Zacks: Analysts Anticipate Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) to Post $0.73 EPS

Analysts expect Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL – Get Rating) to post $0.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the current quarter, Zacks Investment Research reports. Six analysts have issued estimates for Colgate-Palmolive’s earnings. The highest EPS estimate is $0.81 and the lowest is $0.69. Colgate-Palmolive reported earnings of $0.80 per share in the same quarter last year, which would indicate a negative year-over-year growth rate of 8.8%. The company is expected to announce its next quarterly earnings results on Monday, January 1st.

On average, analysts expect that Colgate-Palmolive will report full-year earnings of $3.08 per share for the current year, with EPS estimates ranging from $2.99 to $3.29. For the next fiscal year, analysts anticipate that the business will post earnings of $3.38 per share, with EPS estimates ranging from $3.27 to $3.50. Zacks Investment Research’s earnings per share calculations are a mean average based on a survey of research firms that follow Colgate-Palmolive.

Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL – Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 29th. The company reported $0.74 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.74. Colgate-Palmolive had a return on equity of 296.77% and a net margin of 11.70%. The business had revenue of $4.40 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.40 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.80 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis.

A number of brokerages have commented on CL. Zacks Investment Research lowered Colgate-Palmolive from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and set a $82.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Monday, May 2nd. Credit Suisse Group decreased their price objective on Colgate-Palmolive from $95.00 to $90.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Colgate-Palmolive from $86.00 to $81.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, March 30th. TheStreet raised Colgate-Palmolive from a “c+” rating to a “b” rating in a report on Friday, April 29th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on Colgate-Palmolive from $104.00 to $95.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 29th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Colgate-Palmolive has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $85.56.

CL stock traded up $0.75 during trading on Friday, reaching $76.84. 5,379,651 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,492,193. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.42. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $77.23 and its 200 day moving average is $79.08. The firm has a market cap of $64.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.15 and a beta of 0.56. Colgate-Palmolive has a twelve month low of $72.20 and a twelve month high of $85.61.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 13th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 21st will be paid a $0.47 dividend. This is an increase from Colgate-Palmolive’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 20th. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.45%. Colgate-Palmolive’s dividend payout ratio is presently 77.69%.

Colgate-Palmolive announced that its board has initiated a stock repurchase program on Thursday, March 10th that authorizes the company to buyback $5.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to reacquire up to 8.1% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

In related news, insider Panagiotis Tsourapas sold 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $81.00, for a total value of $2,025,000.00. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director John P. Bilbrey sold 4,917 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $78.66, for a total value of $386,771.22. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.32% of the company’s stock.

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of CL. Horan Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive in the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Carl Stuart Investment Advisor Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive in the first quarter worth $30,000. Fortis Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive in the third quarter worth $38,000. Riverview Trust Co bought a new position in Colgate-Palmolive in the first quarter valued at $38,000. Finally, US Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Colgate-Palmolive in the first quarter valued at $39,000. Institutional investors own 78.12% of the company’s stock.

About Colgate-Palmolive (Get Rating)

Colgate-Palmolive Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells consumer products worldwide. The company 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.

Read More