CL vs. UL: Colgate-Palmolive vs. Unilever Stock Comparison

August 16, 2026

How do Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Unilever (UL) 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 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 ordinary local shares, while Unilever (UL) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Unilever (UL)
Profile Item	CL	UL
Name	Colgate-Palmolive Company	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	73.30 billion USD	133.70 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	May 2, 1973	March 25, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GSPC

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Unilever (UL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Unilever (UL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Unilever (UL). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Unilever (UL)
Metric	CL	UL
Total Return (1Y)	11.34%	-6.71%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	9.22%	5.62%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	5.45%	2.61%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GSPC

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Unilever (UL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Unilever (UL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Unilever (UL)
Metric	CL	UL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	22.53%	24.06%
Beta (5Y)	0.33	0.41
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-29.05%	-25.09%
Avg. Volume (3M)	4.99M	4.20M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CL and UL 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.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Unilever (UL)
Metric	CL	UL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.33	-0.44
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.49	-0.64

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 267.37% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Unilever (UL) at 31.87% also sits in the top quartile.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

267.37%

CL: 267.37%
Max: 42.18%
Q3: 30.68%
Median: 15.51%
Q1: -0.54%
Min: -20.43%

UL

Household & Personal Products industry group

31.87%

Max: 42.18%
UL: 31.87%
Q3: 30.68%
Median: 15.51%
Q1: -0.54%
Min: -20.43%

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Unilever (UL): A comparison of their ROE against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Unilever (UL) at 18.32% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 9.68%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

9.68%

Max: 18.44%
Q3: 11.31%
CL: 9.68%
Median: 7.12%
Q1: 0.51%
Min: -9.20%

UL

Household & Personal Products industry group

18.32%

Max: 18.44%
UL: 18.32%
Q3: 11.31%
Median: 7.12%
Q1: 0.51%
Min: -9.20%

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Unilever (UL): A comparison of their net margin against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 20.97% and Unilever (UL) at 20.35% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

20.97%

Max: 24.77%
CL: 20.97%
Q3: 19.31%
Median: 14.31%
Q1: 11.80%
Min: 8.81%

UL

Household & Personal Products industry group

20.35%

Max: 24.77%
UL: 20.35%
Q3: 19.31%
Median: 14.31%
Q1: 11.80%
Min: 8.81%

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Unilever (UL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Unilever (UL)
Metric	CL	UL
ROE (TTM)	267.37%	31.87%
ROA (TTM)	15.84%	8.29%
Net Margin (TTM)	9.68%	18.32%
Operating Margin (TTM)	20.97%	20.35%
Gross Margin (TTM)	60.43%	47.07%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 1.40% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Unilever (UL) at -3.77% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Unilever (UL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Unilever (UL) at 67.69% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at -25.07% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in earnings momentum.

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Unilever (UL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Unilever (UL)
Metric	CL	UL
Revenue Growth (YoY)	1.40%	-3.77%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.29%	-5.62%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-25.07%	67.69%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	7.28%	8.70%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 1.03 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Unilever (UL) at 0.74 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for UL.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

1.03

Max: 4.06
Q3: 3.23
Median: 1.85
CL: 1.03
Q1: 1.01
Min: 0.66

UL

Household & Personal Products industry group

0.74

Max: 4.06
Q3: 3.23
Median: 1.85
Q1: 1.01
UL: 0.74
Min: 0.66

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Unilever (UL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Unilever (UL) at 1.75 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 13.88 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

13.88

CL: 13.88
Max: 3.49
Q3: 1.82
Median: 0.80
Q1: 0.42
Min: 0.06

UL

Household & Personal Products industry group

1.75

Max: 3.49
Q3: 1.82
UL: 1.75
Median: 0.80
Q1: 0.42
Min: 0.06

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Unilever (UL): 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 Unilever (UL)
Metric	CL	UL
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.03	0.74
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	13.88	1.75
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.29	2.41

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Unilever (UL) at 3.01% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 2.25% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, UL the richer one.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

2.25%

Max: 5.29%
Q3: 2.91%
CL: 2.25%
Median: 1.40%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

UL

Household & Personal Products industry group

3.01%

Max: 5.29%
UL: 3.01%
Q3: 2.91%
Median: 1.40%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Unilever (UL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Unilever (UL) at 78.60% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 82.28% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

82.28%

Max: 103.12%
CL: 82.28%
Q3: 81.36%
Median: 47.99%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

UL

Household & Personal Products industry group

78.60%

Max: 103.12%
Q3: 81.36%
UL: 78.60%
Median: 47.99%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Unilever (UL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Unilever (UL)
Metric	CL	UL
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.25%	3.01%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	82.28%	78.60%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Unilever (UL) at 20.98 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 36.20 sits in the richer quartile — CL needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

36.20

CL: 36.20
Max: 36.20
Q3: 24.73
Median: 21.81
Q1: 16.57
Min: 7.57

UL

Household & Personal Products industry group

20.98

Max: 36.20
Q3: 24.73
Median: 21.81
UL: 20.98
Q1: 16.57
Min: 7.57

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Unilever (UL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Unilever (UL) at 2.64 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 3.48 sits in the pricier quartile — CL costs more per dollar of sales.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

3.48

Max: 4.75
CL: 3.48
Q3: 3.28
Median: 2.00
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.07

UL

Household & Personal Products industry group

2.64

Max: 4.75
Q3: 3.28
UL: 2.64
Median: 2.00
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.07

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Unilever (UL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Unilever (UL) at 7.15 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Colgate-Palmolive (CL) at 310.64 prices above its benchmark range — CL looks rich relative to book.

CL

Household & Personal Products industry group

310.64

CL: 310.64
Max: 11.05
Q3: 7.77
Median: 3.83
Q1: 1.41
Min: -2.72

UL

Household & Personal Products industry group

7.15

Max: 11.05
Q3: 7.77
UL: 7.15
Median: 3.83
Q1: 1.41
Min: -2.72

Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Unilever (UL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Household & Personal Products industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and Unilever (UL)
Metric	CL	UL
P/E Ratio (TTM)	36.20	20.98
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.48	2.64
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	310.64	7.15
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	4.72%	5.04%