Latest news with #Colgate-Palmolive
USA Today
5 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
From buzzword to must-have: Why AI is now an imperative for business leaders
Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic buzzword − it's a strategic imperative. For today's C-suite executives, AI offers far more than just automation. It's a tool to unlock growth, spark innovation, and empower smarter decision-making − if deployed wisely. 'Most leaders at the moment are using AI to find productivity boosts, to save costs, to reduce headcount,' said Amy Webb, CEO of the Future Today Strategy Group, a New York consulting firm specializing in strategic foresight. 'But the real opportunity is top-line growth' − identifying the next waves of innovation and creativity, executing those ideas, and planning for the future more effectively. To use AI strategically, leaders must first understand what kind they're dealing with. What's the difference between analytical AI and generative AI? There are two main types, said Tom Davenport, professor of IT and management at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts: analytical AI, which makes predictions based on structured data, and generative AI, which creates content such as text, images or product ideas. For companies in manufacturing or logistics, analytical AI can predict equipment failures or optimize pricing, he said. For those in media, law, or marketing, generative AI can drastically boost content creation. For instance, Colgate-Palmolive uses generative AI to simulate customer reactions to new products, while Kroger's analytic AI predicts nightly inventory needs for every grocery store, said Davenport, co-author of 'All-in On AI: How Smart Companies Win Big with Artificial Intelligence.' Why AI should also be people-powered or The human side of artificial intelligence Despite AI's power, experts argue for always keeping humans in the loop. Viewing AI just as a job killer is short-sighted, said Thomas Malone, Patrick J. McGovern professor of management at the MIT Sloan School of Management and founding director of the MIT Center for Collective Intelligence. He sees it as a collaborator, not a competitor. Executives should be thinking about 'how can I use this technology (along with its generation of) new ideas about new kinds of products and services to create new jobs and make more profit?' said Malone, author of 'Superminds: The Surprising Power of People and Computers Thinking Together.' Davenport calls for an augmentation mindset – deploying AI to empower employees, rather than to replace them. 'Most of these technologies are not powerful enough or accurate enough to use without some human intervention,' he said. Beyond the rewards, what are the risks of AI? Embracing AI brings risks – but they're not the pop-culture notions that robots will take our jobs and murder us in our sleep, said Webb, author of 'The Big Nine: How the Tech Titans and Their Thinking Machines Could Warp Humanity.' One top risk is data decay – the way information can quickly become obsolete, undermining the effectivenes of AI that depends on it, she said. Over-reliance on external partners is another danger. 'I see a lot of organizations, big and small, bringing in armies of consultants,' a short-term win, that sets up a long-term deficiency, Webb said. 'It creates a huge vulnerability, because that company won't have developed any skills (and remains) reliant on these consultants going forward.' A third risk centers on policy and regulatory uncertainty, she said, meaning companies may have to constantly change gears as laws evolve. AI should be rooted in business strategy, not just handed off to IT, experts say. Embedding it throughout a company is more effective than trying to manage it from above, Malone said. Letting lots of employees experiment with AI, while offering support and training, may yield opportunities both big and small, and get more AI knowledge spread throughout a company. 'There's more risk of trying to steer it top down than trying to have a lot more flowers blooming,' he said. With AI's rapid-fire evolution, leaders need to make sure they don't get boxed into just today's capabilities, Webb said. Rather, they should factor AI into strategic foresight – building scenarios for long-term, data-driven planning, rather than a narrow focus on the next few quarters or years. 'Decisions that are made on artificial intelligence today will have a reverberating effect for decades into the future, at a business level, at a societal level,' she said. Leaders need to plunge into AI now without waiting for others to show the way, Davenport said. That means training people, developing good data and figuring out how AI fits into your business. 'Don't think you can be a fast follower in this area,' he said. 'The idea that you can catch up really quickly without having to make some of the early mistakes that your competitors do, is probably not going to be a good idea. It takes too long to get really good at it – so you should start now.' AI is one case where the hype about transformation may be real. 'This technology has the potential to change business at least as much as the internet did, maybe quite a bit more,' Malone said.
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Business Standard
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Colgate-Palmolive to bring new global brands beyond oral care to India
Consumer goods manufacturer and oral care giant Colgate-Palmolive is looking to introduce more global brands in India in categories beyond oral care, a top executive told Business Standard on Monday. 'There are lots of brands globally that could be a good fit for India. We are in conversation to bring some of them to India. The portfolio has a lot of home care and personal care products that we think have potential in India,' Prabha Narasimhan, managing director and chief executive officer at Colgate-Palmolive, told Business Standard. The company's personal care business in the country has outpaced the category's growth rate of 20 per cent, she further said. Narasimhan was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Oral Health Movement Summit in Delhi, an initiative launched by the company to help 4.5 million people screen their dental health and avail check-ups. Results from the screening show that almost 90 per cent of Indians face dental problems, with 41 per cent at risk of cavities, 44 per cent prone to gum issues, and 14 per cent prone to stains. According to Narasimhan, the consumption slowdown has impacted oral care categories too, along with other categories. 'The way we see the impact of the slowdown on a consumer changing their habits is not by stopping buying toothpaste or downtrading to lesser value products, but by titrating the amount of toothpaste they use per brush,' she said, adding that overall penetration of the category is not impacted. While the company's presence is skewed more towards the urban population, Narasimhan said that rural markets have been a bright spot — extremely buoyant in the last few quarters while outpacing urban. To drive urban growth, the company is betting big on premiumisation across categories. 'Another way is to make our core brands stronger to ensure that we are moving them forward in terms of the technology they offer and the benefits they deliver,' Narasimhan added. Meanwhile, the company witnessed its best year in the toothbrush category, 'driven by the availability of our Rs 20 and Rs 30 packs and selling more premium brushes in the modern trade channel. There continues to be definite headroom on both replacement and uptrading in the category,' she said. Colgate-Palmolive reported a 2 per cent year-on-year fall in revenue for the quarter ended March to Rs 1,452 crore, while its net profit declined 6.5 per cent for the same period to Rs 355 crore.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) Declares Quarterly Dividend of US$0.52 Per Share
Colgate-Palmolive recently affirmed its commitment to delivering consistent value to shareholders by declaring a quarterly cash dividend of $0.52 per common share. The company's stock price experienced a notable 6% rise over the past month. This period also saw significant executive appointments, a positive indicator of strong leadership continuity. Despite broader market turbulence, including geopolitical tensions pushing the Dow Jones down 1.2%, CL's performance remained robust. These internal developments may have bolstered investor confidence, aligning with the broader market upswing that gained 1.6% over the last 7 days. We've spotted 1 risk for Colgate-Palmolive you should be aware of. We've found 18 US stocks that are forecast to pay a dividend yield of over 6% next year. See the full list for free. The recent executive appointments and the declaration of a US$0.52 per share dividend by Colgate-Palmolive may suggest a continuity in strategic vision and commitment to shareholder returns. These developments could reinforce confidence among investors, as reflected in a 6% increase in the stock price over the past month, aligning with the company's resilient performance during a period of broader market volatility. In terms of historical performance, Colgate-Palmolive's shares have achieved a total return of 42.16% over the last five years, showing a strong long-term trajectory despite short-term fluctuations. Over the past year, the company exceeded the US Household Products industry performance, which saw a 2.7% decline, though it underperformed the broader US market's 11.7% return. The company's focus on innovation and premiumization, particularly with product relaunches like Colgate Total and Hill's Science Diet, could drive future revenue and earnings growth. Analysts forecast revenue to grow by 3.4% annually, with earnings expected to reach US$3.5 billion by 2028. Market challenges, particularly tariff impacts and softened conditions in China and Latin America, pose risks to these forecasts. Despite these challenges and the current share price of US$91.0, the analyst consensus price target stands at US$98.76, indicating optimism towards future growth. The modest gap between the current price and the target suggests analysts see Colgate-Palmolive as fairly priced on average, though this requires careful consideration of various growth and risk factors. Review our growth performance report to gain insights into Colgate-Palmolive's future. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include NYSE:CL. This article was originally published by Simply Wall St. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) Declares Quarterly Dividend of US$0.52 Per Share
Colgate-Palmolive recently affirmed its commitment to delivering consistent value to shareholders by declaring a quarterly cash dividend of $0.52 per common share. The company's stock price experienced a notable 6% rise over the past month. This period also saw significant executive appointments, a positive indicator of strong leadership continuity. Despite broader market turbulence, including geopolitical tensions pushing the Dow Jones down 1.2%, CL's performance remained robust. These internal developments may have bolstered investor confidence, aligning with the broader market upswing that gained 1.6% over the last 7 days. We've spotted 1 risk for Colgate-Palmolive you should be aware of. We've found 18 US stocks that are forecast to pay a dividend yield of over 6% next year. See the full list for free. The recent executive appointments and the declaration of a US$0.52 per share dividend by Colgate-Palmolive may suggest a continuity in strategic vision and commitment to shareholder returns. These developments could reinforce confidence among investors, as reflected in a 6% increase in the stock price over the past month, aligning with the company's resilient performance during a period of broader market volatility. In terms of historical performance, Colgate-Palmolive's shares have achieved a total return of 42.16% over the last five years, showing a strong long-term trajectory despite short-term fluctuations. Over the past year, the company exceeded the US Household Products industry performance, which saw a 2.7% decline, though it underperformed the broader US market's 11.7% return. The company's focus on innovation and premiumization, particularly with product relaunches like Colgate Total and Hill's Science Diet, could drive future revenue and earnings growth. Analysts forecast revenue to grow by 3.4% annually, with earnings expected to reach US$3.5 billion by 2028. Market challenges, particularly tariff impacts and softened conditions in China and Latin America, pose risks to these forecasts. Despite these challenges and the current share price of US$91.0, the analyst consensus price target stands at US$98.76, indicating optimism towards future growth. The modest gap between the current price and the target suggests analysts see Colgate-Palmolive as fairly priced on average, though this requires careful consideration of various growth and risk factors. Review our growth performance report to gain insights into Colgate-Palmolive's future. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include NYSE:CL. This article was originally published by Simply Wall St. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Household Products Stocks Q1 Results: Benchmarking Clorox (NYSE:CLX)
As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here's a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q1. Today, we are looking at household products stocks, starting with Clorox (NYSE:CLX). Household products stocks are generally stable investments, as many of the industry's products are essential for a comfortable and functional living space. Recently, there's been a growing emphasis on eco-friendly and sustainable offerings, reflecting the evolving consumer preferences for environmentally conscious options. These trends can be double-edged swords that benefit companies who innovate quickly to take advantage of them and hurt companies that don't invest enough to meet consumers where they want to be with regards to trends. The 10 household products stocks we track reported a slower Q1. As a group, revenues missed analysts' consensus estimates by 2.2% while next quarter's revenue guidance was in line. While some household products stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 4% since the latest earnings results. Founded in 1913 with bleach as the sole product offering, Clorox (NYSE:CLX) today is a consumer products giant whose product portfolio spans everything from bleach to skincare to salad dressing to kitty litter. Clorox reported revenues of $1.67 billion, down 8% year on year. This print fell short of analysts' expectations by 3.3%. Overall, it was a softer quarter for the company with a miss of analysts' adjusted operating income and organic revenue estimates. "In the third quarter, heightened macroeconomic uncertainties drove changes in shopping behaviors, resulting in temporary category slowdowns and lower sales. We expect these slowdowns to persist in the fourth quarter, as reflected in our updated outlook," said Chair and CEO Linda Rendle. Clorox delivered the slowest revenue growth of the whole group. The stock is down 8% since reporting and currently trades at $127.25. Is now the time to buy Clorox? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free. Formed after the 1928 combination between toothpaste maker Colgate and soap maker Palmolive-Peet, Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) is a consumer products company that focuses on personal, household, and pet products. Colgate-Palmolive reported revenues of $4.91 billion, down 3.1% year on year, outperforming analysts' expectations by 0.6%. The business had a satisfactory quarter with an impressive beat of analysts' EBITDA estimates but a miss of analysts' organic revenue estimates. Colgate-Palmolive pulled off the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 1.9% since reporting. It currently trades at $90.97. Is now the time to buy Colgate-Palmolive? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free. A leader in multiple consumer product categories, Spectrum Brands (NYSE:SPB) is a diversified company with a portfolio of trusted brands spanning home appliances, garden care, personal care, and pet care. Spectrum Brands reported revenues of $675.7 million, down 6% year on year, falling short of analysts' expectations by 2.2%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts' adjusted operating income estimates. As expected, the stock is down 9.2% since the results and currently trades at $56.12. Read our full analysis of Spectrum Brands's results here. Short for 'Water Displacement perfected on the 40th try', WD-40 (NASDAQ:WDFC) is a renowned American consumer goods company known for its iconic and versatile spray, WD-40 Multi-Use Product. WD-40 reported revenues of $146.1 million, up 5% year on year. This number missed analysts' expectations by 5.4%. It was a slower quarter as it also logged a significant miss of analysts' EBITDA estimates and full-year revenue guidance missing analysts' expectations. WD-40 pulled off the fastest revenue growth but had the weakest performance against analyst estimates among its peers. The stock is up 2.3% since reporting and currently trades at $243.26. Read our full, actionable report on WD-40 here, it's free. Originally founded as a Wisconsin paper mill in 1872, Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB) is now a household products powerhouse known for personal care and tissue products. Kimberly-Clark reported revenues of $4.84 billion, down 6% year on year. This print came in 1% below analysts' expectations. Overall, it was a slower quarter as it also produced a miss of analysts' organic revenue estimates and adjusted operating income in line with analysts' estimates. The stock is down 5% since reporting and currently trades at $133.10. Read our full, actionable report on Kimberly-Clark here, it's free. Thanks to the Fed's series of rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has cooled significantly from its post-pandemic highs, drawing closer to the 2% goal. This disinflation has occurred without severely impacting economic growth, suggesting the success of a soft landing. The stock market thrived in 2024, spurred by recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% in November), and a notable surge followed Donald Trump's presidential election win in November, propelling indices to historic highs. Nonetheless, the outlook for 2025 remains clouded by potential trade policy changes and corporate tax discussions, which could impact business confidence and growth. The path forward holds both optimism and caution as new policies take shape. Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Strong Momentum Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. 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