Analyst Activity: Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL)

Analysts are weighing in on how Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL), might perform in the near term. Wall Street analysts have a much less favorable assessment of the stock, with a mean rating of 2.8. The stock is rated as buy by 3 analysts, with 1 outperform and 19 hold rating. The rating score is on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 stands for strong buy and 5 stands for strong sell.

For the full year, 22.00 Wall Street analysts forecast this company would deliver earnings of 2.82 per share, with a high estimate of $2.90 and a low estimate of $2.77. It had reported earnings per share of $2.81 in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Revenue for the period is expected to total nearly $15.52B versus 16.03B in the preceding year.

The analysts project the company to maintain annual growth of around 7.33% percent over the next five years as compared to an average growth rate of 26.80% percent expected for its competitors in the same industry.

Among the 17 analysts Data provided by Thomson/First Call tracks, the 12-month average price target for CL is $74.06 but some analysts are projecting the price to go as high as $82.00. If the optimistic analysts are correct, that represents a 13 percent upside potential from the recent closing price of $72.34. Some sell-side analysts, particularly the bearish ones, have called for $67.00 price targets on shares of Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL).

In the last reported results, the company reported earnings of $0.70 per share, while analysts were calling for share earnings of $0.70. It was an earnings surprise of 0.00%percent. In the matter of earnings surprises, the term Cockroach Effect is often implied. Cockroach Effect is a market theory that suggests that when a company reveals bad news to the public, there may be many more related negative events that have yet to be revealed. In the case of earnings surprises, if a company is suggesting a negative earnings surprise it means there are more to come.

Colgate-Palmolive Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells consumer products worldwide. It operates through two segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition. The company offers oral care products, including toothpastes, toothbrushes, and mouthwashes, as well as pharmaceutical products for dentists and other oral health professionals; personal care products comprising bar and liquid hand soaps, shower gels, shampoos, conditioners, and deodorants and antiperspirants; and home care products, such as laundry and dishwashing detergents, fabric conditioners, household cleaners, bleaches, and other similar items. It also provides pet nutrition products for everyday nutritional needs, a range of therapeutic products to manage disease conditions, and various products with natural ingredients. The companys principal global and regional trademarks include Colgate, Palmolive, Speed Stick, Lady Speed Stick, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, elmex, Toms of Maine, Sanex, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Soupline, and Suavitel, as well as Hills Science Diet, Hills Prescription Diet, and Hills Ideal Balance. It markets and sells its pet nutrition products for dogs and cats through pet supply retailers and veterinarians. Colgate-Palmolive Company was founded in 1806 and is headquartered in New York, New York.