Colgate-Palmolive Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells consumer products in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition. The Oral, Personal and Home Care segment offers toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, bar and liquid hand soaps, shower gels, shampoos, conditioners, deodorants and antiperspirants, skin health products, dishwashing detergents, fabric conditioners, household cleaners, and other related items. This segment markets and sells its products under various brands, which include Colgate, Darlie, elmex, hello, meridol, Sorriso, Tom's of Maine, Irish Spring, Palmolive, Protex, Sanex, Softsoap, Lady Speed Stick, Speed Stick, EltaMD, Filorga, PCA SKIN, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Murphy, Suavitel, and Soupline to a range of traditional and eCommerce retailers, wholesalers, and distributors. It includes pharmaceutical products for dentists and other oral health professionals. Its Pet Nutrition segment offers pet nutrition products for everyday nutritional needs under the Hill's Science Diet brand; and a range of therapeutic pet products to help nutritionally support dogs and cats in different stages of health under the Hill's Prescription Diet brand. This segment markets and sells its products through pet supply retailers, veterinarians, and eCommerce retailers. Colgate-Palmolive Company was founded in 1806 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Colgate-Palmolive looks like a high-quality but expensive defensive business, where fundamental resilience is already largely reflected in the price. In terms of earnings and operating efficiency, the picture is strong: gross margin of around 60%, operating margin of 15.4%, and net margin of 10.0% are noticeably above the industry median, while ROA and ROI also look better than the market. At the same time, the trend in profitability over the most recent periods is rather deteriorating: operating and net margins were higher in previous quarters, which limits the potential for further multiple expansion. Revenue and gross profit are generally growing, supporting the thesis of stable demand and the company’s ability to maintain its business scale. However, the balance sheet remains a weak point: debt/equity is very high, long-term debt is significant, the quick ratio is low, and the current ratio is only around 1, indicating limited short-term liquidity. Equity is very small relative to assets and liabilities, so the extremely high ROE should not be interpreted as a sign of exceptional efficiency without caveats — it is largely amplified by the capital structure. From a valuation standpoint, the stock appears overextended: P/E, P/S, and especially P/B are substantially above industry medians, and P/FCF does not look cheap either. This means the market is already paying a premium for the brand, cash flow stability, and defensive profile, but the margin of safety for further multiple expansion is limited. Dividend yield remains low and has even declined in recent periods, so the dividend factor does not provide strong support for a re-rating. Overall, the fundamentals confirm the company’s quality more than they justify a significant increase in the target valuation. For an investor, this is a story of a reliable consumer brand with solid profitability, but with a high entry price and an imperfect balance sheet. Therefore, the base forecast should be reduced slightly, while maintaining a cautious view on revaluation potential.

Colgate-Palmolive Company

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Быки в растерянности.

Strong index, significantly down. The bulls are confused.

Средний индекс, без изменений. Рынок на стороне быков.

Medium index, flat. The market is on the bulls' side.

Сильный индекс, значительно вырос. Приток средств в лонги на высоком уровне.

Strong index, significantly up. Inflow of funds into longs at a high level.

Strong margins and revenue growth support CL, but a high valuation, weak liquidity, and notable debt limit upside potential.

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLP) where we have detected an approximate $409.7 million dollar inflow -- that's a 2.9% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 168,371,809 to 173,171,809). Among the largest underlying components of XLP, in trading today Colgate-Palmolive Co. (Symbol: CL) is up about 3.3%, Altria Group Inc (Symbol: MO) is up about 5.6%, and Mondelez International Inc (Symbol: MDLZ) is up by about 4.5%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the XLP Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of XLP, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, XLP's low point in its 52 week range is $75.16 per share, with $90.14 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $88.56. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Further XLP Research:
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

XLP, CL, MO, MDLZ: Large Inflows Detected at ETF

Key Points
Colgate-Palmolive is off 4.2% over the past week.
By this stock’s standards, that’s a dip.
It’s a pullback that equity income investors may want to seize.
The old saying "get while the getting is good" is often relevant in financial markets. Put it this way: Even in strong bull markets, there are always stocks that are faltering, even some quality names.
Some investors wait for those declines to deepen before getting involved. Occasionally, that strategy works, but it's not foolproof. Some stocks simply aren't prone to deep drawdowns, meaning that when they do dip, investors may want to act with haste because the dip might not grow.
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Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) may be a good example. Off 4.2% for the week ending July 23 and 9.3% below its 52-week high, this consumer staples stock is dipping.
Here's where history starts to matter. Colgate's typical drawdown is 11% to 17%. Even at the high end, that's not even a bear market. Plus, most of the stock's worst drawdowns occurred during catastrophic broader market events, such as the bursting of the dot-com bubble in 2000 or the global financial crisis. So if history repeats as it often does in financial markets, investors may not want to wait too much longer before buying shares of the Ajax maker.
Dividend royalty
It yields just 2.3%, but Colgate is a Dividend King, or one of the companies with a dividend increase streak of at least 50 consecutive years. Actually, Colgate's dividend increase is 64 years.
So when the Irish Spring maker started its payout streak, John F. Kennedy was president and color television was a luxury; the streak began seven years before the first moon landing. Another fun fact: Just 10 companies have longer payout streaks than Colgate.
Historical facts aside, Colgate's status as a Dividend King is relevant to investors considering buying the stock on its current dip for another reason. Broadly speaking, the Dividend Kings are 30% less volatile than the S&P 500. So if Colgate lives up to that pedigree, its current pullback may not get much larger.
It's one of the trade-offs investors make with blue chip dividend stocks like Colgate. Dividend Kings probably won't generate Nvidia-esque returns, but market participants gain the benefits of dependable income and reduced turbulence, and there's value in those traits.
Dividend safety, tech talk
Arguably, the dividend is the source of Colgate's allure. The payout is sacrosanct, and any negative action on that front would likely prompt investors to dump the stock. There are no guarantees in investing, but this payout appears safe.
Last year, the company generated $3.63 billion in free cash flow, which covered its $1.82 billion in dividend payments and $1.21 billion worth of share repurchases. Importantly, investing in the business and returning capital to investors are higher up Colgate's list of priorities than acquisitions, indicating the company has its eyes on the right prize when it comes to capital allocation.
And while this is far from a tech stock, Colgate is investing in artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies to better connect with customers across a variety of platforms while bolstering supply chains. Those moves could pay dividends for the company, and thus investors, over the long term.
Should you buy stock in Colgate-Palmolive right now?
Before you buy stock in Colgate-Palmolive, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Colgate-Palmolive wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $377,990!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,269,518!*
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Todd Shriber has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Colgate-Palmolive and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

This Dividend King Stock Just Offered a Superb Buy-the-Dip Opportunity

Key Points
Index investing gives you exposure to a diversified group of growth stocks.
Indexes trade out low-performing stocks, and the model lends itself to continued growth over time.
Vanguard ETFs have low expense ratios, so you keep more of your money.
Retiring with $1 million in the bank is a dream for many Americans, and it's becoming an increasing reality for those who invest consistently in the stock market.
There's a simple formula for maximizing your odds: start early, diversify, and add funds consistently. While creating your own portfolio of around 50 carefully curated stocks is your best chance at success, it can be surprisingly easy to get there by choosing a growth-oriented exchange-traded fund (ETF) in addition, or even on its own.
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One fantastic option is the Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NASDAQ: VONG). It has an excellent long-term track record and could make you a millionaire if you invest $100 a month for 30 years. Here's how it works.
The top U.S. growth stocks
The Russell 1000 is an index of 1,000 large-cap U.S. stocks, and the Russell 1000 Growth Index includes about 400 of the largest ones. The VONG ETF tracks the index, simplifying growth investing by providing access to top stocks.
Since it's a weighted index, the largest-cap stocks account for more of the total, and the ETF is similarly composed. Nvidia, for example, represents 13.8% of the total weight, followed by Apple (6.7%), Alphabet (6.1% class A shares and 5% class B shares), Broadcom (5.2%), and Microsoft (4.1%). Most of the components account for a tiny percentage, many less than 0.1%.
Since the index focuses on large-cap stocks, it naturally tends toward growth, since the highest-growing stocks eventually become bigger. There are plenty of large value stocks, too, so you get companies like Colgate-Palmolive and Heico mixed together with companies like Sandisk and CoreWeave. Value stocks reduce some risk, but there's no getting around this ETF's concentration in higher-risk stocks.
Today, it's concentrated in artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-adjacent stocks, since that's what's moving the markets. However, because the components are included based on specific rules, this can easily change along with trends.
Since it's a Vanguard ETF that has a passive management strategy, it has a low expense ratio of 0.06%.
Market-beating performance
The VONG ETF was started in 2010, and since then, it's been one of Vanguard's best-performing ETFs. Over the past 15 years, it has delivered an annualized gain of 16%, versus 14.2% for the S&P 500. Over 15 years, that translates into a lot more money.
Since the index trades out low-performing stocks in favor of high-performing ones, the model tends to deliver healthy performance over time. If you start with a $10,000 investment and assume a 15% annualized rate over the next 30 years, and you add $100 every month through every kind of market, you'll have nearly $1.2 million in the end.
There's no guarantee it will maintain this rate, but starting now, adding funds consistently, and letting your investment compound can build wealth over time.
Should you buy stock in Vanguard Scottsdale Funds - Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF right now?
Before you buy stock in Vanguard Scottsdale Funds - Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Vanguard Scottsdale Funds - Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $371,519!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,281,302!*
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Jennifer Saibil has positions in Apple. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Apple, Broadcom, Colgate-Palmolive, Heico, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

This Brilliant ETF Could Turn $100 Per Month Into $1 Million. Here's the Math.

Investors in Colgate-Palmolive Company CL need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Aug. 21, 2026 $40 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.
What is Implied Volatility?
Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.
What do the Analysts Think?
Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Colgate-Palmolive shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, Colgate-Palmolive is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) in the Consumer Products – Staples industry that ranks in the Bottom 23% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 60 days, no analyst has increased the earnings estimates for the current quarter, while three have dropped their estimates. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from 96 cents per share to 95 cents in that period.
Given the way analysts feel about Colgate-Palmolive right now, this huge implied volatility could mean there’s a trade developing. Oftentimes, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Are Options Traders Betting on a Big Move in Colgate-Palmolive Stock?

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLP) where we have detected an approximate $247.1 million dollar outflow -- that's a 1.7% decrease week over week (from 171,271,809 to 168,371,809). Among the largest underlying components of XLP, in trading today Colgate-Palmolive Co. (Symbol: CL) is off about 0.7%, Altria Group Inc (Symbol: MO) is up about 0.4%, and PepsiCo Inc (Symbol: PEP) is lower by about 0.5%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the XLP Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of XLP, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, XLP's low point in its 52 week range is $75.16 per share, with $90.14 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $85.10. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Further XLP Research:
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Noteworthy ETF Outflows: XLP, CL, MO, PEP

Wall Street wrapped up last week on a weaker note, with all three major benchmark indexes finishing in negative territory. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite index declined by 0.67%, 0.77%, and 1.36%, respectively. Though the economy delivered a mix of encouraging inflation data and resilient consumer activity, fresh geopolitical tensions weighed on market sentiment.
June's Consumer Price Index unexpectedly fell 0.4%, the biggest monthly decline since 2020, pulling annual inflation down to 3.5%. Producer prices also eased, with the PPI slipping 0.3% in June, reflecting lower energy costs after oil prices briefly retreated. Retail sales rose 0.2%, while weekly jobless claims remained low at 208,000, showing the labor market is still holding up.
The week wasn't without challenges. Renewed conflict in the Middle East pushed WTI crude back to around $74 a barrel after it had traded near $67 just a week earlier, raising concerns that inflation could rebound. Manufacturing provided a bright spot, with the Philadelphia Fed index surging to 41.4, its strongest reading since late 2021. Meanwhile, investors turned cautious as rising Treasury yields and profit-taking in AI stocks pressured markets. Overall, the economy remained on a solid footing, but geopolitical risks reminded everyone that the road ahead could quickly become more volatile.
Regardless of market conditions, we, here at Zacks, provide investors with unbiased guidance on how to beat the market.
As usual, Zacks Research guided investors over the past three months with its time-tested methodologies. Given the prevailing market uncertainty, you may want to look at our feats to prepare better for your next action.
Here are some of our key achievements:
Liquidia Corporation and Integra LifeSciences Following Zacks Rank Upgrade
Shares of Liquidia Corporation LQDA have gained 50.5% (versus the S&P 500’s 0.5% increase) since it was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) on May 12.
Another stock, Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation IART, which was upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) on May 6, has returned 45.6% (versus the S&P 500’s 2.7% increase) since then.
Zacks Rank, our short-term rating system, has earnings estimate revisions at its core. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
A portfolio of Zacks # 1 Rank stocks has outperformed the S&P 500 index by 5.7 percentage points this year. Through July 6this year, the Zacks # 1 Rank portfolio has returned +15.3%, which compares to +9.7% gain for the S&P 500 index and +12.6% gain for the equal-weight version of the index in the same time period.
Since its inception in 1988, this portfolio of Zacks # 1 Rank stocks has outperformed the market by 12.4 percentage points. The average annual return for this portfolio of Zacks # 1 Rank stocks since inception in 1988 was +23.9% through July 6, compared to +11.6% gain for the S&P 500 index and +11.4% gain for the equal-weight version of the index.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Zacks Recommendation Upgrades BILL Holdings and ASE Technology
Shares of BILL Holdings, Inc. BILL and ASE Technology ASX have advanced 20.6% (versus the S&P 500’s 1.3% increase) and 19% (versus the S&P 500’s 3.5% increase) since their Zacks Recommendation was upgraded to Outperform on May 7 and May 5, respectively.
While the Zacks Rank is our short-term rating system that is most effective over the one- to three-month holding horizon, the Zacks Recommendation aims to predict performance over the next 6 to 12 months. However, just like the Zacks Rank, the foundation for the Zacks Recommendation is trends in earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Recommendation classifies stocks into three groups — Outperform, Neutral and Underperform. While these recommendations are determined quantitatively, our analysts have the flexibility to override them for the 1100+ stocks they closely follow based on their better judgment of factors such as valuation, industry conditions and management effectiveness than the quantitative model.
Zacks Focus List Stocks Arcosa, Axon Shoot Up
Shares of ArcosaInc ACA, which belongs to the Zacks Focus List, have gained 26.7% over the past 12 weeks. The stock was added to the FocusList on January 6, 2020. Another Focus List holding, Axon Enterprise, Inc. AXON, which was added to the portfolio on June 3, 2020, has returned 26.4% over the past 12 weeks. The S&P 500 has advanced 4.9% over this period.
The 50-stock Focus List portfolio returned +13.12% in the first half of 2026 (through June 30, 2026) vs. +10.21% for the S&P 500 index and +12.14% for the equal-weight version of the index.
The portfolio returned +22.1% in 2025 vs. +17.9% for the S&P 500 index and +11.4% for the equal-weight version of the index.
The Zacks Focus List portfolio returned +18.41% in 2024 vs. +25.04% for the S&P 500 index and +13% for the equal-weight S&P 500 index. The portfolio had returned +29.54% in 2023 vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index and +13.61% for the equal-weight S&P 500 index. In 2022, the portfolio returned -15.2% vs. the S&P 500 index’s -17.96%.
Through June 30, 2026, the portfolio’s rolling returns on a one-year, three-year, five-year, ten-year, and since 2004 have been +26.93% (vs. +22.33% for the S&P 500 index), +22.23% (vs. +20.62%), +12.80% (vs. +13.41%), +16.65% (vs. +15.51%) and +12.48% vs. (+10.94%), respectively.
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Zacks ECAP Stocks Paychex and Hormel Foods Surge
Paychex, Inc. PAYX, a component of our Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), has jumped 22.9% over the past 12 weeks. Hormel Foods Corporation HRL has followed Paychex with 19% returns.
The Zacks Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), which consists of 30 concentrated, ultra-defensive, long-term Buy-and-Hold stocks, returned -7.14% in 2026 Q1 vs. -4.33% for the S&P 500 index.
The Zacks Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP), which consists of 30 concentrated, ultra-defensive, long-term Buy-and-Hold stocks, returned -9.4% in the first half of 2026 (through June 30) vs. +10.2% for the S&P 500 index.
For 2025, the portfolio returned -1.67% vs. +17.9% gain for the S&P 500 index. For the year 2024, the portfolio returned +16.26% vs. +24.89% for the S&P 500 index (SPY ETF). In 2023, the portfolio returned +12.17% vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index. The portfolio returned -4.7% in 2022 vs. the S&P 500 index’s -17.96%.
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Zacks ECDP Stocks Colgate-Palmolive and Johnson & Johnson Outperform Peers
Colgate-Palmolive Company CL, which is part of our Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP), has returned 11.3% over the past 12 weeks. Another ECDP stock, Johnson & Johnson JNJ, has also climbed 9.7% over the same time frame. Of course, the inclination of investors toward quality dividend stocks to secure an income stream amid heightened market volatility contributed to this performance.
With an extremely low beta and a history of minimum earnings variability over the last 20+ years, this 25-stock portfolio helps to significantly mitigate risk.
The Zacks Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP) returned -1.7% in the first half of 2026 (through June 30) vs. +10.2% for the S&P 500 index and +9.03% for the Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL).
The portfolio returned -0.6% in 2025 vs. +6.8% gain for the Dividend Aristocrat ETF. For the full year 2024, the portfolio returned +6.95% vs. +24.89% for the S&P 500 index and +6.72% for NOBL. The portfolio returned -0.9% in 2023 vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index and +8.11% for NOBL. The portfolio returned -2.3% in 2022 vs. -17.96% for the S&P 500 index and -8.34% for NOBL.
Click here to access this portfolio on Zacks Advisor Tools.
Zacks Top 10 Stock Stride Delivers Solid Returns
Stride, Inc. LRN, from the Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2026, has jumped 35.2% since the list was released on January 5, 2026, compared with the S&P 500 index’s 8.8% increase during this period.
The Top 10 portfolio retuned +26.83% in the first half of 2026 (through June 30) vs. +9.97% for the S&P 500 index and +11.35% for the equal-weight version of the index.
The Top 10 portfolio returned +22.6% in 2025 vs. +17.9% for the S&P 500 index and +11.4% for the equal-weight version of the index.
The Top 10 portfolio returned +62.98% in 2024, vs. +25.04% for the S&P 500 index and +13% for the equal-weight version of the index. The portfolio had returned +25.15% in 2023 vs. +26.28% for the S&P 500 index.
Through the end of June 2026, the Top 10 portfolio has produced a cumulative return of +3,185.6% since 2012 vs. +629.1% for the S&P 500 index and +464.3% for the equal-weight version of the index. The portfolio has produced an average annual return of +26.9% in the period 2012 through June 30, 2026 vs. +13.5% for the S&P 500 index and +11.2% for the equal-weight version of the index.
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BILL Holdings, Inc. (BILL) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Beat the Market the Zacks Way: Liquidia, BILL, Colgate-Palmolive in Focus

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLP) where we have detected an approximate $536.8 million dollar inflow -- that's a 3.9% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 165,121,809 to 171,571,809). Among the largest underlying components of XLP, in trading today Colgate-Palmolive Co. (Symbol: CL) is up about 1.6%, PepsiCo Inc (Symbol: PEP) is off about 0.2%, and Monster Beverage Corp (Symbol: MNST) is up by about 0.2%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the XLP Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of XLP, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, XLP's low point in its 52 week range is $75.16 per share, with $90.14 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $84.08. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Further XLP Research:
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Noteworthy ETF Inflows: XLP, CL, PEP, MNST

Key Points
Colgate-Palmolive doesn’t depend on the U.S. market to drive sales growth.
The company’s margins are strong, although they have ticked down in recent years.
Colgate-Palmolive is expensive for all the right reasons.
As of market close on July 3, the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) and the Nasdaq-100 are up 9.3% and 16.2%, respectively, year to date (YTD). This is well ahead of their historical average annual gains. The tech sector, especially semiconductor stocks, has been the driver of broader market returns. But that doesn't mean all value stocks are underperforming the major indexes.
Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) is up 20.4% YTD. And it's also an ultra-reliable dividend stock that has paid uninterrupted dividends since 1895 and has increased its payout for 63 consecutive years. That streak earns Colgate-Palmolive a spot on the list of Dividend Kings, which are companies that have paid and increased their dividends for at least 50 consecutive years.
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Here's why Colgate-Palmolive remains a top buy now even after its recent run-up.
Colgate-Palmolive is at the top of its game
Colgate-Palmolive has been a standout in the household and personal products industry. The company is guiding for 2026 net sales growth of 2% to 6% and organic sales growth of 1% to 4% at a time when many of its peers are experiencing sales declines. And even with margins under pressure, Colgate-Palmolive remains one of the most profitable companies in its industry. By comparison, Unilever, Kenvue, Church & Dwight, Clorox, Kimberly-Clark, and Estee Lauder all have operating margins under 20%.
The industry has been dealing with inflationary pressures and consumer resistance to price increases. But Colgate-Palmolive has done a masterful job of navigating these challenges through its elite brand portfolio, highly efficient supply chain and operations, and geographic diversification.
In addition to its flagship Colgate and Palmolive brands, the company owns Softsoap, Irish Spring, Tom's of Maine, and Speed Stick, among others. One of Colgate-Palmolive's top brands, Hill's Pet Nutrition, made up 23% of total 2025 sales.
Without factoring in Hill's, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), Latin America, and Asia Pacific sales are more than triple those of North America, which has helped make Colgate-Palmolive resistant to U.S.-specific inflationary pressures. In the first quarter of 2026, North America was the only region that reported declining net and organic sales, while Latin America and EMEA posted double-digit growth and total company net sales rose 8.4% year over year.
A dividend you can count on
Colgate-Palmolive is far from cheap -- trading at 25 times forward earnings -- because the stock price has been rising faster than the company's earnings growth. But Colgate-Palmolive deserves its premium valuation because its results are solid despite a difficult operating environment. This resilience is particularly appealing to risk-averse folks seeking a stable passive income stream to help supplement retirement income. If inflationary pressures ease and consumer spending improves, a rising tide will lift the broader household and personal products industry. But Colgate-Palmolive isn't dependent on those factors to drive sales growth.
Colgate-Palmolive yields 2.2%, which is good but not quite high-yield territory. Many of its peers offer higher yields because they distribute the vast majority of their cash flow to shareholders through dividends, whereas Colgate-Palmolive's dividend is highly affordable. Its trailing-12-month free cash flow per share is at an all-time high of $4.66, well over double its $2.06 per-share annualized dividend.
So while Colgate-Palmolive could easily afford to pay a higher dividend, the company prefers a balanced approach of using cash to reinvest in the business, paying a steadily growing (and manageable) dividend, and buying back stock. Colgate-Palmolive has reduced its share count by 10% over the last decade, which has helped make the stock a better value.
Investing in a market leader
Colgate-Palmolive's geographic diversification and portfolio of leading brands across pet nutrition and oral, personal, and home care make it highly recession resistant. The company continues to deliver solid growth through volume and price increases, while many of its peers face a difficult trade-off: either cutting prices to drive volume or keeping prices high at the expense of lower sales volumes.
All told, Colgate-Palmolive stands out as one of the most reliable dividend-paying stocks on the market. It's a top buy for the second half of the year for investors who don't mind paying a premium price for a quality company.
Should you buy stock in Colgate-Palmolive right now?
Before you buy stock in Colgate-Palmolive, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Colgate-Palmolive wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
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*Stock Advisor returns as of July 7, 2026.
Daniel Foelber has positions in Estée Lauder Companies, Kenvue, and Kimberly Clark. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Colgate-Palmolive. The Motley Fool recommends Kenvue and Unilever. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Meet the Dividend King Stock That's Up 20% in 2026. Here's Why It Can Continue Outperforming the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 in the Second Half.

Key Points
Colgate-Palmolive has increased its dividend for 64 consecutive years.
The company's net sales rose 8.4% in the first quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations.
If you're an investor looking for dividend consistency, a yield over 2%, and stock appreciation of 16% year to date, you might be surprised that consumer staples veteran Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL) fits the bill.
Yes, the maker of cleaning supplies, shower soap, and even pet food has had an excellent year in the market. The company has also paid an uninterrupted dividend since 1895 and increased that dividend for 64 straight years. It is truly one of the most remarkable Dividend Kings available. A Dividend King is a company that has raised its dividend for at least 50 consecutive years.
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Colgate recently increased its quarterly payout to $0.53 per share. The dividend is funded by the company's free cash flow of about $3.6 billion. Colgate is also experiencing strong growth for a company of its size. In the first quarter of 2026, net sales increased 8.4%, and the company maintained its full-year 2026 guidance.
The biggest challenge for Colgate is the ongoing battle with inflationary pressures on materials. This was evident in the first-quarter results, as earnings per share and gross profit margin decreased. Fortunately, Colgate has very strong pricing power and global brand recognition. The company has also invested heavily in technology to drive innovation and improve efficiency.
For long-term income-focused investors, Colgate is a defensive hybrid offering both a solid yield and growth. The stock's current forward P/E ratio is about 24 and is also trading at about three times company sales, which could be perceived as slightly overvalued. Still, for income investors who plan to buy and hold, Colgate-Palmolive is an attractive investment that shouldn't be overlooked.
Should you buy stock in Colgate-Palmolive right now?
Before you buy stock in Colgate-Palmolive, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Colgate-Palmolive wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $418,761!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,195,804!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 918% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 208% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of July 3, 2026.
Catie Hogan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Colgate-Palmolive. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Meet the Dividend King With a 64-Year Streak That Wall Street Is Sleeping On

In the latest look at the underlying components of the S&P 500 ordered by largest market capitalization, Marathon Petroleum Corp. (Symbol: MPC) has taken over the #151 spot from Colgate-Palmolive Co. (Symbol: CL), according to The Online Investor.
Market capitalization is an important data point for investors to keep an eye on, for various reasons. The most basic reason is that it gives a true comparison of the value attributed by the stock market to a given company's stock. Many beginning investors look at one stock trading at $10 and another trading at $20 and mistakenly think the latter company is worth twice as much — that of course is a completely meaningless comparison without knowing how many shares of each company exist. But comparing market capitalization (factoring in those share counts) creates a true "apples-to-apples" comparison of the value of two stocks. In the case of Marathon Petroleum Corp. (Symbol: MPC), the market cap is now $74.64 billion, versus Colgate-Palmolive Co. (Symbol: CL) at $73.56 billion.
Below is a chart of Marathon Petroleum Corp. versus Colgate-Palmolive Co. plotting their respective size rank within the S&P 500 over time (MPC plotted in blue; CL plotted in green):
Below is a three month price history chart comparing the stock performance of MPC vs. CL:
Another reason market capitalization is important is where it places a company in terms of its size tier in relation to peers — much like the way a mid-size sedan is typically compared to other mid-size sedans (and not SUV's). This can have a direct impact on which mutual funds and ETFs are willing to own the stock. For instance, a mutual fund that is focused solely on Large Cap stocks may for example only be interested in those companies sized $10 billion or larger. Another illustrative example is the S&P MidCap index which essentially takes the S&P 500 index and "tosses out" the biggest 100 companies so as to focus solely on the 400 smaller "up-and-comers" (which in the right environment can outperform their larger rivals). So a company's market cap, especially in relation to other companies, carries great importance, and for this reason we at The Online Investor find value to putting together these rankings daily.
Examine the full MPC market cap history vs. the full CL market cap history.
At the closing bell, MPC is up about 3.6%, while CL is up about 0.9% on the day Wednesday.
Further MPC Research:
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.