CL
Colgate-Palmolive Company
Household & Personal Products
Market Cap$69.26B
5Y Perf.+19.4%
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Stock Comparison
CL vs UL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
UL
Unilever PLC
Household & Personal Products
Market Cap$127.64B
5Y Perf.+8.1%
CL vs UL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CL | UL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Household & Personal Products | Household & Personal Products |
| Market Cap | $69.26B | $127.64B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $20.38B | $120.06B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.13B | $12.20B |
| Gross Margin | 60.1% | 71.3% |
| Operating Margin | 21.3% | 15.8% |
| Forward P/E | 22.6x | 18.5x |
| Total Debt | $7.99B | $30.66B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.29B | $6.14B |
CL vs UL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CL
UL
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | 100 | 119.4 | +19.4% |
| Unilever PLC (UL) | 100 | 108.1 | +8.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CL vs UL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: UL leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Colgate-Palmolive Company is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CL
Colgate-Palmolive Company
The Defensive Pick
CL is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night and defensive.
- Lower volatility, beta -0.00, current ratio 1.00x
- Beta -0.00, yield 2.6%, current ratio 1.00x
- 10.5% margin vs UL's 10.2%
Best for: sleep-well-at-night and defensive
UL
Unilever PLC
The Income Pick
UL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.05, yield 3.4%
- Rev growth 1.9%, EPS growth -10.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 5.0%
- 74.7% 10Y total return vs CL's 46.2%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | UL | 1.9% revenue growth vs CL's 1.4% |
| Value | UL | Lower P/E (18.5x vs 22.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | CL | 10.5% margin vs UL's 10.2% |
| Stability / Safety | UL | Lower D/E ratio (135.9% vs 21.9%) |
| Dividends | CL | 2.6% yield, 5-year raise streak, vs UL's 3.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CL | -2.6% vs UL's -4.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | UL | 16.0% ROA vs CL's 12.5%, ROIC 15.3% vs 43.4% |
CL vs UL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
Segment breakdown not available.
CL vs UL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCLLAGGINGUL
ULUnilever PLC
1leads
CLColgate-Palmolive Com…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ULMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CL4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
UL6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CL6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
CL2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
UL is the larger business by revenue, generating $120.1B annually — 5.9x CL's $20.4B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 10.5% (CL) to 10.2% (UL). On growth, CL holds the edge at +5.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CLColgate-Palmolive… | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $20.4B | $120.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $3.9B | $21.7B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.1B | $12.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $3.6B | $14.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +60.1% | +71.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +21.3% | +15.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.5% | +10.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +17.8% | +12.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.8% | -3.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -105.1% | -3.4% |
CL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
UL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 21.8x trailing earnings, UL trades at a 33% valuation discount to CL's 32.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, UL's 12.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CL's 15.3x.
| Metric | CLColgate-Palmolive… | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $69.3B | $127.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $76.0B | $156.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 32.83x | 21.83x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 22.61x | 18.46x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 16.00x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 15.26x | 11.99x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.40x | 1.80x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 191.84x | 5.56x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 19.06x | 14.04x |
UL leads this category, winning 6 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 $61 for UL. UL carries lower financial leverage with a 1.36x 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 UL's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | CLColgate-Palmolive… | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +2.5% | +61.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +12.5% | +16.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +43.4% | +15.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +41.6% | +17.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 21.88x | 1.36x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $6.7B | $24.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.3B | $6.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $8.0B | $30.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 12.37x | 20.96x |
CL leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — CL and UL each lead in 3 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 $11,724 for UL. Over the past 12 months, CL leads with a -2.6% total return vs UL's -4.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors UL at 5.3% vs CL's 4.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CLColgate-Palmolive… | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +12.5% | -9.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -2.6% | -4.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +14.6% | +16.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +18.2% | +17.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +46.2% | +74.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +4.7% | +5.3% |
Evenly matched — CL and UL each lead in 3 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 UL's 0.05 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 UL's 77.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CLColgate-Palmolive… | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.00x | 0.05x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $99.33 | $74.98 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $74.55 | $54.95 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +86.9% | +77.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.1 | 48.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.6M | 4.6M |
CL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — CL and UL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CL as "Hold" and UL as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 12.2% upside for UL (target: $66) vs 8.5% for CL (target: $94). For income investors, UL offers the higher dividend yield at 3.45% vs CL's 2.60%.
| Metric | CLColgate-Palmolive… | ULUnilever PLC |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $93.70 | $65.55 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 45 | 35 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.6% | +3.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 5 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.25 | $1.72 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.7% | +1.4% |
Evenly matched — CL and UL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
CL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). UL leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallColgate-Palmolive Company (CL)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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CL vs UL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CL or UL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Unilever PLC (UL) is the stronger pick with 1.
9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 4% for Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL). Unilever PLC (UL) offers the better valuation at 21. 8x trailing P/E (18. 5x 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 UL?
On trailing P/E, Unilever PLC (UL) is the cheapest at 21.
8x versus Colgate-Palmolive Company at 32. 8x. On forward P/E, Unilever PLC is actually cheaper at 18. 5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CL or UL?
Over the past 5 years, Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) delivered a total return of +18.
2%, compared to +17. 2% for Unilever PLC (UL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UL returned +74. 7% versus CL's +46. 2%. 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 UL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is the lower-risk stock at -0.
00β versus Unilever PLC's 0. 05β — meaning UL is approximately -1252% more volatile than CL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Unilever PLC (UL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 136% versus 22% for Colgate-Palmolive Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CL or UL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Unilever PLC (UL) is pulling ahead at 1.
9% versus 1. 4% for Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Unilever PLC grew EPS -10. 5% year-over-year, compared to -25. 1% for Colgate-Palmolive Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, UL leads at 5. 0% 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 UL?
Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is the more profitable company, earning 10.
5% net margin versus 9. 5% for Unilever PLC — meaning it keeps 10. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CL leads at 21. 3% versus 15. 5% for UL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UL leads at 100. 0%, 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 UL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Unilever PLC (UL) trades at 18.
5x forward P/E versus 22. 6x for Colgate-Palmolive Company — 4. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UL: 12. 2% to $65. 55.
08Which pays a better dividend — CL or UL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Unilever PLC (UL) offers the highest yield at 3. 4%, versus 2. 6% for Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL).
09Is CL or UL 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: +46. 2%, UL: +74. 7%), 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 UL?
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; UL is a mid-cap income-oriented 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% · UL: -3.2%)Net Margin>
%
(CL: 10.5% · UL: 10.2%)P/E Ratio<
x
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