01—Abstract
Summary
Summary of the 10-Q filed October 30, 2026. Cited figures are marked; the original filing is the authoritative source.
Colgate-Palmolive Company reported solid financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, with net sales increasing by 6.0% to $16,055 milliona compared to the same period in 2025.
This growth was driven by a combination of volume increases, net selling price adjustments, and positive foreign exchange impacts. The company demonstrated resilience despite ongoing global macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges, which it continues to monitor closely. Despite increased raw and packaging material costs, Colgate-Palmolive managed to improve its gross profit margin to 60.8%b for the nine-month period.
The company is actively implementing its Strategic Growth and Productivity Program, which is expected to yield significant savings while also incurring charges in the near term. Diluted earnings per share for the nine months decreased slightly to $2.61c from $2.67 in the prior year, impacted by these restructuring charges, but on a non-GAAP basis, excluding these items, EPS increased by 7% to $2.94. The company also continued its commitment to shareholder returns through dividend payments and share repurchases.
02—Key points
Key Highlights
- Net sales increased by 6.0% to $16,055 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, compared to the prior year period.
- Gross profit margin improved to 60.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, up from 60.1% in the prior year period, driven by cost savings and pricing strategies.
- The company is executing its Strategic Growth and Productivity Program, which is projected to deliver substantial annualized pre-tax savings of $200-$300 million.
- Diluted EPS was $2.61 for the nine months, down from $2.68 in the prior year, but adjusted non-GAAP EPS increased by 7% to $2.94, reflecting the impact of restructuring charges.
- The Hill's Pet Nutrition segment showed strong performance with net sales up 5.2% for the nine months, indicating continued demand in the pet food category.
- Colgate-Palmolive repurchased approximately 3.68 million shares of common stock during the third quarter of 2026, demonstrating a commitment to returning capital to shareholders.
- Operating profit for the nine months was $3,069 million, a decrease of 5% year-over-year, primarily impacted by restructuring charges within Corporate.
03—One dollar
Follow one dollar
Of each $1.00 of revenue in Q3 FY2026, Colgate-Palmolive kept $0.14.
- Revenue$5.37B100.0%
- Cost of revenue−$2.14B39.8%
- Gross profit$3.23B60.2%
- Operating costs−$2.15B40.0%
- Operating income$1.09B20.3%
- Interest, other & tax−$337.0M6.3%
- Net income$751.0M14.0%
04—Financials
Financial Highlights
Figures from 10-QQ3 FY2026filed October 30, 2026Financial Statements
Q3 FY2026 against Q3 FY2025
| Line item | Q3 FY2026Q3 FY2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $5.37B$5.13B | +4.6% |
| Cost of Revenue | $2.14B$2.08B | +2.6% |
| Gross Profit | $3.23B$3.05B | +6.0% |
| SG&A Expenses | $2.11B$1.97B | +7.1% |
| Operating Income | $1.09B$1.06B | +2.7% |
| Net Income | $751.00M$735.00M | +2.2% |
| EPS (Basic) | $0.94$0.91 | +3.3% |
| EPS (Diluted) | $0.94$0.91 | +3.3% |
| Shares Outstanding (Basic) | 796.90M807.80M | −1.3% |
| Shares Outstanding (Diluted) | 799.70M810.20M | −1.3% |
05—Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Colgate-Palmolive's net sales perform in the reported period?
For the nine months ended September 30, 2026, Colgate-Palmolive reported a 6.0% increase in net sales, reaching $16,055 million, compared to $15,152 million in the same period of 2025. This growth was driven by volume, pricing, and favorable foreign exchange.
What is the impact of the Strategic Growth and Productivity Program on the company's financials?
The Strategic Growth and Productivity Program, which aims to optimize operations and reduce costs, incurred pre-tax charges of $333 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2026. While these charges impacted reported net income and EPS, the program is expected to generate annualized pre-tax savings of $200-$300 million once fully implemented. Excluding these charges, the company's non-GAAP performance showed significant improvement.
How is the Hill's Pet Nutrition segment performing?
The Hill's Pet Nutrition segment demonstrated strong growth, with net sales increasing by 5.2% to $3,594 million for the first nine months of 2026 compared to the prior year. This growth was fueled by price increases and volume, with organic sales up 3.3%.
What are the key risks and challenges facing Colgate-Palmolive?
Colgate-Palmolive faces ongoing challenges including global macroeconomic and geopolitical instability, fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates, higher raw and packaging material costs, and intense competition. The company actively monitors these factors and implements strategies to mitigate their impact.
06—Continue