Colgate-Palmolive (CL) stock
Consumer Staples · Household Products
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) is a Household Products company in the Consumer Staples sector, headquartered in New York City, New York. As of October 23, 2026, CL closed at $94.04, a market capitalization of $74.97 billion, the 169th largest company in the S&P 500. Over the last twelve months it generated $21.05 billion in revenue (+5% year over year) and $3.86 billion in free cash flow. The stock trades at 37.0x trailing earnings and 23.0x forward earnings.
- 1-year total return: +22.8% (dividends reinvested)
- 5-year return: +7.0% a year
- 52-week range: $74.55 – $99.33
- Gross margin 60.4%, operating margin 21.0%
- Dividend yield: 2.25%, 52 straight years of increases
- FI Handbook report card: B- across 10 metrics
- 10th largest of 34 Consumer Staples stocks in the S&P 500
CL price chart
1Y price change: +19.9% (price only; total returns below include dividends)
| Total return | 1M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | MAX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | +10.1% | +21.9% | +22.8% | +11.9% | +7.0% | +5.3% | +10.6% |
Dividends reinvested. 3Y and longer are annualized; MAX is annualized since 1973.
CL key statistics
- Market cap
- $75.0B
- #169 in S&P 500
- P/E (TTM)
- 37.0x
- Forward P/E
- 23.0x
- EPS (TTM)
- $2.54
- Revenue (TTM)
- $21.0B
- +5%
- Free cash flow
- $3.9B
- Gross margin
- 60.4%
- Operating margin
- 21.0%
- Return on equity
- 267.4%
- Dividend yield
- 2.25%
- 52-week range
- $74.55 – $99.33
- Beta
- 0.32
- Price / sales
- 3.6x
- EV / EBITDA
- 16.4x
- Debt / equity
- 13.88x
- Employees
- 33,600
CL report card
B-Ten fundamentals graded A to F against fixed thresholds. Not a buy or sell rating.
- Revenue growth4.9%D
- Gross margin60.4%A
- Operating margin21.0%B
- FCF margin18.3%B
- Return on equity267.4%A
- Net debt / EBITDA1.3xC
- Forward P/E23.0xC
- PEG ratio1.6xC
- Shareholder yield3.9%B
- Share count change / yr-1.1%B
Colgate-Palmolive financials
Revenue went from $15.2B in fiscal 2016 to $20.4B in fiscal 2025, growing 3.3% a year.
| Fiscal year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $15.2B | $15.5B | $15.5B | $15.7B | $16.5B | $17.4B | $18.0B | $19.5B | $20.1B | $20.4B |
| Gross profit | $9.1B | $9.3B | $9.2B | $9.3B | $10.0B | $10.4B | $10.2B | $11.3B | $12.2B | $12.3B |
| Operating income | $4.0B | $3.7B | $3.7B | $3.6B | $3.9B | $3.3B | $2.9B | $4.0B | $4.3B | $3.3B |
| Net income | $2.4B | $2.0B | $2.4B | $2.4B | $2.7B | $2.2B | $1.8B | $2.3B | $2.9B | $2.1B |
| EPS (diluted) | $2.72 | $2.28 | $2.75 | $2.75 | $3.14 | $2.55 | $2.13 | $2.77 | $3.51 | $2.63 |
| Free cash flow | $2.5B | $2.5B | $2.6B | $2.8B | $3.3B | $2.8B | $1.9B | $3.0B | $3.5B | $3.6B |
| Buybacks | $1.3B | $1.4B | $1.2B | $1.2B | $1.5B | $1.3B | $1.3B | $1.1B | $1.7B | $1.2B |
| Diluted shares | 898.4M | 887.8M | 873.0M | 861.1M | 859.3M | 848.3M | 838.8M | 829.2M | 823.2M | 811.1M |
Source: SEC filings (10-K XBRL). EPS and share counts are split-adjusted.
What's priced into CL?
A reverse DCF asks what growth the current price requires. With an enterprise value of $81.4B and $3.9B of trailing free cash flow, Colgate-Palmolive needs to grow free cash flow about 11.9% a year for ten years (fading to 3.0% terminal growth) to earn a 10% annual return. For context, free cash flow grew 1.9% a year over the last five years.
P/E ratio history
Current 35.8x vs. median 26.6x (10th–90th percentile 19.8x–35.6x).
A model, not a forecast or advice. Small changes in assumptions move the answer a lot.
CL dividend
- Dividend yield
- 2.25%
- Annual dividend
- $2.12
- Years of increases
- 52
- 5-yr dividend growth
- 3.3%
- per year
- Payout ratio
- 82%
- Payments per year
- 4
Regular dividends per share by calendar year; special dividends excluded. Current year omitted until complete.
CL analyst price targets
20 analysts' average 12-month target is $98.15 (+4% vs. $94.04). Targets range from $87.00 to $110.00. 62% rate it a buy.
CL earnings
Next report: October 30, 2026. Colgate-Palmolive has beaten EPS estimates 8 quarters in a row. Last quarter's revenue was $5.4B (+5% year over year).
| Report date | EPS estimate | EPS actual | Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 31, 2026 | $0.95 | $0.99 | +4.5% |
| May 1, 2026 | $0.94 | $0.97 | +2.7% |
| Jan 30, 2026 | $0.91 | $0.95 | +4.2% |
| Oct 31, 2025 | $0.89 | $0.91 | +2.4% |
| Aug 1, 2025 | $0.89 | $0.92 | +2.8% |
| Apr 25, 2025 | $0.86 | $0.91 | +6.1% |
| Jan 31, 2025 | $0.89 | $0.91 | +2.3% |
| Oct 25, 2024 | $0.88 | $0.91 | +2.9% |
Stocks like CL
| Name | Today | 1Y | Mkt cap | P/E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 KMB Kimberly-Clark | -1.93% | -3% | $36.6B | 21.7x | Compare |
 CHD Church & Dwight | -3.37% | +23% | $25.0B | 33.7x | Compare |
 CLX Clorox | -2.55% | -23% | $10.4B | 18.0x | Compare |
 WMT Walmart | -1.02% | +13% | $954.1B | 43.4x | Compare |
 COST Costco Wholesale | -1.46% | +7% | $444.6B | 48.3x | Compare |
 KO Coca-Cola | -2.76% | +36% | $398.9B | 27.8x | Compare |
 PG Procter & Gamble | -2.76% | +10% | $373.2B | 24.3x | Compare |
 PM Philip Morris International | -1.13% | +31% | $310.9B | 29.1x | Compare |
CL news
- Colgate-Palmolive (CL) Faces A Leadership Exit On A Pricey Earnings Narrative · Oct 24, 2026
- How Earnings Optimism At Colgate Palmolive Stock Has Changed Its Investment Story · Oct 24, 2026
- Celsius vs. Colgate-Palmolive: Which Stock Should Investors Consider Before the Start of 2027? · Oct 24, 2026
- Colgate-Palmolive (CL) Earnings Expected to Grow: What to Know Ahead of Next Week's Release · Oct 23, 2026
- Will Colgate-Palmolive (CL) Beat Estimates Again in Its Next Earnings Report? · Oct 22, 2026
CL stock FAQ
What is CL's market cap?
Colgate-Palmolive's market capitalization is $74.97 billion as of October 23, 2026, ranking 169th in the S&P 500.
What is CL's P/E ratio?
CL trades at a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 37.0x and a forward P/E of 23.0x. Its median P/E over the period we track is 26.6x.
Does CL pay a dividend?
Yes. Colgate-Palmolive pays $2.12 per share a year, a 2.25% yield. It has raised its dividend 52 years in a row. Dividends grew 3.3% a year over the last five years.
How much has CL stock returned?
Including reinvested dividends, CL returned +22.8% over one year, +7.0% a year over five years, +5.3% a year over ten years through October 23, 2026.
Is CL stock overvalued?
At today's price, a reverse discounted cash flow model (10% discount rate, 3% terminal growth) implies Colgate-Palmolive must grow free cash flow about 12% a year for the next decade. Its free cash flow grew 2% a year over the last five years. Whether that is achievable decides if the stock is cheap or expensive. This is a model, not advice.
What is the CL price target?
20 analysts cover CL with an average 12-month price target of $98.15, +4% from the current price. 62% of them rate it a buy.
When does CL report earnings?
Colgate-Palmolive is expected to report earnings on October 30, 2026. It has beaten EPS estimates 8 quarters in a row.
How many employees does Colgate-Palmolive have?
Colgate-Palmolive has about 33,600 full-time employees, or $626,399 of revenue per employee.
Sources: SEC EDGAR filings, Yahoo Finance market data (delayed), FI Handbook calculations. Last close October 23, 2026. Methodology