Vicus Capital Trims Stock Position in Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL)

Vicus Capital lessened its stake in Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL - Free Report) by 12.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 71,683 shares of the company's stock after selling 9,930 shares during the period. Vicus Capital's holdings in Colgate-Palmolive were worth $6,517,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of CL. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA purchased a new stake in Colgate-Palmolive in the fourth quarter valued at about $32,000. Hager Investment Management Services LLC purchased a new position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Reston Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Colgate-Palmolive in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $42,000. Synergy Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Colgate-Palmolive during the 4th quarter worth approximately $49,000. Finally, Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new position in Colgate-Palmolive during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $53,000. 80.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Colgate-Palmolive Price Performance

Shares of CL traded up $0.37 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $86.41. 3,827,625 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,960,612. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $89.39 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $96.22. Colgate-Palmolive has a 12-month low of $83.70 and a 12-month high of $109.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.46, a quick ratio of 0.26 and a current ratio of 0.41. The company has a market cap of $70.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.12 and a beta of 0.44.

Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The company reported $0.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.01. Colgate-Palmolive had a net margin of 14.38% and a return on equity of 477.77%. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.87 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Colgate-Palmolive will post 3.73 earnings per share for the current year.

Colgate-Palmolive Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 14th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, January 21st were paid a $0.50 dividend. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.31%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, January 21st. Colgate-Palmolive's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 56.82%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently commented on CL. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a "sector perform" rating and set a $101.00 price objective on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a research note on Wednesday, January 29th. UBS Group dropped their price target on Colgate-Palmolive from $104.00 to $100.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. StockNews.com cut Colgate-Palmolive from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 9th. Raymond James reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $105.00 price objective (down previously from $110.00) on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $95.00 to $93.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $101.16.

Colgate-Palmolive 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.