Household & Personal Products
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Side-by-side financial analysisStock Comparison
PG vs CL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Household & Personal Products
PG vs CL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Household & Personal Products | Household & Personal Products |
| Market Cap | $343.35B | $68.76B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $87.03B | $21.05B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $16.05B | $2.04B |
| Gross Margin | 50.2% | 60.4% |
| Operating Margin | 22.7% | 20.6% |
| Forward P/E | 21.1x | 22.2x |
| Total Debt | $34.14B | $7.99B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $9.94B | $1.29B |
PG vs CL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Sep 20 | Sep 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Procter & Gambl… (PG) | 100 | 106.1 | +6.1% |
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | 100 | 111.4 | +11.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PG vs CL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
PG carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 56 yrs, beta -0.04, yield 2.9%
- Rev growth 3.3%, EPS growth 1.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 2.0%
- 107.3% 10Y total return vs CL's 42.3%
CL is the clearest fit if your priority is momentum.
- +9.8% vs PG's -0.5%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 3.3% revenue growth vs CL's 1.4% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (21.0x vs 22.6x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 18.4% margin vs CL's 9.7% | |
| Stability / Safety | Lower D/E ratio (62.9% vs 21.9%) | |
| Dividends | 2.9% yield, 56-year raise streak, vs CL's 2.6% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +9.8% vs PG's -0.5% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 12.6% ROA vs CL's 12.1%, ROIC 18.9% vs 43.4% |
PG vs CL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
PG vs CL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PG is the larger business by revenue, generating $87.0B annually — 4.1x CL's $21.0B. PG is the more profitable business, keeping 18.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CL's 9.7%. On growth, CL holds the edge at +4.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $87.0B | $21.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $19.7B | $5.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $16.0B | $2.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $15.9B | $3.9B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +50.2% | +60.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +22.7% | +20.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +18.4% | +9.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +18.3% | +18.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +1.5% | +4.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -14.9% | -5.5% |
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — PG and CL each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 22.3x trailing earnings, PG trades at a 32% valuation discount to CL's 32.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CL's 15.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PG's 17.3x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $343.4B | $68.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $367.5B | $75.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 22.27x | 32.67x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 21.14x | 22.22x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 5.90x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 17.29x | 15.16x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.95x | 3.37x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 6.58x | 190.95x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 21.58x | 18.92x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CL leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CL delivers a 3.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $3 in annual profit, vs $30 for PG. PG carries lower financial leverage with a 0.63x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CL's 21.88x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +29.7% | +3.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +12.6% | +12.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +18.9% | +43.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +22.3% | +41.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.63x | 21.88x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $24.2B | $6.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $9.9B | $1.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $34.1B | $8.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 24.23x | 12.53x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CL five years ago would be worth $12,491 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,584 for PG. Over the past 12 months, CL leads with a +9.8% total return vs PG's -0.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CL at 8.4% vs PG's 2.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +6.3% | +12.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -0.5% | +9.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +6.0% | +27.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +15.8% | +24.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +107.3% | +42.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +2.0% | +8.4% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — PG and CL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CL is the less volatile stock with a -0.12 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PG's -0.04 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.04x | -0.12x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $167.25 | $99.33 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $137.62 | $74.55 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +88.2% | +86.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 57.9 | 40.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 8.4M | 4.7M |
Analyst Outlook
PG leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PG as "Buy" and CL as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 13.8% upside for CL (target: $98) vs 7.0% for PG (target: $158). For income investors, PG offers the higher dividend yield at 2.86% vs CL's 2.62%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $157.78 | $97.78 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 53 | 45 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.9% | +2.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 56 | 53 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $4.22 | $2.25 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.5% | +1.8% |
CL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). PG leads in 1 (Analyst Outlook). 2 tied.
Custom Comparison: PG vs CL
Compare on any lens — Growth, Value, Income, or pick from 130+ individual metrics.
PG vs CL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PG or CL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) is the stronger pick with 3.
3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 4% for Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL). The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) offers the better valuation at 22. 3x trailing P/E (21. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) a "Buy" — based on 53 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 — PG or CL?
On trailing P/E, The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) is the cheapest at 22.
3x versus Colgate-Palmolive Company at 32. 7x. On forward P/E, The Procter & Gamble Company is actually cheaper at 21. 1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PG or CL?
Over the past 5 years, Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) delivered a total return of +24.
9%, compared to +15. 8% for The Procter & Gamble Company (PG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PG returned +107. 3% versus CL's +42. 3%. 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 — PG or CL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is the lower-risk stock at -0.
12β versus The Procter & Gamble Company's -0. 04β — meaning PG is approximately -68% more volatile than CL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 63% versus 22% for Colgate-Palmolive Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PG or CL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) is pulling ahead at 3.
3% versus 1. 4% for Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Procter & Gamble Company grew EPS 1. 7% 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 — PG or CL?
The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) is the more profitable company, earning 18.
4% net margin versus 10. 5% for Colgate-Palmolive Company — meaning it keeps 18. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PG leads at 22. 7% versus 21. 3% for CL. 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 PG or CL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) trades at 21.
1x forward P/E versus 22. 2x for Colgate-Palmolive Company — 1. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CL: 13. 8% to $97. 78.
08Which pays a better dividend — PG or CL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) offers the highest yield at 2. 9%, versus 2. 6% for Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL).
09Is PG 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.
12), 2. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CL: +42. 3%, PG: +107. 3%), 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 PG 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.