Colgate-Palmolive Co. CL, +1.44% reported fourth-quarter net income of $647 million, or 75 cents per share, nearly flat with $643 million, or 75 cents per share, last year. Adjusted EPS of 77 cents beat the FactSet consensus for 76 cents. Sales of $4.32 billion were up from $4.02 billion last year and beat the FactSet consensus for $4.15 billion. Colgate says it has global manual toothbrush market share of 31.1% and global toothpaste market share of 39.8%. Colgate-Palmolive is also the parent of Hill’s Pet Nutrition, which accounts for 18% of company sales and grew 16% in net sales during the quarter. Despite the results, the company warns about the path ahead. “As we enter 2021, we expect high levels of uncertainty as we lap the benefits from pantry loading and other impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also expect volatility in raw material and logistics costs and foreign exchange,” said Noel Wallace, chief executive of the company, in a statement. Colgate-Palmolive is guiding for net sales growth of 4% to 7% in 2021 and organic sales up 3% to 5%. The FactSet consensus is for $17.0 billion, suggesting about 4% growth. Colgate-Palmolive stock rose 0.4% in Friday premarket trading, and is up 15% over the past year. The S&P 500 index SPX, +0.98% has gained 15.7% for the last 12 months.
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