Barclays Lifts Colgate (CL) Target as 2026 Growth Outlook Improves

Core Viewpoint - Colgate-Palmolive Company is recognized as one of the best dividend stocks with a wide economic moat, indicating strong competitive advantages in its market [1] Financial Performance - For the quarter ended December 31, net sales reached $5.23 billion, surpassing the consensus estimate of $5.12 billion [7] - Adjusted earnings were reported at 95 cents per share, exceeding expectations of 91 cents [7] Growth Outlook - Barclays raised the price target for Colgate-Palmolive to $88 from $83, maintaining an Equal Weight rating, with an improved growth outlook for 2026 compared to 2025 [3] - Colgate forecasts net sales growth of 2% to 6% for 2026, with the midpoint above analysts' expectations of 3.5% [7] Market Dynamics - Demand for household products remains steady, particularly in Latin America and Europe, while North America shows price sensitivity [4][5] - Colgate has managed to maintain sales of toothpaste, manual toothbrushes, and household cleaning products despite price increases, which has helped protect margins [5] Segment Performance - Hill's Pet Nutrition segment showed improvement with a 2.7% price increase, although volumes remained flat year over year [6]