Colgate-Palmolive (together with its subsidiaries) is one of the world’s leading consumer products companies.
The company focuses on the production, distribution and marketing of its household, health care and personal products.
Colgate is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, USA, and is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), under the stock ticker symbol ‘CL’.
It is comprised of two product segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition.
Oral Care – the company is a market leader in Oral Care, offering a range of toothpaste and manual toothbrush brands, with products such as: Colgate Total, Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief, Colgate Max Fresh, Colgate Optic White and Colgate Luminous White toothpastes, Colgate 360° and Colgate Slim Soft manual toothbrushes and Colgate Optic White, Colgate Total and Colgate Plax mouthwash.
Personal Care – in terms of Personal Care the company also has a strong market presence, marketing hand soap and shower gels under the brands: Palmolive, Protex and Softsoap. It also markets the Speed Stick, Lady Speed Stick and Sanex deodorants and antiperspirants.
Home Care – in the Home Care market Colgate offers its Palmolive and Ajax dishwashing liquids, Fabuloso and Ajax household cleaners and Murphy’s Oil Soap. In addition to fabric conditioners with leading brands such as Suavitel (in Latin America) and Soupline (in Europe).
Pet Nutrition – through its Hill’s Pet Nutrition segment Colgate has a significant presence in specialty pet nutrition products for dogs and cats. Its products are marketed in over 95 countries worldwide and are sold under three trademarks: Hill’s Science Diet, Hill’s Prescription Diet, and Hill’s Ideal Balance.
The history of Colgate-Palmolive traces back to a starch, soap and candle factory that opened in 1806, in New York City, under the name of “William Colgate & Company”. In 1857 Samuel Colgate took charge of the company and renamed it “Colgate & Company”. A perfumed soap was introduced by Colgate called Cashmere Bouquet in 1872. A year later (in 1873) the company introduced its first toothpaste.
Overview
- President, CEO, and Chairman: Ian Cook
- COO: Fabian T. Garcia
- Type: Public
- Industry: Personal Products / Pet Nutrition
- Listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
- NYSE stock ticker symbol: CL
- S&P 500 Component
- Revenue: $17.420 billion USD (2013)
- Net income: $2.241 billion USD (2013)
- Diluted earnings per share: $2.38 USD (2013)
- Employees: 37,400 (2013)
- Corporate headquarters: 300 Park Avenue, New York, New York
- Investor relations contact number: 212-310-2575
- Investor relations email address: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.colgatepalmolive.com/
| Operating data (in $ millions) | 2013 | 2012 |
| Net sales | $17,420 | $17,085 |
| Cost of sales | $7,219 | $7,153 |
| Gross profit | $10,201 | $9,932 |
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | $6,223 | $5,930 |
| Other (income) expense, net | $422 | $113 |
| Operating profit | $3,556 | $3,889 |
| Interest (income) expense, net | $(9) | $15 |
| Income before income taxes | $3,565 | $3,874 |
| Provision for income taxes | $1,155 | $1,243 |
| Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | $169 | $159 |
| Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company | $2,241 | $2,472 |
| Total Comprehensive income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company | $2,411 | $2,326 |
| Balance sheet data (in $ millions) | ||
| Total assets | $13,876 | $13,394 |
| Total liabilities | $11,340 | $11,004 |
| Total stockholders’ equity | $2,536 | $2,390 |
| Cash flow data (in $ millions) | ||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $3,204 | $3,196 |
| Net cash used in investing activities | $(890) | $(865) |
| Net cash used in financing activities | $(2,142) | $(2,301) |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of year | $962 | $884 |
| Common share data (in $) | ||
| Basic earnings (loss) per common share | $2.41 | $2.60 |
| Diluted earnings (loss) per common share | $2.38 | $2.57 |
Source: “Colgate-Palmolive Company 2013 Form 10-K Annual Report”