Seek Returns

CL vs. KMB: Colgate-Palmolive vs. Kimberly-Clark Stock Comparison

How do Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

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.

Company profile comparison for Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
Profile ItemCLKMB
NameColgate-Palmolive CompanyKimberly-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 Capitalization73.36 billion USD36.44 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateMay 2, 1973March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

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.

Trailing Returns

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB). Returns over one year are annualized.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
MetricCLKMB
Total Return (1Y)3.41%-10.69%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CL
KMB
Loading price history…
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
MetricCLKMB
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)21.73%26.27%
Beta (5Y)0.330.26
Avg. Volume (3M)5.52M4.84M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
CL and KMB are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 363.58% and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 111.73% turn shareholders’ equity into profit at rates above their industry benchmark ranges for ROE. That is a strong capital-efficiency signal, though leverage and the equity base still matter.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

363.58%

CL
363.58%
Max
31.30%
Q3
30.96%
Median
15.00%
Q1
1.55%
Min
-13.94%

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

111.73%

KMB
111.73%
Max
31.30%
Q3
30.96%
Median
15.00%
Q1
1.55%
Min
-13.94%
Loading chart…
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their ROE against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Net 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
11.34%
CL
10.04%
Median
6.79%
Q1
2.51%
Min
-9.20%

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

12.80%

Max
19.16%
KMB
12.80%
Q3
11.34%
Median
6.79%
Q1
2.51%
Min
-9.20%
Loading chart…
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their net margin against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 20.92% operates in the top operating margin 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%
CL
20.92%
Q3
19.85%
Median
12.60%
Q1
7.57%
Min
-5.14%

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

19.65%

Max
23.17%
Q3
19.85%
KMB
19.65%
Median
12.60%
Q1
7.57%
Min
-5.14%
Loading chart…
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their operating margin against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
MetricCLKMB
ROE (TTM)363.58%111.73%
ROA (TTM)16.10%10.16%
Net Margin (TTM)10.04%12.80%
Operating Margin (TTM)20.92%19.65%
Gross Margin (TTM)60.06%37.15%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth Metrics

Revenue growth metrics for Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
MetricCLKMB
Revenue Growth (YoY)1.40%-2.13%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.29%-6.58%

EPS Growth

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

EPS Growth Metrics

EPS growth metrics for Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
MetricCLKMB
EPS Growth (YoY)-25.07%-19.60%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)7.28%1.94%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 1.03 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical 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
3.17
Median
2.05
CL
1.03
Q1
1.00
Min
0.73

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

0.77

Max
6.27
Q3
3.17
Median
2.05
Q1
1.00
KMB
0.77
Min
0.73
Loading chart…
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their current ratio against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Debt sits unusually high against shareholders’ equity for both Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 16.41 and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 3.71 — each debt-to-equity ratio is above its industry benchmark range.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

16.41

CL
16.41
Max
2.33
Q3
1.61
Median
0.81
Q1
0.40
Min
0.02

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

3.71

KMB
3.71
Max
2.33
Q3
1.61
Median
0.81
Q1
0.40
Min
0.02
Loading chart…
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
MetricCLKMB
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.030.77
Debt / Equity (MRQ)16.413.71
Net Debt / EBITDA1.331.96

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 4.60% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 2.25% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, KMB the richer one.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

2.25%

Max
5.54%
Q3
2.88%
CL
2.25%
Median
1.22%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

4.60%

Max
5.54%
KMB
4.60%
Q3
2.88%
Median
1.22%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their dividend yield 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% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

80.62%

Max
98.51%
CL
80.62%
Q3
71.90%
Median
37.08%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

97.87%

Max
98.51%
KMB
97.87%
Q3
71.90%
Median
37.08%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
MetricCLKMB
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.25%4.60%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)80.62%97.87%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 21.23 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 35.53 sits in the richer quartile — CL needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

35.53

CL
35.53
Max
35.53
Q3
25.75
Median
20.10
Q1
16.28
Min
5.77

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

21.23

Max
35.53
Q3
25.75
KMB
21.23
Median
20.10
Q1
16.28
Min
5.77
Loading chart…
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 2.20 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 3.53 sits in the pricier quartile — CL costs more per dollar of sales.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

3.53

Max
5.15
CL
3.53
Q3
3.13
Median
1.71
Q1
0.73
Min
0.27

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

2.20

Max
5.15
Q3
3.13
KMB
2.20
Median
1.71
Q1
0.73
Min
0.27
Loading chart…
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 506.52 and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 20.29 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

506.52

CL
506.52
Max
12.20
Q3
6.75
Median
2.50
Q1
1.26
Min
-3.08

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

20.29

KMB
20.29
Max
12.20
Q3
6.75
Median
2.50
Q1
1.26
Min
-3.08
Loading chart…
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
MetricCLKMB
P/E Ratio (TTM)35.5321.23
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.532.20
P/B Ratio (MRQ)506.5220.29
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.52%2.89%