in oral care, will also remain key drivers of Colgate's long-term growth story.
Colgate Announces 1st Quarter 2026 Results

Shares of Colgate-Palmolive Company rose 3.44% to $88.38 today, as investors reacted positively to the company’s first-quarter 2026 earnings, which highlighted solid underlying growth and resilient brand performance despite mixed headline metrics.

Colgate reported net sales of $5.3 billion, up 8.4% year-over-year, supported by pricing actions and favorable currency effects. Organic sales growth came in at 2.9%, reflecting balanced contributions from volume and pricing across most categories and regions, even as the exit from private label pet food created a modest drag.

While GAAP earnings showed some pressure, underlying profitability remained strong. Diluted EPS declined 6% to $0.80, but Base Business EPS—a key adjusted metric—rose 7% to $0.97, indicating continued operational strength and margin discipline beneath the surface.

Gross margins softened slightly, with both GAAP and Base Business gross profit margin declining 20 basis points to 60.6%. This reflects ongoing cost pressures and investments, including increased advertising spending aimed at supporting long-term brand growth.

Cash generation remained solid, with operating cash flow reaching $747 million in the quarter. The company also highlighted improvements in operating profit, net income, and free cash flow on an adjusted basis, reinforcing confidence in its business model.

From a market position standpoint, Colgate maintained its global leadership in oral care. Toothpaste market share stood at 41.1% year-to-date, while manual toothbrush share reached 32.6%, underscoring the strength of its core franchise.

CEO Noel Wallace emphasized that the company delivered a “strong start” to the year, citing broad-based growth across categories and geographies. He also pointed to the resilience of Colgate’s operating model amid a challenging macroeconomic environment.

Strategically, the company announced an expansion of its Strategic Growth and Productivity Program (SGPP), increasing expected cumulative restructuring charges to $350 million–$550 million, while targeting annual savings of $200 million–$300 million once fully implemented. This initiative is designed to enhance efficiency and support long-term growth under its 2030 strategy.

Looking ahead, Colgate reaffirmed its 2026 outlook, expecting net sales growth of 2% to 6% and organic sales growth of 1% to 4%. However, the company revised its gross margin expectation downward, now anticipating a decline for the full year, while still projecting low- to mid-single-digit adjusted EPS growth.

Overall, despite some margin pressure and a decline in reported EPS, investors appeared to focus on the company’s solid organic growth, strong brand leadership, and continued earnings expansion on an adjusted basis—factors that likely drove the positive move in the stock.
Colgate-Palmolive Webcasts 2026 First Quarter Earnings Conference Call May 1, 2026 – 8:30 a.m. ET
The Board of Directors of Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) announced a quarterly common stock cash dividend of $0.53 per share. The second quarter dividend is to be paid on May 15, 2026, to shareholders of record on April 20, 2026.

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Colgate-Palmolive reported mixed results for 2025, with modest sales growth but GAAP earnings pressured by impairment charges. Full-year net sales and organic sales both increased 1.4%, while GAAP EPS fell 25% to $2.63 due to goodwill and intangible asset impairments in the skin health business. Excluding these items, Base Business EPS rose 3% to $3.69. Operating cash flow reached a record $4.2 billion, and the company returned $2.9 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks.

In the fourth quarter, net sales rose 5.8% and organic sales increased 2.2%. GAAP EPS declined to a loss of $0.05, again reflecting impairment charges, while Base Business EPS grew 4% to $0.95. Colgate maintained its global leadership positions, with toothpaste market share at 41.3% and manual toothbrush share at 32.4%. Management said it entered 2026 from a position of strength, despite a challenging operating environment.
Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) will provide a live webcast of its 2025 fourth quarter and full year earnings conference call on Friday, January 30, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. ET.
Colgate-Palmolive Reports Q3 2025 Results; Updates Organic Sales Outlook, Maintains EPS Guidance

Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL) reported third-quarter 2025 net sales of $5.13 billion, up 2.0% year over year, with organic sales growth of 0.4%, reflecting a 0.8% drag from the company’s exit from private label pet sales. GAAP and Base Business EPS were both $0.91, with GAAP earnings up 1% compared to the prior year.

Profitability and Cash Flow
Gross profit margin declined 170 basis points to 59.4% (both GAAP and Base Business). For the first nine months of 2025, net cash provided by operations reached $2.75 billion, underscoring strong cash generation.

Market Leadership
Colgate maintained its global leadership in oral care, holding a 41.2% share in toothpaste and a 32.4% share in manual toothbrushes year-to-date.

CEO Commentary
Chairman and CEO Noel Wallace highlighted that the company “delivered another quarter of growth despite slowing category trends,” adding that Colgate’s 2030 strategy and Strategic Growth and Productivity Program will position the company to reaccelerate growth through innovation, digital engagement, and improved organizational efficiency.

Outlook
For full year 2025, Colgate:
• Expects net sales to rise in the low single digits, including a flat-to-slightly negative impact from FX.
• Lowers organic sales growth guidance to 1%–2%, roughly in line with year-to-date performance (1.2%).
• Projects gross profit margin around 60.1%, consistent with year-to-date levels.
• Maintains guidance for advertising spending as a percentage of sales and expects EPS to grow at a low single-digit rate.

Wallace reaffirmed that Colgate’s long-term focus remains on sustained margin expansion and compounded EPS growth through science-based innovation and global brand strength.
Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) will provide a live webcast of its 2025 third quarter earnings conference call on Friday, October 31, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. ET.
Colgate-Palmolive Reports Modest Q2 2025 Growth, Launches Productivity Program

Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) posted Q2 2025 net sales of $5.11 billion, up 1%, with organic sales rising 1.8% despite a drag from lower private label pet product sales. GAAP EPS increased 2% to $0.91, while base business EPS edged up 1% to $0.92. Gross profit margin slipped to 60.1%.

CEO Noel Wallace noted steady performance amid global market challenges and announced a new three-year productivity program targeting up to $300 million in savings by 2028.

The company maintained its full-year 2025 guidance, with organic sales expected at the low end of the 2%–4% range. Colgate continues to lead globally in toothpaste (41.1% share) and manual toothbrushes (32.4%).
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05-23-25Global Finance News