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

Shares of Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) have received an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the eighteen research firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and fourteen have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $98.58.

A number of brokerages have weighed in on CL. Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of Colgate-Palmolive from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and reduced their price target for the company from $103.00 to $95.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on Colgate-Palmolive from $95.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on Colgate-Palmolive from $88.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Monday, April 29th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on Colgate-Palmolive from $98.00 to $104.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $92.00 to $97.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 10th.

Insider Buying and Selling at Colgate-Palmolive

In other news, insider John W. Kooyman sold 3,497 shares of Colgate-Palmolive stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.47, for a total value of $326,864.59. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 3,181 shares in the company, valued at approximately $297,328.07. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, insider Sally Massey sold 12,226 shares of Colgate-Palmolive stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.06, for a total transaction of $1,149,977.56. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 13,924 shares in the company, valued at $1,309,691.44. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider John W. Kooyman sold 3,497 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $93.47, for a total transaction of $326,864.59. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 3,181 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $297,328.07. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.34% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Colgate-Palmolive

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. BKM Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Colgate-Palmolive during the fourth quarter worth about $560,000. Advisor Resource Council bought a new stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive in the 4th quarter worth approximately $266,000. Mutual Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Colgate-Palmolive by 8.4% during the fourth quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC now owns 5,437 shares of the company’s stock valued at $433,000 after purchasing an additional 421 shares during the last quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Colgate-Palmolive by 12.7% during the fourth quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 67,418 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,374,000 after buying an additional 7,602 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA increased its holdings in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 143.7% in the fourth quarter. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA now owns 5,325 shares of the company’s stock valued at $424,000 after buying an additional 3,140 shares in the last quarter. 80.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Colgate-Palmolive Trading Down 0.1 %

Shares of CL opened at $96.49 on Friday. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $95.72 and its 200 day simple moving average is $89.93. Colgate-Palmolive has a twelve month low of $67.62 and a twelve month high of $99.63. The company has a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.21. The firm has a market capitalization of $79.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.49 and a beta of 0.39.

Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 26th. The company reported $0.86 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.82 by $0.04. Colgate-Palmolive had a return on equity of 485.40% and a net margin of 13.22%. The company had revenue of $5.07 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.96 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.73 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Colgate-Palmolive will post 3.53 earnings per share for the current year.

Colgate-Palmolive Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 15th. Investors of record on Friday, July 19th will be paid a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 19th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.07%. Colgate-Palmolive’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 63.29%.

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.