COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO (CL) Factsheet
COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO (CL) Stock Analysis
Analysis from 10-Q filed 2025-10-31. Data as of Q1 2026.
Overall Grade: F (Concerning)
Grade F (Concerning). ROIC 25.7%. FCF margin 18.1%. D/E 54.7x. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-31.
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| ROIC | 25.7% | Above industry average |
| FCF Margin | 18.1% | Strong cash generation |
| Debt/Equity | 54.7x | Elevated debt |
ROIC 25.7% — Top 10% of sector peers. FCF margin 18.1% — Top 5%.
Explore COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO: Earnings History | Filings
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_changes, get_metric_history, compare_companies, screen_filing_signals.
Profitability: COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO earns 25.7% ROIC, Top 10% in Materials
ROIC TTM 25.7%, sector median 4.6%, Top 10%. DuPont: NOPAT margin 11.3% × asset turnover 1.2x. Gross margin 60.1%. Operating margin 15.4%. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-31.
| Metric | CL | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | 25.7% | Excellent | Above sector median of 4.6% |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | 447.4% | Excellent | Efficient use of shareholder equity |
| Gross Margin | 60.1% | Excellent | Strong pricing power |
| Operating Margin | 15.4% | Good | Efficient operations |
Cash Flow: COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO generates $3.8B FCF at 18.1% margin, positive NaN/8 quarters
FCF TTM $3.8B. FCF margin 18.1%, Top 5%. OCF/Net income 2.1x. Positive FCF in NaN/8 trailing quarters. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-31.
| Metric | CL | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 18.1% | 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 54.7x leverage
Debt/Equity 54.7x. Total debt $7.9B, cash & investments $1.3B. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-31.
| Metric | CL | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt to Equity | 54.7x | Red flag | Elevated leverage |
| Net Cash Position | $-6.6B | Warning | Net debt position |
Valuation: COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO trades at 32.9x earnings
P/E 32.9x. EV/Sales 3.6x. FCF yield 5.5%. Dividend yield 2.7%. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-31.
| Metric | CL | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio | 32.9x | Adequate | Premium valuation |
| EV/Sales | 3.6x | Good | Growth premium priced in |
| FCF Yield | 5.5% | Good | Attractive cash return |
| Dividend Yield | 2.7% | Adequate | Growth focus over income |
Capital Allocation: COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO returns 4.5% shareholder yield
Total shareholder yield 4.5% (div 2.7% + buyback 1.8%). Capital returned $3.1B TTM. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-31.
| Metric | CL | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Shareholder Yield | 4.5% | Good | Dividend + buyback yield combined |
| Buyback Yield | 1.8% | Adequate | Minimal buyback activity |
| Total Capital Returned (TTM) | $3.1B | Good | Dividends + buybacks returned to shareholders |
Sector Rankings
| Metric | Value | Percentile | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | 25.7% | Top 10% | 5.6x above |
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 18.1% | Top 5% | 64.0x above |
| Gross Margin | 60.1% | Top 10% | 2.2x above |
| Operating Margin | 15.4% | Top 50% | 2.0x above |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | 447.4% | Top 5% | 65.3x above |
| P/E Ratio | 32.9x | N/A | - |
Financial Scorecard
| Metric | CL | Rating | Sector Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | 25.7% | Excellent | Top 10% of sector (median: 4.6%) |
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 18.1% | Good | Top 5% of sector (median: 0.3%) |
| Gross Margin | 60.1% | Excellent | Top 10% of sector (median: 27.5%) |
| Debt to Equity Ratio | 54.7x | Red flag | High financial leverage |
| P/E Ratio (Price-to-Earnings) | 32.9x | Adequate | Growth premium |
| Free Cash Flow Yield | 5.5% | Good | Solid cash 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 25.7%. Sector median 4.6%. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-31.
Q: What is COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO's Free Cash Flow Margin?
COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO (CL) has a free cash flow margin of 18.1%, generating $3.8 billion in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-31.
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 32.9x, which is above the sector median of N/A. EV/Sales 3.6x. FCF yield 5.5%. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-31.
Q: Does COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO pay a dividend?
COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO (CL) currently pays a dividend yield of 2.7%. Total shareholder yield (dividend + buybacks) 4.5%. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-31.
Q: How much debt does COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO have?
COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO (CL) has a debt-to-equity ratio of 54.7x with total debt of $7.9 billion. Net debt $6.6 billion. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-31.
Q: What is COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO's revenue and earnings growth?
COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO (CL) grew revenue by 4.3% year-over-year. EPS -26.9% YoY. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-31.
Q: Is COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO buying back stock?
COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO (CL) repurchased $1.2 billion of stock over the trailing twelve months. This represents a buyback yield of 1.8%. Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-31.
Q: How does COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO compare to competitors in Materials?
Compared to other companies in Materials, COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO (CL) shows: ROIC 25.7%, sector median 4.6% (Top 10%). FCF margin 18.1%, sector median 0.3% (Top 5%). Gross margin 60.1%, 32.6pp 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 -13.7% over 8 quarters; 2) debt/equity 54.7x (above 1.5x threshold). Source: 10-Q filed 2025-10-31.
Data Source: Data sourced from 10-Q filed 2025-10-31. TTM metrics as of Q1 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.