Colgate-Palmolive Reports Better Than Expected Q1 Results, Lifts Guidance

Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) released its first-quarter earnings, which exceeded analyst forecasts. The company achieved an adjusted EPS of $0.86, beating the anticipated $0.81. Its revenue also exceeded projections, reaching $5.07 billion against the forecast of $4.96 billion.

Colgate-Palmolive saw a 6.2% increase in net sales and a 9.8% rise in organic sales, continuing a strong performance across all divisions and categories. This growth extends the company's streak of double-digit increases in operating profit, net income, and EPS for the third consecutive quarter. The company also maintains a strong global market share in toothpaste and manual toothbrushes at 41.3% and 31.7%, respectively.

CEO Noel Wallace highlighted the successful execution of the company’s strategy and investments in sustaining business health as key to these results. He expressed confidence in the effectiveness of their strategies for meeting the updated 2024 financial targets and sustaining consistent earnings growth.

For the full year of 2024, Colgate-Palmolive revised its net sales growth guidance upward to 2% to 5%, previously 1% to 4%. This includes an expected mid-single-digit negative impact from foreign exchange fluctuations. The forecast for organic sales growth was also adjusted upward to 5% to 7%, from 3% to 5%. The company continues to expect an expansion in gross profit margin and anticipates double-digit growth in GAAP EPS. For adjusted EPS, the company projects a mid to high-single-digit growth.