Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) shares are trading lower after the consumer giant reported a fourth-quarter sales decline of 0.12% year-on-year to $4.94 billion, missing the analyst consensus estimate of $4.98 billion.

Organic sales increased by 4.3%. Total Oral, Personal, and Home Care net sales decreased by 0.8% to $3.80 billion. Adjusted EPS of $0.91 beat the consensus estimate of $0.89.

Gross profit was $2.98 billion, while the margin expanded 70 basis points to 60.3%. Selling, general and administrative expenses rose 5.1% to $1.89 billion.

Operating margin contracted 20 basis points to 21.5%, and operating income for the quarter decreased 0.75% to $1.06 billion.

The company held $1.09 billion in cash and equivalents as of December-end. Operating cash flow for the twelve months totaled $4.1 billion.

“This was our sixth consecutive year with organic sales growth at or above our 3% to 5% targeted range. The combination of strong sales growth and operating leverage drove strong bottom-line performance as well, with net income and earnings per share both increasing double digits versus 2023,” said Chairman, President, and CEO Noel Wallace.

Outlook: Colgate expects FY25 net sales to be roughly flat, including a mid-single-digit negative impact from foreign exchange.

The company expects organic sales growth to be within its long-term targeted range of 3% to 5%, including the impact of the planned exit from private label pet nutrition in 2025.

On a non-GAAP (Base Business) basis, the company expects gross profit margin expansion with advertising investment flat to up slightly on both a dollar basis and as a percent to sales and low to mid-single-digit earnings-per-share growth.

Price Action: CL shares are trading lower by 2.958% at $88.21 in premarket at the last check Friday. 

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