Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) Shares Acquired by Guggenheim Capital LLC

Guggenheim Capital LLC lifted its stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL - Free Report) by 2.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 131,799 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 3,559 shares during the period. Guggenheim Capital LLC's holdings in Colgate-Palmolive were worth $11,982,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 16.2% during the 4th quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 6,752 shares of the company's stock worth $591,000 after acquiring an additional 943 shares in the last quarter. Aviva PLC increased its stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 13.4% in the fourth quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 973,421 shares of the company's stock worth $88,494,000 after purchasing an additional 114,855 shares during the period. Peak Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Colgate-Palmolive in the 4th quarter worth $1,315,000. Fiduciary Alliance LLC bought a new stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $4,066,000. Finally, Impact Partnership Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Colgate-Palmolive during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $803,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.41% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

CL has been the subject of several recent research reports. StockNews.com cut Colgate-Palmolive from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday. TD Cowen cut their price target 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. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $89.00 to $86.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Colgate-Palmolive from $99.00 to $95.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 11th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on Colgate-Palmolive from $95.00 to $93.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. One research 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. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $102.17.

Colgate-Palmolive Price Performance

NYSE CL traded up $2.00 on Friday, reaching $95.49. The company had a trading volume of 7,029,569 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,590,228. The company has a quick ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.40. The stock has a market capitalization 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. Colgate-Palmolive has a 12 month low of $85.32 and a 12 month high of $109.30. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $91.31 and its 200 day moving average price is $92.43.

Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The company reported $0.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 firm earned $0.87 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that Colgate-Palmolive will post 3.75 earnings per share for the current year.

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

Colgate-Palmolive Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 17th will be issued a $0.52 dividend. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.18%. This is a boost from Colgate-Palmolive's previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 17th. Colgate-Palmolive's payout ratio is presently 59.09%.

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.