Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) Given Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) have earned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-two research firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $101.16.

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on Colgate-Palmolive from $95.00 to $93.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $111.00 to $104.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Raymond James reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $105.00 target price (down previously from $110.00) on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $103.00 to $97.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Colgate-Palmolive from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, January 9th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Colgate-Palmolive

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Centricity Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Colgate-Palmolive during the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA acquired a new position in Colgate-Palmolive in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Briaud Financial Planning Inc acquired a new position in Colgate-Palmolive in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Wintrust Investments LLC bought a new stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Institutional investors own 80.41% of the company’s stock.

Colgate-Palmolive Stock Performance

CL opened at $86.75 on Thursday. Colgate-Palmolive has a 1-year low of $82.76 and a 1-year high of $109.30. The company has a market capitalization of $70.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.12 and a beta of 0.44. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $90.00 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $96.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.46, a current ratio of 0.41 and a quick ratio of 0.26.

Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 31st. The company reported $0.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.01. Colgate-Palmolive had a net margin of 14.38% and a return on equity of 477.77%. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.87 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Colgate-Palmolive will post 3.73 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Colgate-Palmolive Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 14th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 21st will be given a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, January 21st. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.31%. Colgate-Palmolive’s dividend payout ratio is 56.82%.

About Colgate-Palmolive

Colgate-Palmolive Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells consumer products in the United States and internationally. It 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.