Colgate-Palmolive's stock soared 5.85% intraday on Friday, following the release of its fourth-quarter financial results and forward-looking guidance that exceeded market expectations.
The consumer goods giant reported Q4 adjusted earnings per share of $0.95, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $0.91. Quarterly net sales reached $5.23 billion, also surpassing expectations of $5.12 billion. The company attributed its performance to sustained demand for essential household staples, particularly in oral care and pet nutrition segments, which helped offset a challenging operating environment.
Investors reacted positively to Colgate-Palmolive's 2026 outlook, with the company forecasting net sales growth of 2% to 6%. The midpoint of this range exceeds analysts' expectations of 3.5% growth. Management cited steady demand for branded essentials in markets like Latin America and Europe as key drivers for the optimistic forecast, despite anticipating continued category headwinds in the short term.