Generali Asset Management SPA SGR Purchases Shares of 89,155 Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL)

Generali Asset Management SPA SGR bought a new position in Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm bought 89,155 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $8,105,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of CL. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in Colgate-Palmolive during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Centricity Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Colgate-Palmolive during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA purchased a new position in Colgate-Palmolive during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Briaud Financial Planning Inc purchased a new position in Colgate-Palmolive during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Wintrust Investments LLC purchased a new position in Colgate-Palmolive during the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. 80.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Colgate-Palmolive Stock Performance

NYSE CL traded up $0.02 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $90.30. 8,950,637 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,223,549. The business's fifty day moving average price is $89.33 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $94.27. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $73.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.65, a P/E/G ratio of 4.20 and a beta of 0.40. Colgate-Palmolive has a 52 week low of $85.32 and a 52 week high of $109.30.

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Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The company reported $0.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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 quarter last year, the business earned $0.87 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Colgate-Palmolive will post 3.75 EPS for the current year.

Colgate-Palmolive Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 17th will be given a dividend of $0.52 per share. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.30%. 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. Colgate-Palmolive's payout ratio is 56.82%.

Colgate-Palmolive announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, March 20th that allows the company to buyback $5.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to purchase up to 6.8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are usually a sign that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Raymond James reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $105.00 price target (down from $110.00) on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $95.00 to $93.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $97.00 to $99.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, March 14th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $111.00 to $104.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, TD Cowen reduced their price objective on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $110.00 to $100.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Colgate-Palmolive presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $101.72.

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.