Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) 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 | CL | 1.4% revenue growth vs KVUE's 0.1% |
| Value | KVUE | Lower P/E (17.0x vs 25.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | CL | 10.5% net margin vs KVUE's 9.5% |
| Stability / Safety | CL | Beta 0.02 vs KVUE's 0.22 |
| Dividends | KVUE | 4.2% yield, vs CL's 2.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CL | +11.0% vs KVUE's -15.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CL | 13.0% ROA vs KVUE's 5.3%, ROIC 43.4% vs 7.8% |
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
Kenvue is a consumer health company that sells over-the-counter medications, skincare products, and essential health items through well-known brands like Tylenol, Neutrogena, and Band-Aid. It generates revenue primarily from three segments: Self Care (pain relief, allergy, digestive health), Skin Health and Beauty (skincare, haircare), and Essential Health (oral care, baby care, wound care) — each contributing roughly one-third of sales. The company's key advantage is its portfolio of trusted, household-name brands with decades of consumer loyalty and recognition.
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
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
CL leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). KVUE leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
CL and KVUE operate at a comparable scale, with $20.4B and $15.0B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 10.5% (CL) to 9.5% (KVUE). On growth, CL holds the edge at +5.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | KVUEKenvue Inc. | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $15.0B | $20.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.9B | $3.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.4B | $2.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.6B | $3.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +58.1% | +60.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.7% | +21.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.5% | +10.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +10.9% | +17.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.5% | +5.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.0% | -105.1% |
Valuation Metrics
At 35.4x trailing earnings, KVUE trades at a 6% valuation discount to CL's 37.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CL's 17.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than KVUE's 18.0x.
| Metric | KVUEKenvue Inc. | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $36.6B | $79.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $44.3B | $86.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 35.41x | 37.70x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 17.05x | 25.66x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 17.98x | 17.40x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.37x | 3.92x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.80x | 220.31x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 27.44x | 21.99x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CL delivers a 5.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $6 in annual profit, vs $13 for KVUE. KVUE carries lower financial leverage with a 0.90x 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 KVUE's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | KVUEKenvue Inc. | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +13.5% | +5.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.3% | +13.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.8% | +43.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +8.7% | +41.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.90x | 21.88x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $7.6B | $6.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.1B | $1.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $8.7B | $8.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 5.22x | 12.37x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in CL five years ago would be worth $14,394 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,941 for KVUE. Over the past 12 months, CL leads with a +11.0% total return vs KVUE's -15.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CL at 12.8% vs KVUE's -7.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | KVUEKenvue Inc. | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +11.6% | +28.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -15.5% | +11.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -20.6% | +43.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -20.6% | +43.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -20.6% | +78.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -7.4% | +12.8% |
Risk & Volatility
CL is the less volatile stock with a 0.02 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than KVUE's 0.22 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 KVUE's 76.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | KVUEKenvue Inc. | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.22x | 0.02x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $25.17 | $100.18 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $14.02 | $74.55 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +76.0% | +99.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 69.2 | 68.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 41.1M | 5.7M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates KVUE as "Hold" and CL as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply -2.9% upside for KVUE (target: $19) vs -6.7% for CL (target: $92). For income investors, KVUE offers the higher dividend yield at 4.22% vs CL's 2.27%.
| Metric | KVUEKenvue Inc. | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $18.57 | $92.45 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 14 | 43 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.2% | +2.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 5 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.81 | $2.25 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.6% | +1.5% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | May 23 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) | 100 | 64.61 | -35.4% |
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | 100 | 122.68 | +22.7% |
Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) returned +44% over 5 years vs Kenvue Inc. (KVUE)'s -21%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) | $14.5B | $15.5B | +6.8% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) | -6.1% | 6.7% | +209.7% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | 33.1 | 30 | -9.4% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) | -0.47 | 0.54 | +214.9% |
| 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
Kenvue Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2024 (+3323% vs 2021). Colgate-Palmolive Company generated $4B FCF in 2025 (+32% vs 2021).
KVUE vs CL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is KVUE or CL a better buy right now?
Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) offers the better valuation at 35.4x trailing P/E (17.0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) a "Hold" — based on 14 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 — KVUE or CL?
On trailing P/E, Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) is the cheapest at 35.4x versus Colgate-Palmolive Company at 37.7x. On forward P/E, Kenvue Inc. is actually cheaper at 17.0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — KVUE or CL?
Over the past 5 years, Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) delivered a total return of +43.9%, compared to -20.6% for Kenvue Inc. (KVUE). 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 KVUE's -20.6%. 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 — KVUE or CL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.02β versus Kenvue Inc.'s 0.22β — meaning KVUE is approximately 1177% more volatile than CL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 90% versus 22% for Colgate-Palmolive Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — KVUE or CL?
Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is the more profitable company, earning 10.5% net margin versus 6.7% for Kenvue Inc. — 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 11.9% for KVUE. 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 KVUE or CL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) trades at 17.0x forward P/E versus 25.7x for Colgate-Palmolive Company — 8.6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KVUE: -2.9% to $18.57.
07Which pays a better dividend — KVUE or CL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) offers the highest yield at 4.2%, versus 2.3% for Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL).
08Is KVUE or CL 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%, KVUE: -20.6%), 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 KVUE 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. In terms of investment character: KVUE is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; CL is a mid-cap quality compounder 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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