Colgate earnings beat forecasts as better margins lift its profit outlook
Earnings results
- EPS beat +4.3%
Actual: $0.97 · Cons.: $0.93 (Base Business non-GAAP diluted EPS)
- Revenue beat +0.5%
Actual: $5.369B · Cons.: $5.34B (reported net sales)
- Guidance
2026 Base Business EPS growth raised to 5%–7% from mid-single digits; net sales growth narrowed to 4%–5% from 2%–6%
Earnings and the stock move
The earnings beat and higher profit-growth outlook give investors evidence that pricing, volume and productivity can improve profits despite uneven regional demand. The next question is whether margins keep rising without sacrificing sales volumes.
Q3 2026 ended September 30 earnings recap
Colgate-Palmolive rose 4.8% pre-market on October 30, 2026 after earnings beat forecasts and the company raised its full-year profit outlook.
- Base Business EPS, or profit per share excluding specified accounting items, was $0.97 versus the $0.93 forecast. GAAP profit per share was $0.94.
- Net sales rose 4.6% to $5.37 billion, slightly above the $5.34 billion forecast. Colgate sells toothpaste, personal and home care products, plus Hill’s pet food.
- Sales excluding currency and acquisitions grew 3.6%, with both volume and pricing contributing. Growth backed by higher sales volumes is more encouraging than price increases alone.
- Base Business gross margin rose to 60.3% from 59.4%. Keeping more profit from each dollar of sales helps fund advertising while supporting earnings.
- The company raised its annual Base Business profit-per-share growth outlook to 5%–7% from mid-single digits. It narrowed sales growth to 4%–5% from 2%–6%; that is a tighter range, not a higher upper target.
- North American sales volumes fell 3.7%, while Hill’s organic sales grew 5.7%. Weak demand in a major region and higher commodity or tariff costs could limit further profit gains.
Watch whether volume growth and better margins continue into the next quarter. The charts end at the October 29 close, before these earnings; the share-price advance can reverse.
Financials and technicals
Charts through Oct 29, 2026. The session move above may reflect later news.
Technical setup and risks
The completed charts precede earnings. Holding above the prior $97–$98 resistance area would strengthen the advance; falling below $90–$92 would weaken the recovery. Earnings can gap through chart levels.
AI-assisted research with source and calculation checks. Prices may be delayed. Technical charts use the stated completed session, which can precede the quoted intraday move. Educational information; investing involves risk.