Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) Receives Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Brokerages

Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) has been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the seventeen brokerages that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and eleven have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $95.1875.

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on CL shares. Argus reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $85.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Colgate-Palmolive from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Sunday, March 29th. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $90.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada upgraded shares of Colgate-Palmolive from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $88.00 target price on the stock in a report on Tuesday, December 9th.

Insider Activity at Colgate-Palmolive

In related news, COO Panagiotis Tsourapas sold 15,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.81, for a total value of $1,467,150.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer owned 10,415 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,018,691.15. This trade represents a 59.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider John Hazlin sold 20,989 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $94.25, for a total transaction of $1,978,213.25. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 17,645 shares in the company, valued at $1,663,041.25. This represents a 54.33% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 184,683 shares of company stock worth $17,486,693. Company insiders own 0.34% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Cornerstone Planning LLC bought a new position in Colgate-Palmolive in the fourth quarter worth approximately $1,442,000. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. raised its position in Colgate-Palmolive by 6.1% in the fourth quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 182,223 shares of the company’s stock worth $14,399,000 after acquiring an additional 10,512 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors raised its position in Colgate-Palmolive by 102.4% in the fourth quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 25,704 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,031,000 after acquiring an additional 13,007 shares during the period. Corient Private Wealth LLC raised its position in Colgate-Palmolive by 13.6% in the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 541,110 shares of the company’s stock worth $42,789,000 after acquiring an additional 64,926 shares during the period. Finally, Auto Owners Insurance Co raised its position in Colgate-Palmolive by 7,802.0% in the fourth quarter. Auto Owners Insurance Co now owns 442,512 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,497,000 after acquiring an additional 436,912 shares during the period. 80.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Colgate-Palmolive Trading Down 0.7%

NYSE:CL opened at $84.57 on Tuesday. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $91.08 and its 200-day moving average price is $83.49. Colgate-Palmolive has a 52 week low of $74.54 and a 52 week high of $99.33. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.82. The stock has a market cap of $67.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.28, a PEG ratio of 3.91 and a beta of 0.34.

Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The company reported $0.95 EPS for the quarter, beating 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 firm had revenue of $5.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.13 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.91 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Colgate-Palmolive will post 3.75 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Colgate-Palmolive Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Investors of record on Monday, April 20th will be issued a $0.53 dividend. This is an increase from Colgate-Palmolive’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 20th. Colgate-Palmolive’s dividend payout ratio is 80.92%.

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.