COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO (CL) Factsheet
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COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO (CL) Stock Analysis
Analysis from 10-Q filed 2026-10-30. Data as of Q3 2026.
Overall Grade: F (Concerning)
Grade F (Concerning). ROIC 25.2%. FCF margin 17.8%. D/E 24.9x. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-10-30.
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| ROIC | 25.2% | Above industry average |
| FCF Margin | 17.8% | Strong cash generation |
| Debt/Equity | 24.9x | Elevated debt |
ROIC 25.2% — Top 5% of sector peers. FCF margin 17.8% — Top 10%.
Explore COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO: Earnings History | Overview
Programmatic access: Available via MCP at mcp.metricduck.com. Tools for CL: get_company_overview, get_filing_index (lens: debt_stress, management_outlook, risk_trajectory), get_filing_section, get_metric_history, compare_companies, screen_filing_signals.
Profitability: COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO earns 25.2% ROIC, Top 5% in Materials
ROIC TTM 25.2%, sector median 5.1%, Top 5%. DuPont: NOPAT margin 10.9% × asset turnover 1.3x. Gross margin 60.6%. Operating margin 14.8%. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-10-30.
| Metric | CL | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | 25.2% | Excellent | Above sector median of 5.1% |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | 815.5% | Excellent | Efficient use of shareholder equity |
| Gross Margin | 60.6% | Excellent | Strong pricing power |
| Operating Margin | 14.8% | Good | Moderate operational efficiency |
Cash Flow: COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO generates $3.8B FCF at 17.8% margin, positive NaN/8 quarters
FCF TTM $3.8B. FCF margin 17.8%, Top 10%. OCF/Net income 2.1x. Positive FCF in NaN/8 trailing quarters. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-10-30.
| Metric | CL | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 17.8% | Good | Excellent cash conversion |
| Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $3.8B | Good | Positive cash generation |
| OCF/Net Income | 2.1x | Excellent | High earnings quality |
| FCF Consistency (8Q) | N/A | Warning | Variable cash flow |
Balance Sheet: COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO at 24.9x leverage, 12.6x interest coverage
Debt/Equity 24.9x. Total debt $7.2B, cash & investments $1.5B. Interest coverage 12.6x. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-10-30.
| Metric | CL | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt to Equity | 24.9x | Red flag | Elevated leverage |
| Net Cash Position | $-5.7B | Warning | Net debt position |
| Interest Coverage | 12.6x | Excellent | Comfortable debt service |
Valuation: COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO trades at 37.9x earnings
P/E 37.9x. EV/Sales 3.9x. FCF yield 4.9%. Dividend yield 2.3%. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-10-30.
| Metric | CL | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio | 37.9x | Adequate | Premium valuation |
| EV/Sales | 3.9x | Good | Growth premium priced in |
| FCF Yield | 4.9% | Good | Lower cash yield |
| Dividend Yield | 2.3% | Adequate | Growth focus over income |
Capital Allocation: COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO returns 4.1% shareholder yield, reducing shares 1.4% YoY
Total shareholder yield 4.1% (div 2.3% + buyback 1.7%). Share count -1.4% YoY. Capital returned $3.2B TTM. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-10-30.
| Metric | CL | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Shareholder Yield | 4.1% | Good | Dividend + buyback yield combined |
| Buyback Yield | 1.7% | Adequate | Minimal buyback activity |
| Share Count Change (YoY) | -1.4% | Good | Net share reduction (accretive) |
| Total Capital Returned (TTM) | $3.2B | Good | Dividends + buybacks returned to shareholders |
Sector Rankings
| Metric | Value | Percentile | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | 25.2% | Top 5% | 4.9x above |
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 17.8% | Top 10% | 3.0x above |
| Gross Margin | 60.6% | Top 10% | 2.3x above |
| Operating Margin | 14.8% | Top 25% | 1.9x above |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | 815.5% | Top 5% | 122.7x above |
| P/E Ratio | 37.9x | N/A | - |
Financial Scorecard
| Metric | CL | Rating | Sector Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | 25.2% | Excellent | Top 5% of sector (median: 5.1%) |
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 17.8% | Good | Top 10% of sector (median: 6.0%) |
| Gross Margin | 60.6% | Excellent | Top 10% of sector (median: 26.7%) |
| Debt to Equity Ratio | 24.9x | Red flag | High financial leverage |
| P/E Ratio (Price-to-Earnings) | 37.9x | Adequate | High expectations priced in |
| Free Cash Flow Yield | 4.9% | Adequate | Moderate yield |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO's Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)?
COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO (CL) has a trailing twelve-month Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) of 25.2%. The 8-quarter median ROIC is 34.4% with a declining trend. Sector median 5.1%. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-10-30.
Q: What is COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO's Free Cash Flow Margin?
COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO (CL) has a free cash flow margin of 17.8%, generating $3.8 billion in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-10-30.
Q: What is COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO's P/E ratio and how does it compare to peers?
COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO (CL) trades at a P/E ratio of 37.9x, which is above the sector median of N/A. EV/Sales 3.9x. FCF yield 4.9%. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-10-30.
Q: Does COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO pay a dividend?
COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO (CL) currently pays a dividend yield of 2.3%. Total shareholder yield (dividend + buybacks) 4.1%. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-10-30.
Q: How much debt does COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO have?
COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO (CL) has a debt-to-equity ratio of 24.9x with total debt of $7.2 billion. Interest coverage 12.6x. Net debt $5.7 billion. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-10-30.
Q: What is COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO's revenue and earnings growth?
COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO (CL) grew revenue by 5.9% year-over-year. EPS -28.4% YoY. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-10-30.
Q: Is COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO buying back stock?
COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO (CL) repurchased $1.3 billion of stock over the trailing twelve months. This represents a buyback yield of 1.7%. Share count -1.4% YoY. Source: 10-Q filed 2026-10-30.
Q: How does COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO compare to competitors in Materials?
Compared to other companies in Materials, COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO (CL) shows: ROIC 25.2%, sector median 5.1% (Top 5%). FCF margin 17.8%, sector median 6.0% (Top 10%). Gross margin 60.6%, 33.9pp above sector median. These rankings are based on MetricDuck's analysis of all Materials companies with available SEC filings.
Q: What warning signs should I watch for with COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO?
Quantitative warning flags for COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO (CL): 1) ROIC declining -4.0% over 8 quarters; 2) debt/equity 24.9x (above 1.5x threshold). Source: 10-Q filed 2026-10-30.
Data Source: Data sourced from 10-Q filed 2026-10-30. TTM metrics as of Q3 2026.
Methodology: Financial metrics calculated from SEC 10-K and 10-Q filings using standardized formulas. Sector comparisons use peer group based on SIC code.
Scope: This analysis covers SEC filing fundamentals — profitability, cash flow, balance sheet, and valuation metrics. For analyst estimates and price targets, consult sell-side research.
This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
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