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Colgate-Palmolive Co.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year EPS fell on impairment: Diluted EPS was $2.63, down 25% from $3.51, driven by the skin health impairment charges. Base Business EPS rose 3% to $3.69. Source
  • Oral care and pet led growth: Management said net and organic sales grew in every category in the quarter, led by oral care and pet nutrition excluding private label. Source
  • Gross margin edged down: Gross profit margin was 60.2% in the quarter on both GAAP and Base Business bases, each down 10 basis points; full-year gross margin was 60.1%. Source
  • After-tax impairment of $794 million: Goodwill and intangible impairment was $919 million pre-tax; the after-tax charge was $794 million, taken in the fourth quarter for the skin health business. Source
  • Lower category growth and China weakness: Management cited lower than expected category growth and performance below expectations, particularly in China, for the skin health business. Source
  • Record operating cash flow: Net cash from operations was $4,198 million for the full year, up from $4,107 million; free cash flow before dividends was $3,634 million. Source
  • New 2030 strategy sets growth path: Management said the 2030 strategy lays out a clear path to accelerate growth, with a focus on the reach and penetration of its brands. Source

“We are pleased to have exited 2025 with accelerated growth momentum on both the top and bottom lines, even in the face of sluggish category growth in many markets.”

Noel Wallace, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceFull year 2026up 2% to 6%New
Organic sales growth SourceFull year 20261% to 4%New
Gross profit margin, advertising and EPS (GAAP) SourceFull year 2026gross profit margin expansion; advertising up on dollar basis and as a percentage of net sales; double-digit earnings per share growthNew
Gross profit margin, advertising and EPS (Base Business) SourceFull year 2026gross profit margin expansion; advertising up on dollar basis and as a percentage of net sales; low to mid-single-digit earnings per share growthNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 guidance was given, based on spot rates; the prior release gave full-year 2025 guidance. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Skin health business guidance lowered, primarily for Filorga. Source

Full year and fourth quarter results

  • Full-year sales rose 1.4%: Full-year net sales were $20,382 million, up from $20,101 million; organic sales also rose 1.4%, with lower private label pet volume a 0.7% drag. Source
  • Full-year EPS fell on impairment: Diluted EPS was $2.63, down 25% from $3.51, driven by the skin health impairment charges. Base Business EPS rose 3% to $3.69. Source
  • Fourth-quarter sales up 5.8%: Fourth-quarter net sales were $5,230 million, up 5.8%; organic sales grew 2.2%, with a 0.9% drag from lower private label pet volume. Source
  • Fourth-quarter EPS reflected impairment: Fourth-quarter diluted EPS was $(0.05) against $0.90. Base Business EPS rose 4% to $0.95 from $0.91. Source
  • Base Business operating profit up 3%: Base Business operating profit rose 3% to $1,108 million; margin was 21.2%, down 50 basis points. Source

Divisional and regional performance

  • Latin America sales up 12.8%: Latin America net sales rose 12.8% (organic +6.5%); operating profit rose 6% to $360 million. Source
  • Asia Pacific sales flat, profit down: Asia Pacific operating profit fell 11% to $188 million, with margin down 310 basis points to 26.0%. Source
  • North America sales down 1.5%: North America net sales fell 1.5% (organic -1.8%); the division reported operating profit of $203 million. Source
  • Hill's Pet Nutrition sales up 4.9%: Hill's Pet Nutrition net sales rose 4.9% (organic +1.5%); operating profit rose 4% to $286 million. Source

“we are operating from a position of strength and are confident that the changes we are making will enable us to deliver consistent, compounded earnings per share growth and drive shareholder value in the long term.”

Noel Wallace, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Products and market share

  • Oral care and pet led growth: Management said net and organic sales grew in every category in the quarter, led by oral care and pet nutrition excluding private label. Source
  • Toothpaste share at 41.3%: Global toothpaste market share was 41.3% year to date, compared with 41.2% in the third-quarter release. Source
  • Toothbrush share at 32.4%: Global manual toothbrush market share was 32.4% year to date, the same level as in the third-quarter release. Source
  • Prime100 added pet volume: The Prime100 pet food acquisition added 1.8% to Hill's Pet Nutrition volume and 0.5% to total company volume in the quarter. Source

Margins, costs and advertising

  • Gross margin edged down: Gross profit margin was 60.2% in the quarter on both GAAP and Base Business bases, each down 10 basis points; full-year gross margin was 60.1%. Source
  • Base SG&A ratio fell 40 basis points: Base Business SG&A was 37.9% of net sales, down 40 basis points; GAAP SG&A was 39.6%, up 130 basis points. Source
  • ERISA and restructuring charges excluded: Corporate costs in the quarter included $84 million for the ERISA litigation matter and $13 million for the restructuring program; both are excluded from Base Business. Source
  • Advertising up in fourth quarter: Fourth-quarter advertising was $682 million, up from $648 million; full-year advertising was $2,703 million, down from $2,720 million. Source
  • Full-year GAAP operating margin down: GAAP operating profit margin was 16.2% for the full year, down 500 basis points; Base Business operating margin was 21.3%, down 40 basis points. Source

“Our 2025 performance highlights the resilience of our business model and the strength of our brands.”

Noel Wallace, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Skin health impairment

  • After-tax impairment of $794 million: Goodwill and intangible impairment was $919 million pre-tax; the after-tax charge was $794 million, taken in the fourth quarter for the skin health business. Source
  • Lower category growth and China weakness: Management cited lower than expected category growth and performance below expectations, particularly in China, for the skin health business. Source
  • Growth prospects still believed in: Management said it is taking appropriate actions to improve skin health performance and still believes in the business's growth prospects. Source

Cash, returns and debt

  • Record operating cash flow: Net cash from operations was $4,198 million for the full year, up from $4,107 million; free cash flow before dividends was $3,634 million. Source
  • $2.9 billion returned to shareholders: Management said the company returned $2.9 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases in the full year. Source
  • Buybacks down, dividends up: Share repurchases were $1,210 million, against $1,739 million in 2024; dividends paid were $1,823 million, against $1,789 million. Source
  • Net debt lower year over year: Total debt was $7,988 million; debt less cash and marketable securities was $6,593 million, down from $6,693 million. Source

Strategy and investment

  • New 2030 strategy sets growth path: Management said the 2030 strategy lays out a clear path to accelerate growth, with a focus on the reach and penetration of its brands. Source
  • Priorities named for the 2030 strategy: Named priorities are science-based innovation, omni-channel demand generation, data, analytics and AI, and an inclusive culture. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 January 2026

  • Annual stockholder meeting: The annual meeting of stockholders is scheduled for Friday, May 8, 2026. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management expects the difficult operating environment and slower category growth to continue in the short term. Source
  • External: Full-year 2026 guidance includes the estimated impact of tariffs announced and finalized as of January 28, 2026. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management credits successful execution of the 2025 strategy with growing the company significantly over five years. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.