New York, February 1, 2026, 08:56 (EST) — Market closed
- Shares of Colgate-Palmolive jumped roughly 6% Friday following a strong quarterly profit and an upbeat sales forecast for 2026
- The company highlighted tariff assumptions and a rise in advertising expenses in its 2026 plan
- Attention now shifts to Monday’s reopening and the company’s Feb. 20 appearance at a major consumer conference
Colgate-Palmolive shares ended Friday at $90.29, rising 5.9%, following better-than-expected quarterly results and a 2026 sales forecast that exceeded estimates. Since U.S. markets were closed over the weekend, the stock’s gain faces its first real test when trading restarts Monday. (Yahoo Finance)
The move comes as staples companies battle to keep shoppers who are tightening their belts and opting for cheaper private-label options. “While we expect the difficult operating environment and slower category growth to continue in the short term, we are operating from a position of strength,” CEO Noel Wallace said. (Reuters)
The current battle in the aisles is clear: protect shelf space, hold back on price increases, ramp up ad spending, and pray volumes stabilize. Colgate’s latest figures perfectly illustrate this struggle.
The company disclosed in an 8-K filing that its fourth-quarter net sales hit $5.23 billion, with “Base Business” earnings per share at 95 cents—this adjusted figure excludes certain charges. It projected 2026 net sales growth between 2% and 6%, with organic sales growth estimated at 1% to 4%, excluding currency fluctuations and acquisitions. The outlook factors in a low-single-digit boost from foreign exchange and incorporates tariffs announced and finalized as of Jan. 28. (SEC)
Following GAAP standards, Colgate reported a quarterly loss driven by a $794 million after-tax, non-cash impairment charge related to its skin-health division. The company attributed the downturn to slower category growth and operational issues, particularly in China.
Pricing boosted quarterly sales by roughly 2.7%, even as total volumes stayed flat. In North America, organic sales dropped 1.8%, driven by a 2.3% decline in volumes. Latin America and Europe, however, saw organic growth. Hill’s Pet Nutrition recorded a 1.5% rise in organic sales.
On the Street, sentiment grew a bit more positive. Goldman Sachs analyst Bonnie Herzog raised her price target to $94 from $91, maintaining a Buy rating. She highlighted “broad-based strength” in organic sales alongside marginally improved margins. (TipRanks)
Colgate reported returning $2.9 billion to shareholders in 2025 via dividends and share buybacks, alongside record operating cash flow. That cash cushion supports increased ad spending, but investors will be looking for evidence that it’s driving demand growth, not just protecting pricing power.
The risk is clear. Should trade-down accelerate, category growth remain slow, or tariffs and input costs rise, that broad 2026 range might shift from a buffer to a red flag.
The next key event is the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference, running Feb. 16-20 in Orlando. Colgate is scheduled to present on Feb. 20 at 8:00 a.m. ET. A day before, The Procter & Gamble Company and Kimberly-Clark Corporation will share updates on volumes, promotions, and pricing ahead of Colgate’s session. (CAGNY)
