Who Owns Colgate?
Colgate is owned by Colgate-Palmolive Company, a publicly traded American multinational consumer products company founded by William Colgate in 1806. Colgate-Palmolive trades on NYSE under ticker CL and is headquartered in New York, USA.
Parent Company
Colgate-Palmolive Company
Founded
1873
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
New York, USA
Who Owns Colgate?
- Parent Company: Colgate-Palmolive Company
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NYSE: CL
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Colgate | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Wholly owned |
History of Colgate
- Founded: 1873
- Founders: William Colgate
Colgate traces its origins to 1806 when William Colgate founded a starch, soap, and candle business in New York City. The company expanded into toothpaste production in 1873, introducing Colgate Toothpaste in a jar. This founding vision demonstrated exceptional insight into the growing demand for oral care products while establishing a distinctive approach that would define the dental hygiene category for generations.
In 1896, Colgate introduced toothpaste in a collapsible tube, the same packaging used today. This innovation revolutionized oral care and established Colgate as a leader in dental hygiene products. This packaging innovation demonstrated exceptional ability to create user-friendly products that could serve specific consumer needs while establishing new oral care categories.
Throughout the 20th century, Colgate expanded globally and diversified its oral care product line. The company introduced Colgate Total toothpaste in 1997, offering 12-hour protection against germs and becoming one of the most successful oral care launches. This global expansion demonstrated Colgate's exceptional ability to scale operations while maintaining consistent brand positioning and quality standards that would define the brand for decades.
Colgate has maintained its global leadership position in oral care through continuous innovation, dental research, and partnerships with dental professionals worldwide. The brand has expanded into toothbrushes, mouthwash, and specialized dental products. This continued evolution demonstrates Colgate's exceptional ability to adapt to changing scientific advancements and consumer preferences while maintaining its core brand values and commitment to quality oral care solutions. The brand's continued success represents a significant milestone in the evolution of dental hygiene products and consumer-focused oral care brands.
About Colgate-Palmolive Company
What does Colgate-Palmolive own?
Colgate-Palmolive owns a portfolio of consumer brands across four categories: oral care (Colgate, elmex), personal care (Palmolive, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Speed Stick), home care (Ajax, Fabuloso, Murphy Oil Soap), and pet nutrition (Hill's Science Diet, Hill's Prescription Diet). The Colgate brand holds the number one global market share in toothpaste.
Is Colgate-Palmolive publicly traded?
Yes, Colgate-Palmolive Company trades on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker symbol CL. The company has no controlling shareholder, with ownership distributed among institutional investors including Vanguard Group and BlackRock.
What is Colgate-Palmolive's annual revenue?
In FY2024, Colgate-Palmolive reported net sales of approximately $20.1 billion, a 3.3% increase from $19.46 billion in FY2023. Hill's Pet Nutrition contributed approximately $4.48 billion, representing approximately 22% of total revenue.
Who is Colgate-Palmolive's CEO?
Noel Wallace has served as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Colgate-Palmolive since 2019 (CEO) and 2020 (Chairman). He joined the company in 1987 and progressed through senior management roles across multiple geographies before becoming CEO.
Who founded Colgate-Palmolive?
The Colgate business was founded by William Colgate in 1806 in New York City as a starch, soap, and candle manufacturer. The modern Colgate-Palmolive Company was formed through the 1928 merger of Colgate Company and Palmolive-Peet Company.
What is Hill's Pet Nutrition?
Hill's Pet Nutrition is a Colgate-Palmolive subsidiary that markets premium science-based pet food under the Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet brands. Acquired by Colgate-Palmolive in 1976, Hill's pioneered the concept of veterinary-channel pet food and generated approximately $4.48 billion in net sales in FY2024, making it one of the most valuable assets in the Colgate-Palmolive portfolio.
- Founded: 1806
- Headquarters: New York, New York, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NYSE: CL
Where Is Colgate Made / Based?
- Headquarters: New York, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States, Mexico, Brazil, India, Various international locations
Brands Owned by Colgate-Palmolive Company
- Ajax - American brand of household cleaning products including surface cleaners, dish s...
Colgate Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Strong global leadership position in oral care market
- +Backed by Colgate-Palmolive's extensive resources and distribution
- +Strong brand recognition and consumer trust
- +Continuous innovation in dental care technology
- +Professional endorsements from dental community
Considerations
- -Competition from other oral care brands like Crest and Sensodyne
- -Dependency on retail channel relationships and shelf space
- -Need for continuous innovation in dental technology
- -Regulatory pressures regarding health claims and ingredients
- -Competition from natural and organic oral care products
Frequently Asked Questions About Colgate
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Colgate on AmazonCompetitors to Colgate
No direct competitors found in the same category. This could be because Colgateoperates in a unique market segment or we're still building our competitor database.
Colgate-Palmolive Company Stock Information
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