Congress Asset Management Co. Decreases Stock Holdings in Colgate-Palmolive Company $CL

Congress Asset Management Co. lessened its stake in Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) by 87.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 18,528 shares of the company’s stock after selling 131,806 shares during the period. Congress Asset Management Co.’s holdings in Colgate-Palmolive were worth $1,464,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in CL. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive during the second quarter valued at about $960,390,000. Schroder Investment Management Group grew its position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 242.3% in the 2nd quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 5,324,115 shares of the company’s stock worth $483,962,000 after buying an additional 3,768,784 shares during the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 3,052.2% during the 3rd quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 2,697,047 shares of the company’s stock worth $215,602,000 after acquiring an additional 2,611,485 shares in the last quarter. Diamond Hill Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 46.7% during the 3rd quarter. Diamond Hill Capital Management Inc. now owns 8,077,549 shares of the company’s stock worth $645,719,000 after acquiring an additional 2,572,796 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Amundi lifted its position in Colgate-Palmolive by 41.6% during the third quarter. Amundi now owns 6,294,445 shares of the company’s stock valued at $487,505,000 after acquiring an additional 1,850,412 shares during the last quarter. 80.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Colgate-Palmolive

In other Colgate-Palmolive news, insider Sally Massey sold 15,851 shares of Colgate-Palmolive stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $95.03, for a total transaction of $1,506,320.53. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 13,751 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,306,757.53. The trade was a 53.55% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CFO Stanley J. Sutula III sold 97,843 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.27, for a total value of $9,223,659.61. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 55,310 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,214,073.70. The trade was a 63.89% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last quarter, insiders sold 184,683 shares of company stock worth $17,486,693. 0.34% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Colgate-Palmolive Stock Up 1.0%

NYSE:CL opened at $85.35 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.82. Colgate-Palmolive Company has a twelve month low of $74.54 and a twelve month high of $99.33. The company has a market cap of $68.80 billion, a PE ratio of 32.58, a P/E/G ratio of 3.79 and a beta of 0.28. The company’s 50 day moving average is $91.12 and its two-hundred day moving average is $83.37.

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 analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.91 by $0.04. Colgate-Palmolive had a net margin of 10.45% and a return on equity of 353.72%. The business had revenue of $5.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.13 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.91 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Colgate-Palmolive Company will post 3.75 EPS for the current year.

Colgate-Palmolive Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Investors of record on Monday, April 20th will be paid a $0.53 dividend. This is a positive change from Colgate-Palmolive’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 20th. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. Colgate-Palmolive’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 79.39%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on Colgate-Palmolive from $85.00 to $91.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Argus reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Rothschild & Co Redburn set a $93.00 target price on Colgate-Palmolive in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $94.75.

About Colgate-Palmolive

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.