Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) Q4 2025 Earnings call January 30, 2026 08:30 AM ET Company ParticipantsAndrea Teixeira - Executive DirectorBonnie Herzog - Managing DirectorDara Mohsenian - Managing Director in US Beverage and Household Products SectorsFilippo Falorni - Director in Equity ResearchJohn Faucher - Chief Investor Relations Officer and EVP in M&AKaumil Gajrawala - Managing Director in Beverage, Household Products, and HALO StrategyKevin Grundy - Managing DirectorLauren Lieberman - Managing Di ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported stronger-than-expected Q4 results, with organic sales growth, net sales, gross profit, base business earnings per share, and free cash flow growth in 2025 despite challenges such as lower-than-expected category growth and higher raw material inflation [3][4] - The company achieved $5 billion in sales growth as part of its 2025 strategy, transitioning to a new 2030 strategy aimed at accelerating change and driving top-tier growth [4][8] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Organic sales growth was observed in all four categories in Q4, with modest volume growth excluding the impact of the Prime100 acquisition and planned exit from the private label business [4][8] - The Hill's brand showed strong growth, with volume growth exceeding 5% on an underlying basis, despite challenges in the overall category [21][32] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Emerging markets, particularly Latin America, performed well with high single-digit growth in Mexico and Brazil, contributing to an overall organic growth of about 4.5% in emerging markets [58][60] - North America faced challenges, with nine categories experiencing volume declines in October and ten in November, although December showed slight improvement [48][50] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on five key areas: leveraging strong global brands, accelerating investment in innovation, enhancing omni-channel demand generation, investing in digital and AI capabilities, and fostering a high-impact culture [5][7][8] - The Strategic Growth and Productivity Program aims to unlock organizational changes and funding necessary to support the new strategy, with a focus on building brand capabilities and driving productivity [8][9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism for 2026, citing improved momentum in Q4 and stabilization of category growth rates, but acknowledged significant uncertainty in the market [9][10] - The company is cautious about the U.S. market, expecting continued challenges in the near term but believes that innovation and premiumization strategies will drive future growth [50][95] Other Important Information - The company noted that foreign exchange has been favorable recently, but historically has only been a tailwind in two of the last ten years, and will be managed flexibly in the business model [23][70] - The company is adapting its organizational structure to focus on omni-channel demand generation, aiming to enhance decision-making and responsiveness to market changes [90][91] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on category growth and market share positioning - Management indicated that category growth has stabilized at lower rates than historical assumptions, with expectations of gradual improvement in 2026 [18][26] Question: Performance of the Hill's brand - Despite challenges in the category, the Hill's brand experienced strong volume growth, driven by science-based innovation and improved market shares [31][32] Question: North America market challenges - Management acknowledged the sluggishness in North America, particularly in personal care, and emphasized the need for a stronger innovation pipeline and effective revenue growth management strategies [46][50] Question: Emerging markets performance - Emerging markets showed strong growth, particularly in Latin America, with a focus on executing strategic growth initiatives to capitalize on favorable category growth rates [58][60] Question: Advertising and promotional strategies - Management discussed the need for a balanced approach to advertising spend, focusing on efficiency while also investing in areas that will drive market share and category growth [41][44]

Core Viewpoint - Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) is recognized as a long-term investment opportunity despite facing challenges in the current market environment [2][3]. Group 1: Company Performance and Outlook - RBC Capital upgraded Colgate-Palmolive's rating to Outperform from Sector Perform, maintaining a price target of $88, indicating confidence in the company's long-term growth potential despite recent pressures from slower global category growth [2]. - The CEO highlighted a volatile operating environment influenced by consumer uncertainty, tariffs, geopolitical issues, and high cost inflation, which have impacted sales and profitability [3]. - Colgate-Palmolive updated its organic sales growth outlook to approximately 1.2% for 2025, factoring in a 70 basis point impact from exiting private label products [4]. Group 2: Strategic Focus and Market Position - The company remains committed to its 2030 Strategy, emphasizing its strong brand portfolio in growing categories and significant market share, particularly in emerging markets [3]. - Colgate-Palmolive has a highly efficient global supply chain that supports its demand, positioning the company favorably for future growth [3]. - The company has a long-standing history of reliability as a dividend payer, having increased its dividends for 62 consecutive years, which adds to its attractiveness as an investment [4].

Core Insights - Colgate-Palmolive Company is recognized as one of the 15 Best Boring Dividend Stocks to Buy [1] - Barclays has reduced its price target for Colgate-Palmolive to $80 from $82 while maintaining an Equal Weight rating, highlighting the company's efforts to drive category growth and market share [2] - In Q3 2025, Colgate-Palmolive reported revenue of $5.13 billion, reflecting a 2% increase year-over-year, maintaining a leading position in toothpaste with a 41.2% global market share and 32.4% in manual toothbrushes [2] - The company generated $2.7 billion in operating cash flow during the first nine months of fiscal 2025, with a shift in management focus towards the 2030 Strategy to enhance organizational agility [3] - Colgate-Palmolive's product portfolio includes oral care, personal care, home care, and pet nutrition [4]

Financial Performance & Guidance - Net sales increased by 20%[18] - Organic sales increased by 04%, led by oral care, including a 08% negative impact from lower private label pet sales[18] - The company returned $21 billion to shareholders year to date[31] - Net sales growth is expected to be up low single digits, including a flat to low-single-digit negative impact from foreign exchange[24] - Organic sales growth is now expected to be 1% to 2%, roughly in line with year-to-date organic sales growth of 12%, including an approximately 70 basis point impact from exit from private label pet sales[25] - The company expects approximately $75 million in tariff costs for 2025[26] Strategic Initiatives - The company announced a new three-year productivity program to drive future top and bottom line growth and support the Company's 2030 strategy[20] - The Strategic Growth and Productivity Program is projected to result in cumulative pre-tax charges totaling between $200 and $300 million over the course of the three-year program[21] - Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures achieved a new milestone - reaching approximately 2 billion children and their families worldwide since 1991[18] Market Share - Global toothpaste market share was up 10 basis points on a volume basis year to date[18] - Global manual toothbrush market share was up 50 basis points on a volume basis year to date[18]

Group 1 - The presentation by Colgate's CEO, Noel Wallace, focuses on the success of the company's 2025 strategic plan and introduces elements of the 2030 strategy [1][2] - The 2025 strategy cycle began in 2019 and has shown short-term results in 2025, which will be discussed in detail [2] - Colgate reported a 2.4% organic growth in the second quarter, excluding the impact of private label products, which is a key takeaway [3] Group 2 - A new productivity initiative was announced during the second quarter earnings call, aligning with the upcoming 2030 strategy [3]