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Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB)

This page compares Colgate-Palmolive (CL) with Kimberly-Clark (KMB) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.

Company Profile

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) are both classified in the Household Products sub-industry within the broader Household Products industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

SymbolCLKMB
NameColgate-Palmolive CoKimberly-Clark Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer StaplesConsumer Staples
GICS Industry GroupHousehold & Personal ProductsHousehold & Personal Products
GICS IndustryHousehold ProductsHousehold Products
GICS Sub-IndustryHousehold ProductsHousehold Products
Market Capitalization72.12 billion USD32.40 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateMay 2, 1973March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 18.88 hovers around the typical industry Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM), while Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 34.93 sits above its industry benchmark range — an elevated trailing earnings multiple for CL relative to peers.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

34.93

Max
31.46
Q3
21.10
Median
18.38
Q1
13.94
Min
5.25

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

18.88

Max
31.46
Q3
21.10
Median
18.38
Q1
13.94
Min
5.25
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 1.96 is priced about in line with its industry on Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), while Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 3.47 sits in the pricier quartile — CL costs more per dollar of sales.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

3.47

Max
4.23
Q3
2.62
Median
1.78
Q1
0.67
Min
0.24

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

1.96

Max
4.23
Q3
2.62
Median
1.78
Q1
0.67
Min
0.24
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 497.96 and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 18.04 look expensive — each Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

497.96

Max
12.58
Q3
6.36
Median
2.32
Q1
1.21
Min
-2.80

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

18.04

Max
12.58
Q3
6.36
Median
2.32
Q1
1.21
Min
-2.80
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolCLKMB
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)34.9318.88
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)3.471.96
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)497.9618.04
Free Cash Flow Yield4.60%3.26%

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Both Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 363.58% and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 111.73% post Return on Equity (TTM) above their industry benchmark ranges, pointing to unusually strong headline returns on shareholders’ equity.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

363.58%

Max
32.63%
Q3
31.07%
Median
15.35%
Q1
2.82%
Min
-13.94%

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

111.73%

Max
32.63%
Q3
31.07%
Median
15.35%
Q1
2.82%
Min
-13.94%
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 12.80% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 10.04%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

10.04%

Max
19.16%
Q3
12.00%
Median
7.74%
Q1
3.29%
Min
-9.20%

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

12.80%

Max
19.16%
Q3
12.00%
Median
7.74%
Q1
3.29%
Min
-9.20%
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 20.92% operates in the top Operating Profit Margin (TTM) quartile, ahead of Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 19.65%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

20.92%

Max
23.17%
Q3
19.75%
Median
12.60%
Q1
6.91%
Min
-5.14%

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

19.65%

Max
23.17%
Q3
19.75%
Median
12.60%
Q1
6.91%
Min
-5.14%
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolCLKMB
Return on Equity (TTM)363.58%111.73%
Return on Assets (TTM)16.10%10.16%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)10.04%12.80%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)20.92%19.65%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)60.06%37.15%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolCLKMB
1-Year Revenue Growth1.40%-2.13%
3-Year Revenue CAGR4.29%-6.58%

EPS Growth

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolCLKMB
1-Year EPS Growth-25.07%-19.60%
3-Year EPS CAGR7.28%1.94%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 1.03 keeps Current Ratio (MRQ) within its industry mid-range, while Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 0.77 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for KMB.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

1.03

Max
6.27
Q3
3.31
Median
2.17
Q1
1.01
Min
0.73

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

0.77

Max
6.27
Q3
3.31
Median
2.17
Q1
1.01
Min
0.73
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Both Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 16.41 and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 3.71 sit above their industry benchmark ranges for Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ), pointing to heavier debt loads relative to equity on both sides.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

16.41

Max
2.33
Q3
1.39
Median
0.77
Q1
0.39
Min
0.02

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

3.71

Max
2.33
Q3
1.39
Median
0.77
Q1
0.39
Min
0.02
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolCLKMB
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.030.77
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)16.413.71
Net Debt / EBITDA1.331.96

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 5.25% reports Dividend Yield (TTM) in the top quartile of industry peers, ahead of Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 2.35%, which sits around the industry mid-range.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

2.35%

Max
6.59%
Q3
4.39%
Median
3.18%
Q1
2.09%
Min
1.07%

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

5.25%

Max
6.59%
Q3
4.39%
Median
3.18%
Q1
2.09%
Min
1.07%
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 80.62% and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 97.87% post Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) outside their industries’ typical mid-range — either leaning toward more retention or more distribution than the industry median.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

80.62%

Max
98.51%
Q3
68.55%
Median
36.90%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

97.87%

Max
98.51%
Q3
68.55%
Median
36.90%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Dividends at a Glance

SymbolCLKMB
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.35%5.25%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)80.62%97.87%

Performance & Risk

CL
KMB
Loading price history…
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Performance & Risk at a Glance

SymbolCLKMB
1-Year Return0.12%-29.13%
1-Year Volatility20.74%24.81%
Beta0.330.28
3-Month Avg. Volume5.84M4.77M