Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. Acquires 6,023 Shares of Colgate-Palmolive Company $CL

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. increased its stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 189,894 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 6,023 shares during the period. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.’s holdings in Colgate-Palmolive were worth $15,180,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CL. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 86.1% in the second quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 335 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 155 shares during the last quarter. Copia Wealth Management bought a new stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive during the third quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Cloud Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive during the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. MTM Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive in the second quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Finally, Kelleher Financial Advisors bought a new position in Colgate-Palmolive in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Institutional investors own 80.41% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

CL has been the topic of several research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $100.00 price objective on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a report on Friday, February 20th. Citigroup boosted their target price on Colgate-Palmolive from $95.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Rothschild & Co Redburn set a $93.00 price target on Colgate-Palmolive in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Colgate-Palmolive from $87.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Barclays boosted their price objective on Colgate-Palmolive from $83.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Colgate-Palmolive has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $94.75.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CFO Stanley J. Sutula III sold 97,843 shares of Colgate-Palmolive stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.27, for a total transaction of $9,223,659.61. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 55,310 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,214,073.70. This trade represents a 63.89% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Sally Massey sold 15,851 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $95.03, for a total transaction of $1,506,320.53. Following the transaction, the insider owned 13,751 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,306,757.53. This represents a 53.55% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 184,683 shares of company stock valued at $17,486,693 over the last 90 days. 0.41% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Colgate-Palmolive Stock Performance

Shares of Colgate-Palmolive stock opened at $88.85 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $90.11 and a two-hundred day moving average of $83.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.82, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 0.83. The stock has a market capitalization of $71.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.91, a PEG ratio of 3.98 and a beta of 0.28. Colgate-Palmolive Company has a 52 week low of $74.54 and a 52 week high of $99.33.

Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The company reported $0.95 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.91 by $0.04. Colgate-Palmolive had a return on equity of 353.72% and a net margin of 10.45%.The business had revenue of $5.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.13 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.91 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Colgate-Palmolive Company will post 3.75 EPS for the current year.

Colgate-Palmolive Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 20th will be issued a dividend of $0.53 per share. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. This is an increase from Colgate-Palmolive’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 20th. Colgate-Palmolive’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 79.39%.

Colgate-Palmolive Company Profile

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company with a long history in household and personal care categories. The business traces its roots to the early 19th century and has evolved into a multinational manufacturer and marketer of everyday consumer goods focused on health, hygiene and home care.

The company’s core activities center on oral care, personal care, home care and pet nutrition. Its product portfolio includes toothpaste, toothbrushes and mouthwash in oral care; soaps, body washes and deodorants in personal care; dishwashing liquids, surface cleaners and other household products in home care; and scientifically formulated pet foods under its pet nutrition business.