Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) Shares Sold by Yacktman Asset Management LP

Yacktman Asset Management LP trimmed its holdings in Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL - Free Report) by 0.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 802,400 shares of the company's stock after selling 4,500 shares during the period. Yacktman Asset Management LP owned 0.10% of Colgate-Palmolive worth $72,946,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. CWM LLC raised its position in Colgate-Palmolive by 28.7% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 35,216 shares of the company's stock worth $3,656,000 after buying an additional 7,861 shares during the last quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt increased its stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 386.3% during the third quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt now owns 6,546 shares of the company's stock worth $679,000 after acquiring an additional 5,200 shares during the period. Annex Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in Colgate-Palmolive by 13.7% during the third quarter. Annex Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,955 shares of the company's stock worth $411,000 after purchasing an additional 476 shares in the last quarter. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in Colgate-Palmolive by 15.4% in the third quarter. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. now owns 7,734 shares of the company's stock valued at $803,000 after purchasing an additional 1,034 shares during the period. Finally, Gilman Hill Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Colgate-Palmolive by 11.4% in the 3rd quarter. Gilman Hill Asset Management LLC now owns 2,447 shares of the company's stock valued at $254,000 after purchasing an additional 250 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.41% of the company's stock.

Colgate-Palmolive Trading Down 1.7 %

Shares of Colgate-Palmolive stock traded down $1.48 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $86.27. 2,605,370 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,943,016. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $89.69 and a 200 day simple moving average of $96.48. The company has a current ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 0.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.46. The stock has a market capitalization of $70.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.12 and a beta of 0.44. Colgate-Palmolive has a twelve month low of $83.20 and a twelve month high of $109.30.

Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The company reported $0.91 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 period in the previous year, the company posted $0.87 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Colgate-Palmolive will post 3.73 EPS for the current year.

Colgate-Palmolive Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 14th. Investors of record on Tuesday, January 21st will be given a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 21st. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.32%. Colgate-Palmolive's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 56.82%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. TD Cowen cut their target price on Colgate-Palmolive from $110.00 to $100.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Raymond James reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $105.00 target price (down previously from $110.00) on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $96.00 to $83.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $103.00 to $97.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price 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. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $101.16.

About Colgate-Palmolive

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.