Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) vs Edgewell Personal Care Company (EPC) 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 | CL | 1.4% revenue growth vs EPC's -1.3% |
| Value | EPC | Lower P/E (11.8x vs 25.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | CL | 10.5% net margin vs EPC's -1.8% |
| Stability / Safety | CL | Beta 0.02 vs EPC's 0.62 |
| Dividends | CL | 2.3% yield, 5-year raise streak, vs EPC's 2.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CL | +11.0% vs EPC's -25.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CL | 13.0% ROA vs EPC's -1.0%, ROIC 43.4% vs 2.6% |
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
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.
Edgewell Personal Care is a consumer goods company that manufactures and sells personal care products across three main categories. It generates revenue primarily from wet shave products (~50% of sales), sun and skin care (~30%), and feminine care products (~20%) under brands like Schick, Banana Boat, and Playtex. The company's competitive advantage lies in its portfolio of established, trusted brands with strong shelf presence in retail channels worldwide.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
CL leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). EPC leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
CL is the larger business by revenue, generating $20.4B annually — 9.4x EPC's $2.2B. CL is the more profitable business, keeping 10.5% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to EPC's -1.8%. On growth, CL holds the edge at +5.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CLColgate-Palmolive… | EPCEdgewell Personal… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $20.4B | $2.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $3.9B | $164M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.1B | -$38M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $3.6B | $36M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +60.1% | +41.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +21.3% | +3.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.5% | -1.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +17.8% | +1.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.8% | -11.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -105.1% | -31.7% |
Valuation Metrics
At 37.7x trailing earnings, CL trades at a 12% valuation discount to EPC's 42.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, EPC's 12.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CL's 17.4x.
| Metric | CLColgate-Palmolive… | EPCEdgewell Personal… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $79.9B | $1.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $86.6B | $2.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 37.70x | 42.91x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 25.66x | 11.82x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 17.40x | 12.83x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.92x | 0.48x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 220.31x | 0.70x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 21.99x | 25.66x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CL delivers a 5.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $6 in annual profit, vs $-3 for EPC. EPC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.99x 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 EPC's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | CLColgate-Palmolive… | EPCEdgewell Personal… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.8% | -2.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +13.0% | -1.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +43.4% | +2.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +41.6% | +3.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 21.88x | 0.99x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $6.7B | $1.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.3B | $226M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $8.0B | $1.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 12.37x | 0.84x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in CL five years ago would be worth $14,394 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,327 for EPC. Over the past 12 months, CL leads with a +11.0% total return vs EPC's -25.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CL at 12.8% vs EPC's -16.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CLColgate-Palmolive… | EPCEdgewell Personal… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +28.3% | +34.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +11.0% | -25.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +43.4% | -42.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +43.9% | -16.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +78.5% | -66.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +12.8% | -16.9% |
Risk & Volatility
CL is the less volatile stock with a 0.02 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than EPC's 0.62 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CL currently trades 99.0% from its 52-week high vs EPC's 69.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CLColgate-Palmolive… | EPCEdgewell Personal… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.02x | 0.62x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $100.18 | $32.96 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $74.55 | $15.88 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.0% | +69.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 68.5 | 72.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.7M | 558K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CL as "Hold" and EPC as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply -0.3% upside for EPC (target: $23) vs -6.7% for CL (target: $92). For income investors, EPC offers the higher dividend yield at 2.71% vs CL's 2.27%.
| Metric | CLColgate-Palmolive… | EPCEdgewell Personal… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $92.45 | $22.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 43 | 17 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.3% | +2.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 5 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.25 | $0.62 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.5% | +8.5% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | 100 | 126.85 | +26.8% |
| Edgewell Personal C… (EPC) | 100 | 59.89 | -40.1% |
Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) returned +44% over 5 years vs Edgewell Personal C… (EPC)'s -17%. A $10,000 investment in CL 5 years ago would be worth $14,394 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | $15.2B | $20.4B | +34.1% |
| Edgewell Personal C… (EPC) | $2.4B | $2.2B | -5.9% |
Colgate-Palmolive Company's revenue grew from $15.2B (2016) to $20.4B (2025) — a 3.3% CAGR. Edgewell Personal Care Company's revenue grew from $2.4B (2016) to $2.2B (2025) — a -0.7% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | 16.1% | 10.5% | -34.9% |
| Edgewell Personal C… (EPC) | 7.6% | 1.1% | -84.9% |
Colgate-Palmolive Company's net margin went from 16% (2016) to 10% (2025). Edgewell Personal Care Company's net margin went from 8% (2016) to 1% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | 33.1 | 30 | -9.4% |
| Edgewell Personal C… (EPC) | 19.7 | 32.2 | +63.5% |
Colgate-Palmolive Company has traded in a 22x–37x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~38x. Edgewell Personal Care Company has traded in a 17x–32x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~43x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | 2.72 | 2.63 | -3.3% |
| Edgewell Personal C… (EPC) | 2.99 | 0.53 | -82.3% |
Colgate-Palmolive Company's EPS grew from $2.72 (2016) to $2.63 (2025) — a -0% CAGR. Edgewell Personal Care Company's EPS grew from $2.99 (2016) to $0.53 (2025) — a -17% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Colgate-Palmolive Company generated $4B FCF in 2025 (+32% vs 2021). Edgewell Personal Care Company generated $41M FCF in 2025 (-76% vs 2021).
CL vs EPC: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CL or EPC a better buy right now?
Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) offers the better valuation at 37.7x trailing P/E (25.7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) a "Hold" — based on 43 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 EPC?
On trailing P/E, Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is the cheapest at 37.7x versus Edgewell Personal Care Company at 42.9x. On forward P/E, Edgewell Personal Care Company is actually cheaper at 11.8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CL or EPC?
Over the past 5 years, Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) delivered a total return of +43.9%, compared to -16.7% for Edgewell Personal Care Company (EPC). A $10,000 investment in CL five years ago would be worth approximately $14K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CL returned +78.5% versus EPC's -66.1%. 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 EPC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.02β versus Edgewell Personal Care Company's 0.62β — meaning EPC is approximately 3517% more volatile than CL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Edgewell Personal Care Company (EPC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 99% versus 22% for Colgate-Palmolive Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — CL or EPC?
Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is the more profitable company, earning 10.5% net margin versus 1.1% for Edgewell Personal Care Company — 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 4.3% for EPC. 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.
06Is CL or EPC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Edgewell Personal Care Company (EPC) trades at 11.8x forward P/E versus 25.7x for Colgate-Palmolive Company — 13.8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EPC: -0.3% to $22.67.
07Which pays a better dividend — CL or EPC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Edgewell Personal Care Company (EPC) offers the highest yield at 2.7%, versus 2.3% for Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL).
08Is CL or EPC 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 0.02), 2.3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CL: +78.5%, EPC: -66.1%), 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.
09What are the main differences between CL and EPC?
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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