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

This page compares Colgate-Palmolive (CL) with Kimberly-Clark (KMB) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, 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
Company 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 Capitalization72.03 billion USD32.02 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaqGS
Listing DateMay 2, 1973March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

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.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolCLKMB
5-Day Price Return2.45%-0.59%
13-Week Price Return-5.89%-10.28%
26-Week Price Return13.28%-6.37%
52-Week Price Return-1.87%-31.48%
Month-to-Date Return5.46%-1.99%
Year-to-Date Return13.92%-4.38%
10-Day Avg. Volume5.10M4.41M
3-Month Avg. Volume6.41M5.38M
3-Month Volatility23.42%24.23%
Beta0.320.31

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Both Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 475.13% and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 143.64% 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

475.13%

Max
56.82%
Q3
44.03%
Median
14.83%
Q1
8.27%
Min
-15.43%

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

143.64%

Max
56.82%
Q3
44.03%
Median
14.83%
Q1
8.27%
Min
-15.43%
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% ranks in the top quartile for Net Profit Margin (TTM), ahead of Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 10.04%, which sits closer to the industry mid-range.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

10.04%

Max
19.16%
Q3
11.57%
Median
6.87%
Q1
4.57%
Min
-5.39%

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

12.80%

Max
19.16%
Q3
11.57%
Median
6.87%
Q1
4.57%
Min
-5.39%
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)

Both Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 15.42% and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 14.93% post Operating Profit Margin (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on operating profitability.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

15.42%

Max
23.59%
Q3
16.82%
Median
11.03%
Q1
4.90%
Min
-6.14%

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

14.93%

Max
23.59%
Q3
16.82%
Median
11.03%
Q1
4.90%
Min
-6.14%
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)475.13%143.64%
Return on Assets (TTM)12.29%12.48%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)10.04%12.80%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)15.42%14.93%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)60.06%37.15%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 1.02 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

1.02

Max
4.51
Q3
2.63
Median
1.79
Q1
0.95
Min
0.73

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

0.77

Max
4.51
Q3
2.63
Median
1.79
Q1
0.95
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 54.99 and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 3.96 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

54.99

Max
1.83
Q3
1.83
Median
0.76
Q1
0.45
Min
0.00

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

3.96

Max
1.83
Q3
1.83
Median
0.76
Q1
0.45
Min
0.00
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 18.78 ranks in the top quartile for Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM), ahead of Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 9.84, which sits around the industry mid-range.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

18.78

Max
34.29
Q3
17.39
Median
8.17
Q1
3.35
Min
-3.28

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

9.84

Max
34.29
Q3
17.39
Median
8.17
Q1
3.35
Min
-3.28
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Kimberly-Clark (KMB): A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolCLKMB
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.020.77
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.670.55
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)54.993.96
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)18.789.84

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
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)8.41%-13.99%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)4.25%-16.17%
3-Year Revenue CAGR4.29%-6.58%
5-Year Revenue CAGR4.35%-2.99%

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
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)-5.22%17.32%
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)-27.01%-13.33%
3-Year EPS CAGR7.29%1.96%
5-Year EPS CAGR-3.47%-2.42%

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 5.23% reports Dividend Yield (TTM) in the top quartile of industry peers, ahead of Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 2.54%, which sits around the industry mid-range.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

2.54%

Max
7.74%
Q3
4.04%
Median
2.05%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

5.23%

Max
7.74%
Q3
4.04%
Median
2.05%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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 61.72% and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 78.95% 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

61.72%

Max
127.85%
Q3
61.48%
Median
36.71%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

78.95%

Max
127.85%
Q3
61.48%
Median
36.71%
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.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolCLKMB
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.54%5.23%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)61.72%78.95%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 15.11 carries typical industry Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM), while Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 34.60 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — CL carries a higher trailing earnings multiple relative to peers.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

34.60

Max
37.54
Q3
25.17
Median
16.40
Q1
13.88
Min
5.28

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

15.11

Max
37.54
Q3
25.17
Median
16.40
Q1
13.88
Min
5.28
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 1.93 carries typical industry Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), while Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 3.47 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — CL carries a higher trailing revenue multiple relative to peers.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

3.47

Max
3.80
Q3
2.10
Median
1.74
Q1
0.71
Min
0.25

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

1.93

Max
3.80
Q3
2.10
Median
1.74
Q1
0.71
Min
0.25
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)

Both Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 471.59 and Kimberly-Clark (KMB) at 17.83 sit above their industries’ benchmark ranges for Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), pointing to unusually high book-value multiples relative to peers.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

471.59

Max
12.04
Q3
7.18
Median
3.30
Q1
1.57
Min
0.57

KMB

Household & Personal Products industry group

17.83

Max
12.04
Q3
7.18
Median
3.30
Q1
1.57
Min
0.57
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)34.6015.11
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)3.471.93
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)471.5917.83
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)19.1717.43