Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) Downgraded by StockNews.com to Hold

StockNews.com cut shares of Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL - Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report issued on Wednesday.

Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on Colgate-Palmolive from $99.00 to $95.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $83.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada restated a "sector perform" rating and issued a $101.00 price objective on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on Colgate-Palmolive from $95.00 to $93.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, TD Cowen lowered their price target on Colgate-Palmolive from $110.00 to $100.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $102.17.

Colgate-Palmolive Stock Up 2.1 %

Shares of CL stock traded up $2.00 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $95.49. 7,029,569 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,590,228. The firm has a market cap of $77.45 billion, a PE ratio of 27.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.20 and a beta of 0.40. The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.40. The company's 50 day moving average is $91.31 and its two-hundred day moving average is $92.43. Colgate-Palmolive has a 1 year low of $85.32 and a 1 year high of $109.30.

Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 return on equity of 477.77% and a net margin of 14.38%. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.87 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Colgate-Palmolive will post 3.75 EPS for the current year.

Colgate-Palmolive Increases Dividend

The firm 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 $0.52 dividend. This is a positive change from Colgate-Palmolive's previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 17th. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.18%. Colgate-Palmolive's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 59.09%.

Colgate-Palmolive announced that its board has authorized a share repurchase program on Thursday, March 20th that authorizes the company to buyback $5.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to reacquire up to 6.8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are typically a sign that the company's management believes its shares are undervalued.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Centricity Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive during the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Vermillion Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive in the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA acquired a new stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive during the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, Briaud Financial Planning Inc acquired a new position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. 80.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.