Aware Super Pty Ltd as trustee of Aware Super Purchases Shares of 36,820 Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL)

Aware Super Pty Ltd as trustee of Aware Super acquired a new stake in Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 36,820 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,347,000.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive during the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. Centricity Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Colgate-Palmolive in the fourth quarter worth approximately $27,000. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA bought a new stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Briaud Financial Planning Inc acquired a new position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive during the fourth quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Wintrust Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive in the fourth quarter valued at $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.41% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $111.00 to $104.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada restated a "sector perform" rating and set a $101.00 price target on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. UBS Group raised their target price on Colgate-Palmolive from $105.00 to $109.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $95.00 to $93.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Colgate-Palmolive from $99.00 to $95.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $102.17.

Colgate-Palmolive Trading Up 2.1 %

Shares of CL traded up $2.00 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $95.49. The company's stock had a trading volume of 7,029,569 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,591,385. The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.40. Colgate-Palmolive has a 52 week low of $85.32 and a 52 week high of $109.30. The company's fifty day moving average price is $91.15 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $92.48. The stock has a market cap of $77.45 billion, a PE ratio of 27.13, a P/E/G ratio of 4.20 and a beta of 0.40.

Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 31st. The company reported $0.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.01. Colgate-Palmolive had a return on equity of 477.77% and a net margin of 14.38%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.87 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Colgate-Palmolive will post 3.75 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Colgate-Palmolive Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 17th will be paid a dividend of $0.52 per share. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 17th. This is a positive change from Colgate-Palmolive's previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. Colgate-Palmolive's dividend payout ratio is 59.09%.

Colgate-Palmolive announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback plan on Thursday, March 20th that permits the company to buyback $5.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the company to buy up to 6.8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally a sign that the company's leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Colgate-Palmolive Company Profile

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.