CL
Colgate-Palmolive Company
Household & Personal Products
Market Cap$69.26B
5Y Perf.+21.9%
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Stock Comparison
CL vs KMB
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
KMB
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Household & Personal Products
Market Cap$32.26B
5Y Perf.-29.9%
CL vs KMB — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CL | KMB |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Household & Personal Products | Household & Personal Products |
| Market Cap | $69.26B | $32.26B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $20.38B | $16.54B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.13B | $2.12B |
| Gross Margin | 60.1% | 35.9% |
| Operating Margin | 21.3% | 13.3% |
| Forward P/E | 23.1x | 13.2x |
| Total Debt | $7.99B | $7.17B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.29B | $688M |
CL vs KMB — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CL
KMB
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | 100 | 121.9 | +21.9% |
| Kimberly-Clark Corp… (KMB) | 100 | 70.1 | -29.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CL vs KMB
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: KMB leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Colgate-Palmolive Company is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CL
Colgate-Palmolive Company
The Growth Play
CL is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 1.4%, EPS growth -25.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 4.3%
- 46.2% 10Y total return vs KMB's 11.0%
- Lower volatility, beta -0.00, current ratio 1.00x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
KMB
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
The Income Pick
KMB carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability.
- Dividend streak 27 yrs, beta 0.14, yield 5.1%
- Lower P/E (13.2x vs 23.1x)
- 12.8% margin vs CL's 10.5%
Best for: income & stability
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CL | 1.4% revenue growth vs KMB's -14.2% |
| Value | KMB | Lower P/E (13.2x vs 23.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | KMB | 12.8% margin vs CL's 10.5% |
| Stability / Safety | KMB | Lower D/E ratio (433.9% vs 21.9%) |
| Dividends | KMB | 5.1% yield, 27-year raise streak, vs CL's 2.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CL | -2.6% vs KMB's -21.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CL | 12.5% ROA vs KMB's 12.5%, ROIC 43.4% vs 23.3% |
CL vs KMB — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
CL vs KMB — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCLLAGGINGKMB
KMBKimberly-Clark Corpor…
2leads
CLColgate-Palmolive Com…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs KMBMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CL4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
KMB5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CL6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
CL6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
CL2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
KMB2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CL and KMB operate at a comparable scale, with $20.4B and $16.5B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 12.8% (KMB) to 10.5% (CL). On growth, CL holds the edge at +5.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CLColgate-Palmolive… | KMBKimberly-Clark Co… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $20.4B | $16.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $3.9B | $2.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.1B | $2.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $3.6B | $2.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +60.1% | +35.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +21.3% | +13.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.5% | +12.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +17.8% | +15.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.8% | -14.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -105.1% | +17.6% |
CL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
KMB leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 16.0x trailing earnings, KMB trades at a 51% valuation discount to CL's 32.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, KMB's 12.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CL's 15.3x.
| Metric | CLColgate-Palmolive… | KMBKimberly-Clark Co… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $69.3B | $32.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $76.0B | $38.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 32.83x | 16.01x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 23.09x | 13.20x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 15.26x | 12.48x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.40x | 1.87x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 191.84x | 19.60x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 19.06x | 19.69x |
KMB leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CL leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CL delivers a 2.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $3 in annual profit, vs $132 for KMB. KMB carries lower financial leverage with a 4.34x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CL's 21.88x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CL scores 6/9 vs KMB's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | CLColgate-Palmolive… | KMBKimberly-Clark Co… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +2.5% | +131.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +12.5% | +12.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +43.4% | +23.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +41.6% | +25.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 21.88x | 4.34x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $6.7B | $6.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.3B | $688M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $8.0B | $7.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 12.37x | 9.67x |
CL leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CL five years ago would be worth $11,816 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,939 for KMB. Over the past 12 months, CL leads with a -2.6% total return vs KMB's -21.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CL at 4.7% vs KMB's -8.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CLColgate-Palmolive… | KMBKimberly-Clark Co… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +12.5% | -2.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -2.6% | -21.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +14.6% | -22.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +18.2% | -10.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +46.2% | +11.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +4.7% | -8.3% |
CL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CL is the less volatile stock with a -0.00 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than KMB's 0.14 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CL currently trades 86.9% from its 52-week high vs KMB's 67.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CLColgate-Palmolive… | KMBKimberly-Clark Co… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.00x | 0.14x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $99.33 | $144.31 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $74.55 | $92.42 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +86.9% | +67.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.1 | 42.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.6M | 4.8M |
CL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
KMB leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CL as "Hold" and KMB as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 13.2% upside for KMB (target: $110) vs 8.5% for CL (target: $94). For income investors, KMB offers the higher dividend yield at 5.13% vs CL's 2.60%.
| Metric | CLColgate-Palmolive… | KMBKimberly-Clark Co… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $93.70 | $110.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 45 | 31 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.6% | +5.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 5 | 27 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.25 | $4.98 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.7% | +0.4% |
KMB leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
CL leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). KMB leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook).
Best OverallColgate-Palmolive Company (CL)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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CL vs KMB: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CL or KMB a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is the stronger pick with 1.
4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -14. 2% for Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB). Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) offers the better valuation at 16. 0x trailing P/E (13. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) a "Hold" — based on 45 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — CL or KMB?
On trailing P/E, Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) is the cheapest at 16.
0x versus Colgate-Palmolive Company at 32. 8x. On forward P/E, Kimberly-Clark Corporation is actually cheaper at 13. 2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CL or KMB?
Over the past 5 years, Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) delivered a total return of +18.
2%, compared to -10. 6% for Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CL returned +48. 0% versus KMB's +12. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — CL or KMB?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is the lower-risk stock at -0.
00β versus Kimberly-Clark Corporation's 0. 14β — meaning KMB is approximately -3332% more volatile than CL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 22% for Colgate-Palmolive Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CL or KMB?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is pulling ahead at 1.
4% versus -14. 2% for Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Kimberly-Clark Corporation grew EPS -19. 6% year-over-year, compared to -25. 1% for Colgate-Palmolive Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, CL leads at 4. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — CL or KMB?
Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) is the more profitable company, earning 11.
7% net margin versus 10. 5% for Colgate-Palmolive Company — meaning it keeps 11. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CL leads at 21. 3% versus 14. 5% for KMB. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CL leads at 60. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is CL or KMB more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) trades at 13.
2x forward P/E versus 23. 1x for Colgate-Palmolive Company — 9. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KMB: 13. 2% to $110. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — CL or KMB?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) offers the highest yield at 5. 1%, versus 2. 6% for Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL).
09Is CL or KMB better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.
00), 2. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CL: +48. 0%, KMB: +12. 1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between CL and KMB?
Both stocks operate in the Consumer Defensive sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: CL is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; KMB is a mid-cap deep-value stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(CL: 5.8% · KMB: -14.0%)Net Margin>
%
(CL: 10.5% · KMB: 12.8%)P/E Ratio<
x
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