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CL · Analysis updated Nov 10, 2026, 6:00 PM ET
Why is Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) stock moving?
Colgate reported a Q3 beat on Oct 30, narrowed its 2026 sales outlook and raised EPS guidance, and the stock reacted with 8.8M shares traded, about 1.7x the 30-day average, while closing up 2.3% at $95.29. It then climbed to a 30-day high of $101.18 on Nov 5 and has held near $96.5-$98.7 since, closing at $98.09 on Nov 10, about 7% above the $91.69 low on Oct 28. Volume has eased to 4.37M on Nov 10, below the 30-day average, so the recent move lacks the heavy participation of the earnings reaction. Analysts followed the results with price target changes: UBS ($112), Morgan Stanley ($111), BNP Paribas ($108), RBC ($105) and Deutsche Bank ($105) raised targets, while JP Morgan ($102), TD Cowen ($97, Hold) and Wells Fargo ($95, Equal-Weight) sit lower, and DZ Bank trimmed to $74. The average of the published targets is roughly $104, about 6% above the current price. Negatives include insider selling of more than $6.2M by the CEO, COO and Chief Growth Officer in early November, and a Benzinga comparison showing Colgate at 24.5x forward earnings against Broadcom's 16.6x, a premium that leaves less room for error. The $930K EPA penalty is immaterial to the financials.
News behind the analysis
- Broadcom Stock Now Trades 32% Cheaper than a Toothpaste Company: HSBC, Cantor Say the Gap Won't LastBroadcom trades at 16.6x forward earnings versus Colgate's 24.5x, a discount more than one standard deviation below its four-year average. HSBC and Cantor expect the gap to narrow.
- Colgate-Palmolive Executives Execute Significant Stock SalesThe CEO, COO and Chief Growth Officer reported share sales in recent SEC filings, reported as more than $6.2M in total. Insider selling is a negative sentiment signal.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Reaches Settlement With Colgate-Palmolive To Bring It Into Compliance With Requirements For Large-Quantity Chemical Imports; Co. Paid $930K PenaltyColgate paid a $930,000 penalty under an EPA settlement to bring its large-quantity chemical import reporting into compliance. The amount is small relative to the company's size.
- DZ Bank Adjusts Price Target on Colgate-Palmolive to $74 From $75DZ Bank trimmed its price target by $1 to $74, the lowest target among the analysts covering the stock in these reports.
- Colgate-Palmolive Analysts Boost Their Forecasts After Upbeat Q3 EarningsColgate beat Q3 estimates, narrowed its 2026 sales outlook and raised EPS guidance, and several analysts lifted their price targets.
- UBS Maintains Buy on Colgate-Palmolive, Raises Price Target to $112UBS kept its Buy rating and raised its price target to $112, up from $106.
- Morgan Stanley Maintains Overweight on Colgate-Palmolive, Raises Price Target to $111Morgan Stanley kept its Overweight rating and raised its price target to $111 from $104 after the Q3 report.
- JP Morgan Maintains Overweight on Colgate-Palmolive, Lowers Price Target to $102JP Morgan kept its Overweight rating but lowered its price target to $102 after the Q3 report.
- TD Cowen Maintains Hold on Colgate-Palmolive, Raises Price Target to $97TD Cowen kept its Hold rating and raised its price target to $97 after the Q3 report.
About Colgate-Palmolive Company
Colgate-Palmolive is a global consumer products company best known for Colgate toothpaste, which it says is the world's leading oral care brand. It also owns Palmolive, Protex, Speed Stick, Softsoap, Ajax, Fabuloso and Hill's Pet Nutrition. Most of its sales come from outside the US, and it has a long record of raising its dividend every year.
How it makes money
It sells everyday branded products through retailers and online. About 78% of sales (approximate) come from Oral, Personal and Home Care, with oral care (toothpaste and toothbrushes) the largest category. The other roughly 22% comes from Hill's Pet Nutrition (Hill's Science Diet and Prescription Diet pet foods). First-half 2026 net sales were about $10.7 billion, and quarterly revenue runs at roughly $5.4 billion.
What usually moves CL
- Organic sales growth from volume and pricing
- Raw material costs, cost inflation and tariffs
- Currency swings, given heavy emerging-market exposure
- Market share in US oral care and pet food
- Advertising spend and restructuring costs