Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) is a household name in consumer staples, with a product portfolio spanning oral care, personal care, home care, and pet nutrition. With a market capitalization near $72.8 billion and operations in more than 200 countries and territories, the company is one of the most internationally diversified players in the sector.

Yet despite its defensive reputation, Colgate-Palmolive stock outlook has been less exciting than the broader market over the past year. While many investors turn to consumer staples for stability, recent performance shows that even high-quality brands can lag when markets are rewarding growth and technology exposure. The key question now is whether Wall Street analysts believe Colgate’s fundamentals are strong enough to justify renewed upside.

Colgate-Palmolive Stock Outlook vs. the S&P 500

The first thing investors notice in the Colgate-Palmolive stock outlook discussion is relative performance. Over the past year, (NYSE:CL) shares have declined marginally, trailing the S&P 500 Index ($SPX), which gained roughly 14.3% in the same period.

Year-to-date in 2026, Colgate has fallen about 14.3%, while the SPX is up around 1.4%. That kind of divergence can be frustrating for investors who expect staples to provide smoother returns, especially during uncertain economic periods.

However, underperformance doesn’t always mean a company is weakening. In many cases, it reflects a shift in market leadership. When investors pile into high-growth areas, steady cash-generating companies like Colgate may temporarily fall out of favor—even if their earnings remain resilient.

How Colgate Compares to the Consumer Staples ETF

A more direct benchmark for Colgate-Palmolive stock outlook is the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA:XLP). Over the past 52 weeks, XLP has gained about 4.7%, again beating Colgate’s marginal decline.

The difference is even more noticeable in 2026 so far, with XLP up about 7.5% while Colgate is sharply lower. That comparison suggests the stock’s weakness may be company-specific, not just sector-wide. Investors may be questioning growth durability, product mix, or how much pricing power Colgate can sustain without pressuring volume.

Still, the staples sector is often judged on long-term reliability, and Colgate remains a major player with global scale.

Earnings: A Strong Quarter Lifts Sentiment

Recent earnings results gave Colgate-Palmolive stock outlook a boost. On Jan. 30, shares jumped about 5.9% after the company reported fiscal 2025 fourth-quarter results.

Colgate posted net sales of $5.23 billion, representing a 5.8% year-over-year increase. Organic sales rose 2.2%, despite a negative impact from exiting private-label pet food. Importantly, the company’s base business earnings per share came in at $0.95, exceeding market expectations.

These results highlight two factors supporting the Colgate-Palmolive stock outlook:

1. Resilient international demand in key markets

2. Pricing strength that helped protect revenue growth

For the full year, net sales increased 1.4% to a record $20.38 billion. Colgate also emphasized strong cash flow and shareholder returns through dividends and buybacks—two qualities that tend to appeal to long-term investors seeking stability.

FY2026 EPS Growth Expectations Remain Modest but Positive

Looking ahead, Colgate-Palmolive stock outlook depends on whether the company can continue delivering steady earnings growth in a competitive environment. For fiscal year 2026 ending in December, analysts expect earnings per share to rise 4.6% year-over-year to $3.86.

That isn’t explosive growth, but it’s consistent with what many investors want from a consumer staples name: dependable expansion, durable cash flow, and resilience across economic cycles.

Another positive signal is Colgate’s earnings surprise track record. The company has beaten Wall Street’s bottom-line expectations in each of the past four quarters. Consistency like that can help rebuild confidence, especially after a stretch of weak stock performance.

Are Wall Street Analysts Bullish on Colgate?

Wall Street’s view of Colgate-Palmolive stock outlook is generally supportive, though not overwhelmingly bullish. The stock currently carries a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating.

Among the 21 analysts covering (NYSE:CL), ratings include:

• 9 “Strong Buy”

• 3 “Moderate Buy”

• 8 “Hold”

• 1 “Strong Sell”

This distribution suggests many analysts see Colgate as a solid long-term holding, but some remain cautious about near-term upside potential. The large number of Hold ratings implies investors may need to see clearer acceleration in growth, stronger category momentum, or improving market share trends.

Still, sentiment has improved slightly compared to a month ago, when there were fewer “Strong Buy” recommendations. That shift points to a more constructive Colgate-Palmolive stock outlook following the latest earnings beat.

Price Targets: Limited Upside From Current Levels

Even with a supportive rating profile, Colgate-Palmolive stock outlook looks more restrained when it comes to price targets.

On Jan. 16, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) analyst Andrea Teixeira raised Colgate’s price target to $93 from $88 while maintaining an “Overweight” rating. That increase reflects continued confidence in the company’s market position and growth prospects.

However, the stock is currently trading above the mean price target of $87.79, suggesting Wall Street believes much of the near-term value is already priced in. The Street-high target of $96 implies upside potential of about 6.3% from current levels, which is positive—but not dramatic.

Bottom Line: Colgate-Palmolive Stock Outlook Is Steady, Not Flashy

Overall, Colgate-Palmolive stock outlook is cautiously bullish. Analysts continue to like the company’s pricing power, global reach, and consistent earnings execution. But the stock’s underperformance versus both the S&P 500 and the consumer staples ETF shows that investors are still demanding stronger catalysts.

For long-term shareholders, Colgate may remain attractive as a defensive compounder with reliable cash flow. For shorter-term traders, the limited upside implied by price targets suggests the stock may need another round of strong results—or improved market sentiment toward staples—before it can meaningfully outperform.