Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Unilever (UL)
This page compares Colgate-Palmolive (CL) with Unilever (UL) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.
Company Profile
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Unilever (UL) both fall under the Household & Personal Products industry group, but CL is classified in Household Products while UL is classified in Personal Care Products.
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) trades as a standard ordinary-equity line, while Unilever (UL) is an ADR tied to a foreign-share or depositary-receipt structure — compare with FX exposure, program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Symbol | CL | UL |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Colgate-Palmolive Co | Unilever PLC Sponsored American Depositary Receipt |
| Country/Region | United States | United Kingdom |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
| GICS Industry Group | Household & Personal Products | Household & Personal Products |
| GICS Industry | Household Products | Personal Care Products |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Household Products | Personal Care Products |
| Market Capitalization | 68.10 billion USD | 119.21 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 2, 1973 | March 25, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
Unilever (UL) at 18.29 hovers around the typical industry Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM), while Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 32.98 sits above its industry benchmark range — an elevated trailing earnings multiple for CL relative to peers.
CL
Household & Personal Products industry group
32.98
- Max
- 31.46
- Q3
- 21.10
- Median
- 18.38
- Q1
- 13.94
- Min
- 5.25
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
18.29
- Max
- 31.46
- Q3
- 21.10
- Median
- 18.38
- Q1
- 13.94
- Min
- 5.25
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
Unilever (UL) at 2.36 is priced about in line with its industry on Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), while Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 3.27 sits in the pricier quartile — CL costs more per dollar of sales.
CL
Household & Personal Products industry group
3.27
- Max
- 4.23
- Q3
- 2.62
- Median
- 1.78
- Q1
- 0.67
- Min
- 0.24
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
2.36
- Max
- 4.23
- Q3
- 2.62
- Median
- 1.78
- Q1
- 0.67
- Min
- 0.24
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: Unilever (UL) at 6.63 sits in the upper Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) quartile, and Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 470.17 prices even higher, above its industry range.
CL
Household & Personal Products industry group
470.17
- Max
- 12.58
- Q3
- 6.36
- Median
- 2.32
- Q1
- 1.21
- Min
- -2.80
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
6.63
- Max
- 12.58
- Q3
- 6.36
- Median
- 2.32
- Q1
- 1.21
- Min
- -2.80
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | CL | UL |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 32.98 | 18.29 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 3.27 | 2.36 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 470.17 | 6.63 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield | 4.87% | 5.26% |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) posts Return on Equity (TTM) of 363.58%, above its industry benchmark range, while Unilever (UL) at 30.96% sits closer to the industry mid-range.
CL
Household & Personal Products industry group
363.58%
- Max
- 32.63%
- Q3
- 31.07%
- Median
- 15.35%
- Q1
- 2.82%
- Min
- -13.94%
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
30.96%
- Max
- 32.63%
- Q3
- 31.07%
- Median
- 15.35%
- Q1
- 2.82%
- Min
- -13.94%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
Unilever (UL) at 18.75% 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%
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
18.75%
- Max
- 19.16%
- Q3
- 12.00%
- Median
- 7.74%
- Q1
- 3.29%
- Min
- -9.20%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
Both Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 20.92% and Unilever (UL) at 20.05% squeeze more operating profit from each sales dollar than most peers, ranking in the top Operating Profit Margin (TTM) quartile of their industries.
CL
Household & Personal Products industry group
20.92%
- Max
- 23.17%
- Q3
- 19.75%
- Median
- 12.60%
- Q1
- 6.91%
- Min
- -5.14%
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
20.05%
- Max
- 23.17%
- Q3
- 19.75%
- Median
- 12.60%
- Q1
- 6.91%
- Min
- -5.14%
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | CL | UL |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 363.58% | 30.96% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 16.10% | 8.43% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 10.04% | 18.75% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 20.92% | 20.05% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 60.06% | 46.95% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth at a Glance
| Symbol | CL | UL |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Revenue Growth | 1.40% | -3.77% |
| 3-Year Revenue CAGR | 4.29% | -5.62% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth at a Glance
| Symbol | CL | UL |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year EPS Growth | -25.07% | 67.69% |
| 3-Year EPS CAGR | 7.28% | 8.70% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 1.03 keeps Current Ratio (MRQ) within its industry mid-range, while Unilever (UL) at 0.79 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for UL.
CL
Household & Personal Products industry group
1.03
- Max
- 6.27
- Q3
- 3.31
- Median
- 2.17
- Q1
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.73
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
0.79
- Max
- 6.27
- Q3
- 3.31
- Median
- 2.17
- Q1
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.73
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
Unilever (UL) at 1.61 sits in the higher-leverage quartile relative to peers, but Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 16.41 is higher still, above its industry benchmark range.
CL
Household & Personal Products industry group
16.41
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.39
- Median
- 0.77
- Q1
- 0.39
- Min
- 0.02
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
1.61
- Max
- 2.33
- Q3
- 1.39
- Median
- 0.77
- Q1
- 0.39
- Min
- 0.02
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | CL | UL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.03 | 0.79 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 16.41 | 1.61 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.33 | 2.14 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 2.49% and Unilever (UL) at 4.14% report Dividend Yield (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on cash yield relative to share price.
CL
Household & Personal Products industry group
2.49%
- Max
- 6.59%
- Q3
- 4.39%
- Median
- 3.18%
- Q1
- 2.09%
- Min
- 1.07%
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
4.14%
- Max
- 6.59%
- Q3
- 4.39%
- Median
- 3.18%
- Q1
- 2.09%
- Min
- 1.07%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 80.62% and Unilever (UL) at 78.60% 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%
UL
Household & Personal Products industry group
78.60%
- Max
- 98.51%
- Q3
- 68.55%
- Median
- 36.90%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividends at a Glance
| Symbol | CL | UL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.49% | 4.14% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 80.62% | 78.60% |
Performance & Risk
Performance & Risk at a Glance
| Symbol | CL | UL |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Return | -3.27% | -19.80% |
| 1-Year Volatility | 21.09% | 21.01% |
| Beta | 0.34 | 0.43 |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 5.81M | 4.59M |