Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Unilever PLC (UL) vs Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | UL | 1.9% revenue growth vs CL's 1.4% |
| Value | UL | Lower P/E (19.6x vs 25.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | CL | 10.5% net margin vs UL's 10.2% |
| Stability / Safety | CL | Beta 0.02 vs UL's 0.03 |
| Dividends | UL | 2.8% yield, vs CL's 2.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | UL | +35.3% vs CL's +11.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | UL | 16.0% ROA vs CL's 13.0%, ROIC 15.3% vs 43.4% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Unilever is a global consumer goods giant selling everyday household and personal care products through a vast portfolio of trusted brands. It generates revenue primarily from three segments: Beauty & Personal Care (~40% of sales), Foods & Refreshment (~35%), and Home Care (~25%), with strong emerging markets exposure. Its competitive moat lies in its massive scale, extensive distribution network, and portfolio of iconic brands that command consumer loyalty across price points.
Colgate-Palmolive is a global consumer goods company that manufactures and sells oral care, personal care, home care, and pet nutrition products. It generates revenue primarily from its Oral, Personal and Home Care segment — which contributes roughly 85% of sales — and its Pet Nutrition segment, which makes up the remaining 15%. The company's competitive advantage lies in its powerful global brand portfolio, particularly the dominant Colgate brand in oral care, and its extensive distribution network reaching over 200 countries.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
CL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). UL leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
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 | ULUnilever PLC | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $120.1B | $20.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $21.7B | $3.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $12.2B | $2.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $14.5B | $3.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +71.3% | +60.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.8% | +21.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.2% | +10.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +12.1% | +17.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.2% | +5.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.4% | -105.1% |
Valuation Metrics
At 27.3x trailing earnings, UL trades at a 28% valuation discount to CL's 37.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, UL's 14.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CL's 17.4x.
| Metric | ULUnilever PLC | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $161.1B | $79.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $190.1B | $86.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 27.30x | 37.70x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 19.61x | 25.66x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 20.02x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.44x | 17.40x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.25x | 3.92x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 6.95x | 220.31x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 17.56x | 21.99x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CL delivers a 5.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $6 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 | ULUnilever PLC | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +61.2% | +5.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +16.0% | +13.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +15.3% | +43.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +17.7% | +41.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.36x | 21.88x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $24.5B | $6.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $6.1B | $1.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $30.7B | $8.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 20.96x | 12.37x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in UL five years ago would be worth $16,056 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,394 for CL. Over the past 12 months, UL leads with a +35.3% total return vs CL's +11.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors UL at 17.1% vs CL's 12.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ULUnilever PLC | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +14.2% | +28.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +35.3% | +11.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +60.8% | +43.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +60.6% | +43.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +120.1% | +78.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +17.1% | +12.8% |
Risk & Volatility
CL is the less volatile stock with a 0.02 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than UL's 0.03 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ULUnilever PLC | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.03x | 0.02x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $74.98 | $100.18 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $56.20 | $74.55 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.4% | +99.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 61.8 | 68.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.7M | 5.7M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates UL as "Hold" and CL as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply -6.7% upside for CL (target: $92) vs -11.1% for UL (target: $66). For income investors, UL offers the higher dividend yield at 2.76% vs CL's 2.27%.
| Metric | ULUnilever PLC | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $65.55 | $92.45 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 35 | 43 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.8% | +2.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 5 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.72 | $2.25 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.1% | +1.5% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unilever PLC (UL) | 100 | 123.18 | +23.2% |
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | 100 | 126.85 | +26.8% |
Unilever PLC (UL) returned +61% over 5 years vs Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL)'s +44%. A $10,000 investment in UL 5 years ago would be worth $16,056 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unilever PLC (UL) | $52.7B | $60.8B | +15.3% |
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | $15.2B | $20.4B | +34.1% |
Colgate-Palmolive Company's revenue grew from $15.2B (2016) to $20.4B (2025) — a 3.3% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unilever PLC (UL) | 9.8% | 9.5% | -3.9% |
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | 16.1% | 10.5% | -34.9% |
Colgate-Palmolive Company's net margin went from 16% (2016) to 10% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unilever PLC (UL) | 25.9 | 24.8 | -4.2% |
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | 33.1 | 30 | -9.4% |
Unilever PLC has traded in a 15x–29x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~27x. Colgate-Palmolive Company has traded in a 22x–37x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~38x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unilever PLC (UL) | 1.82 | 2.29 | +25.8% |
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | 2.72 | 2.63 | -3.3% |
Colgate-Palmolive Company's EPS grew from $2.72 (2016) to $2.63 (2025) — a -0% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Unilever PLC generated $8B FCF in 2024 (+13% vs 2021). Colgate-Palmolive Company generated $4B FCF in 2025 (+32% vs 2021).
UL vs CL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is UL or CL a better buy right now?
Unilever PLC (UL) offers the better valuation at 27.3x trailing P/E (19.6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Unilever PLC (UL) a "Hold" — based on 35 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 — UL or CL?
On trailing P/E, Unilever PLC (UL) is the cheapest at 27.3x versus Colgate-Palmolive Company at 37.7x. On forward P/E, Unilever PLC is actually cheaper at 19.6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — UL or CL?
Over the past 5 years, Unilever PLC (UL) delivered a total return of +60.6%, compared to +43.9% for Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL). A $10,000 investment in UL five years ago would be worth approximately $16K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UL returned +120.1% versus CL's +78.5%. 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 — UL or CL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.02β versus Unilever PLC's 0.03β — meaning UL is approximately 78% 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 has better profit margins — UL or CL?
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.
06Is UL or CL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Unilever PLC (UL) trades at 19.6x forward P/E versus 25.7x for Colgate-Palmolive Company — 6.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CL: -6.7% to $92.45.
07Which pays a better dividend — UL or CL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Unilever PLC (UL) offers the highest yield at 2.8%, versus 2.3% for Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL).
08Is UL or CL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Unilever PLC (UL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.03), 2.8% yield, +120.1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (UL: +120.1%, CL: +78.5%), 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.
09What are the main differences between UL and CL?
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. 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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