New York, Feb 2, 2026, 16:51 EST — After-hours
- After the market closed Monday, Colgate-Palmolive shares climbed 1.8%.
- Following the company’s quarterly update and 2026 outlook, several brokerages raised their price targets.
- Investors focus on pricing power, volumes, and tariff assumptions heading into the next quarter.
Colgate-Palmolive Co’s shares climbed 1.8% in after-hours trading Monday, buoyed by a series of broker target upgrades that kept the consumer-products giant in the spotlight. The stock last changed hands at $91.89, up $1.60, following an intraday range of $89.50 to $92.68.
The target moves matter because staples are back in focus. When growth wavers, steady-demand stocks can attract quick inflows — and just as quickly see them exit.
Investors keep coming back to the same question on toothpaste, soap, and pet food: can these businesses expand without relying on price hikes? Defending volumes gets tougher as shoppers downgrade their choices.
The sector gained momentum Monday. The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR fund climbed roughly 1.2%, beating the SPDR S&P 500 ETF’s 0.5% increase.
Morgan Stanley analyst Dara Mohsenian maintained an Overweight rating, signaling expectations that the stock will outperform peers, and raised his price target to $100 from $87, Benzinga reported. Bryan Spillane at BofA Securities lifted his target to $100 from $90. Piper Sandler’s Michael Lavery increased his to $96, while Wells Fargo’s Chris Carey nudged his up to $94, according to the report.
Colgate projected 2026 net sales growth between 2% and 6% last week, buoyed by steady demand for essentials in markets like Latin America and Europe that helped it beat estimates. Price hikes contributed 2.7% to quarterly results, though volumes remained flat. Meanwhile, organic sales in North America — excluding currency and deal impacts — slipped 1.8%, according to Reuters.
Colgate reported a non-cash, after-tax charge of $794 million in its earnings release, reflecting a write-down of goodwill and intangible assets linked to its skin health business, due to softer performance, especially in China. The company’s 2026 outlook factors in tariffs announced and finalized by Jan. 28, with advertising expected to increase as a share of sales, even as it aims to expand its gross margin — the portion of revenue remaining after production costs. CEO Noel Wallace acknowledged the operating environment remains tough in the near term but stressed the company is “operating from a position of strength.”
The spotlight now turns from initial targets to actual follow-through. Traders will see if Monday’s gains stick when Tuesday’s session opens and keep an eye out for any fresh rating changes as analysts wrap up their models.
The setup could flip quickly. If shoppers turn more to cheaper private labels, or if tariffs move beyond what management factored into its outlook, margins will come under pressure and the bull case weakens.
On Monday, Procter & Gamble climbed 0.9% and Church & Dwight added 1.1%, but Kimberly-Clark dipped 0.5%.
Colgate is set to release its next earnings report on April 24, per Yahoo Finance’s earnings calendar. This date stands as the immediate catalyst for NYSE:CL, with investors keen to gauge early indicators on volumes, pricing strategies, and potential tariff impacts.
