COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO
For the period ended Sep 30, 2024. Filed Oct 25, 2024.
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A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.
Sep 30, 2024 · Filed Oct 25, 2024
Contents
Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
| Three Months Ended · Nine Months Ended | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, | September 30, | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Net sales | $5,033 | $4,915 | $15,156 | $14,507 |
| Cost of sales | 1,959 | 2,038 | 5,977 | 6,131 |
| Gross profit | 3,074 | 2,877 | 9,179 | 8,376 |
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 1,979 | 1,822 | 5,833 | 5,348 |
| Other (income) expense, net | 30 | 26 | 141 | 116 |
| Operating profit | 1,065 | 1,029 | 3,205 | 2,912 |
| Non-service related postretirement costs | 23 | 15 | 67 | 338 |
| Interest (income) expense, net | 56 | 58 | 175 | 170 |
| Income before income taxes | 986 | 956 | 2,963 | 2,404 |
| Provision for income taxes | 210 | 209 | 693 | 709 |
| Net income including noncontrolling interests | 776 | 747 | 2,270 | 1,695 |
| Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | 39 | 39 | 120 | 113 |
| Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company | $737 | $708 | $2,150 | $1,582 |
| Earnings per common share, basic | $0.90 | $0.86 | $2.62 | $1.91 |
| Earnings per common share, diluted | $0.90 | $0.86 | $2.61 | $1.90 |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
| Three Months Ended · Nine Months Ended | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, | September 30, | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Net income including noncontrolling interests | $776 | $747 | $2,270 | $1,695 |
| Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: | ||||
| Cumulative translation adjustments | 44 | (79) | (168) | (9) |
| Retirement plans and other retiree benefit adjustments | 21 | 32 | 32 | 45 |
| Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges | (7) | 5 | (5) | 1 |
| Total Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | 58 | (42) | (141) | 37 |
| Total Comprehensive income including noncontrolling interests | 834 | 705 | 2,129 | 1,732 |
| Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | 39 | 39 | 120 | 113 |
| Less: Cumulative translation adjustments attributable to noncontrolling interests | 3 | (3) | (5) | (44) |
| Total Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests | 42 | 36 | 115 | 69 |
| Total Comprehensive income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company | $792 | $669 | $2,014 | $1,663 |
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
| September 30,2024 | December 31,2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Assets | ||
| Current Assets | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $1,234 | $966 |
| Receivables (net of allowances of $88 and $80, respectively) | 1,712 | 1,586 |
| Inventories | 2,041 | 1,934 |
| Other current assets | 819 | 793 |
| Total current assets | 5,806 | 5,279 |
| Property, plant and equipment: | ||
| Cost | 10,238 | 10,286 |
| Less: Accumulated depreciation | (5,817) | (5,704) |
| 4,421 | 4,582 | |
| Goodwill | 3,389 | 3,410 |
| Other intangible assets, net | 1,834 | 1,887 |
| Deferred income taxes | 219 | 214 |
| Other assets | 1,105 | 1,021 |
| Total assets | $16,774 | $16,393 |
| Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity | ||
| Current Liabilities | ||
| Notes and loans payable | $507 | $310 |
| Current portion of long-term debt | 20 | 20 |
| Accounts payable | 1,625 | 1,698 |
| Accrued income taxes | 347 | 336 |
| Other accruals | 3,066 | 2,377 |
| Total current liabilities | 5,565 | 4,741 |
| Long-term debt | 7,909 | 8,219 |
| Deferred income taxes | 320 | 361 |
| Other liabilities | 2,144 | 2,115 |
| Total liabilities | 15,938 | 15,436 |
| Shareholders’ Equity | ||
| Common stock, $1 par value (2,000,000,000 shares authorized, 1,465,706,360 shares issued) | 1,466 | 1,466 |
| Additional paid-in capital | 4,142 | 3,808 |
| Retained earnings | 25,814 | 25,289 |
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | (4,074) | (3,937) |
| Treasury stock, at cost | (26,913) | (26,017) |
| Total Colgate-Palmolive Company shareholders’ equity | 435 | 609 |
| Noncontrolling interests | 401 | 348 |
| Total equity | 836 | 957 |
| Total liabilities and equity | $16,774 | $16,393 |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
| Nine Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|
| September 30, | ||
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Operating Activities | ||
| Net income including noncontrolling interests | $2,270 | $1,695 |
| Adjustments to reconcile net income including noncontrolling interests to net cash provided by operations: | ||
| Depreciation and amortization | 457 | 417 |
| ERISA litigation matter | — | 267 |
| Restructuring and termination benefits, net of cash | 54 | (17) |
| Stock-based compensation expense | 108 | 97 |
| Deferred income taxes | (98) | (109) |
| Cash effects of changes in: | ||
| Receivables | (184) | (62) |
| Inventories | (94) | 150 |
| Accounts payable and other accruals | 327 | 168 |
| Other non-current assets and liabilities | (2) | 3 |
| Net cash provided by (used in) operations | 2,838 | 2,609 |
| Investing Activities | ||
| Capital expenditures | (377) | (508) |
| Purchases of marketable securities and investments | (358) | (324) |
| Proceeds from sale of marketable securities and investments | 260 | 264 |
| Other investing activities | 21 | (31) |
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | (454) | (599) |
| Financing Activities | ||
| Short-term borrowing (repayment) less than 90 days, net | 337 | (564) |
| Principal payments of debt | (502) | (903) |
| Proceeds from issuance of debt | 2 | 1,497 |
| Dividends paid | (1,275) | (1,243) |
| Purchases of treasury shares | (1,284) | (883) |
| Proceeds from exercise of stock options | 611 | 325 |
| Other financing activities | 1 | (30) |
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (2,110) | (1,801) |
| Effect of exchange rate changes on Cash and cash equivalents | (6) | (33) |
| Net increase (decrease) in Cash and cash equivalents | 268 | 176 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period | 966 | 775 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period | $1,234 | $951 |
| Supplemental Cash Flow Information | ||
| Income taxes paid | $762 | $726 |
| Interest paid | $267 | $243 |
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colgate-Palmolive Company Shareholders’ Equity | |||||||
| CommonStock | AdditionalPaid-inCapital | UnearnedCompensation | TreasuryStock | RetainedEarnings | AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncome (Loss)(1) | NoncontrollingInterests | |
| Balance, June 30, 2024 | $1,466 | $4,035 | $— | $(26,736) | $25,486 | $(4,128) | $359 |
| Net income | — | — | — | — | 737 | — | 39 |
| Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | 55 | 3 |
| Dividends ($0.50 per share) | — | — | — | — | (409) | — | — |
| Stock-based compensation expense | — | 65 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Shares issued for stock options | — | 71 | — | 87 | — | — | — |
| Shares issued for restricted stock units | — | (29) | — | 29 | — | — | — |
| Treasury stock acquired | — | — | — | (295) | — | — | — |
| Other | — | — | — | 2 | — | (1) | — |
| Balance, September 30, 2024 | $1,466 | $4,142 | $— | $(26,913) | $25,814 | $(4,074) | $401 |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colgate-Palmolive Company Shareholders’ Equity | |||||||
| CommonStock | AdditionalPaid-inCapital | UnearnedCompensation | TreasuryStock | RetainedEarnings | AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncome (Loss)(1) | NoncontrollingInterests | |
| Balance, June 30, 2023 | $1,466 | $3,688 | $— | $(25,541) | $24,258 | $(3,935) | $379 |
| Net income | — | — | — | — | 708 | — | 39 |
| Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | (39) | (3) |
| Dividends ($0.48 per share) | — | — | — | — | (395) | — | — |
| Stock-based compensation expense | — | 60 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Shares issued for stock options | — | 29 | — | 25 | — | — | — |
| Shares issued for restricted stock units | — | (16) | — | 16 | — | — | — |
| Treasury stock acquired | — | — | — | (332) | — | — | — |
| Other | — | 1 | — | (2) | — | — | — |
| Balance, September 30, 2023 | $1,466 | $3,762 | $— | $(25,834) | $24,571 | $(3,974) | $415 |
(1)Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) includes cumulative translation losses of $3,515 at September 30, 2024 ($3,458 at September 30, 2023) and $3,555 at June 30, 2024 ($3,381 at June 30, 2023), respectively, and unrecognized retirement plan and other retiree benefits costs of $615 at September 30, 2024 ($586 at September 30, 2023) and $636 at June 30, 2024 ($618 at June 30, 2023), respectively.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colgate-Palmolive Company Shareholders’ Equity | |||||||
| CommonStock | AdditionalPaid-inCapital | UnearnedCompensation | TreasuryStock | RetainedEarnings | AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncome (Loss)(1) | NoncontrollingInterests | |
| Balance, December 31, 2023 | $1,466 | $3,808 | $— | $(26,017) | $25,289 | $(3,937) | $348 |
| Net income | — | — | — | — | 2,150 | — | 120 |
| Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | (136) | (5) |
| Dividends ($1.98 per share)* | — | — | — | — | (1,625) | — | (63) |
| Stock-based compensation expense | — | 108 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Shares issued for stock options | — | 273 | — | 337 | — | — | — |
| Shares issued for restricted stock units | — | (51) | — | 51 | — | — | — |
| Treasury stock acquired | — | — | — | (1,284) | — | — | — |
| Other | — | 4 | — | — | — | (1) | 1 |
| Balance, September 30, 2024 | $1,466 | $4,142 | $— | $(26,913) | $25,814 | $(4,074) | $401 |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colgate-Palmolive Company Shareholders’ Equity | |||||||
| CommonStock | AdditionalPaid-inCapital | UnearnedCompensation | TreasuryStock | RetainedEarnings | AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncome (Loss)(1) | NoncontrollingInterests | |
| Balance, December 31, 2022 | $1,466 | $3,546 | $(1) | $(25,128) | $24,573 | $(4,055) | $405 |
| Net income | — | — | — | — | 1,582 | — | 113 |
| Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | 81 | (44) |
| Dividends ($1.91 per share)* | — | — | — | — | (1,584) | — | (59) |
| Stock-based compensation expense | — | 97 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Shares issued for stock options | — | 145 | — | 152 | — | — | — |
| Shares issued for restricted stock units | — | (30) | — | 30 | — | — | — |
| Treasury stock acquired | — | — | — | (883) | — | — | — |
| Other | — | 4 | 1 | (5) | — | — | — |
| Balance, September 30, 2023 | $1,466 | $3,762 | $— | $(25,834) | $24,571 | $(3,974) | $415 |
(1)Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) includes cumulative translation losses of $3,515 at September 30, 2024 ($3,458 at September 30, 2023) and $3,351 at December 31, 2023 ($3,491 at December 31, 2022), respectively, and unrecognized retirement plan and other retiree benefits costs of $615 at September 30, 2024 ($586 at September 30, 2023) and $647 at December 31, 2023 ($631 at December 31, 2022), respectively.
- Two dividends were declared in each of the first quarters of 2024 and 2023.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
- Basis of Presentation
The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments which, in management’s opinion, are necessary for a fair statement of the results for interim periods. Results of operations for interim periods may not be representative of results to be expected for a full year. Note that certain columns and rows may not sum due to rounding. Colgate-Palmolive Company (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company” or “Colgate”) reclassifies certain prior year amounts, as applicable, to conform to the current year presentation.
For a complete set of financial statement notes, including the Company’s significant accounting policies, refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
- Use of Estimates
Provisions for certain expenses, including income taxes, advertising and consumer promotion, are based on full year assumptions and are included in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in proportion with estimated annual tax rates, the passage of time or estimated annual sales, as applicable.
- Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Disclosure Rules
In March 2024, the SEC finalized rules intended to enhance and standardize climate-related disclosures in registrants’ registration statements and Annual Reports on Form 10-K. The new rules would require climate-related disclosures, including as they relate to governance, strategy, risk management, targets and goals and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the rules would require certain climate-related disclosures as it relates to severe weather events and other natural conditions and carbon offsets and renewable energy credits. In April 2024, the SEC voluntarily stayed the rules due to pending judicial review. As these rules only impact disclosures, they will not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures.” This ASU improves the transparency of income tax disclosures by requiring consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation, and income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. This guidance is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. As this accounting standard only impacts disclosures, it will not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-08, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Crypto Assets (Subtopic 350-60): Accounting for and Disclosure of Crypto Assets.” This ASU improves the accounting for certain crypto assets by requiring companies to measure them at fair value for each reporting period with changes in fair value recognized in net income. This guidance is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 and is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures.” This ASU modified the disclosure and presentation requirements primarily through enhanced disclosures of significant segment expenses and other segment items. This guidance is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. As this accounting standard only impacts disclosures, it will not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
In October 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-06, “Disclosure Improvements-Codification Amendments in Response to the SEC’s Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative.” This ASU modified the disclosure and presentation requirements of a variety of codification topics by aligning them with the SEC’s regulations. This guidance is effective for the Company no later than June 30, 2027. As this accounting standard only impacts disclosures, it will not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
In August 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-05, “Business Combinations-Joint Venture Formations (Subtopic 805-60): Recognition and Initial Measurement.” This ASU requires a joint venture to initially measure all contributions received upon its formation at fair value. This guidance is applicable to joint ventures with a formation date on or after January 1, 2025 and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
In March 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-01, “Leases (Topic 842): Common Control Arrangements.” This ASU clarified the accounting for leasehold improvements for leases under common control. The guidance was effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2024 and did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
In September 2022, the FASB issued ASU No. 2022-04, “Liabilities-Supplier Finance Programs (Subtopic 405-50): Disclosure of Supplier Finance Program Obligations.” This ASU requires a buyer that uses supplier finance programs to make annual disclosures about the programs’ key terms, the balance sheet presentation of related amounts, the confirmed amount outstanding at the end of the period and associated roll-forward information. The Company adopted the guidance beginning on January 1, 2023, and with respect to the roll-forward information disclosure, beginning on January 1, 2024. See Note 12, Supplier Finance Program for additional information.
- Restructuring and Related Implementation Charges
On January 27, 2022, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved a targeted productivity program (the “2022 Global Productivity Initiative”). All initiatives under the program have been implemented as of the third quarter of 2024 and the Company expects to incur the remaining charges by the end of 2024. The 2022 Global Productivity Initiative resulted in the reallocation of resources towards the Company’s strategic priorities and faster growth businesses, efficiencies in the Company’s operations and the streamlining of its supply chain to reduce structural costs.
Total pretax charges from the implementation of the 2022 Global Productivity Initiative are expected to be approximately $225 ($180 aftertax), once all the charges are recorded, which is comprised of the following categories: employee-related costs, including severance, pension and other termination benefits (80%); asset-related costs, primarily accelerated depreciation and asset write-downs (5%); and other charges (15%), which include contract termination costs, consisting primarily of implementation-related charges resulting directly from exit activities and the implementation of new strategies. It is expected that approximately 80% of the charges will result in cash expenditures.
For the three months ended September 30, 2024, charges resulting from the 2022 Global Productivity Initiative were $15 pretax ($13 aftertax). For the three months ended September 30, 2023, charges resulting from the 2022 Global Productivity Initiative were $2 pretax ($2 aftertax).
For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, charges resulting from the 2022 Global Productivity Initiative are reflected in the income statement as follows:
| Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Gross Profit | $19 | $1 |
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 4 | 2 |
| Other (income) expense, net | 54 | 22 |
| Non-service related postretirement costs | — | 4 |
| Total 2022 Global Productivity Initiative charges, pretax | $77 | $29 |
| Total 2022 Global Productivity Initiative charges, aftertax | $67 | $23 |
Restructuring and related implementation charges were recorded in the Corporate segment as these initiatives are predominantly centrally directed and controlled and are not included in internal measures of segment operating performance.
Total charges incurred for the 2022 Global Productivity Initiative relate to initiatives undertaken by the following reportable operating segments and Corporate:
| Nine Months Ended September 30, · Program-to-dateAccumulated Charges | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 · 2023 | |||
| North America(1) | 3% | 15% | 9% |
| Latin America | —% | 1% | 9% |
| Europe(1) | 88% | 19% | 43% |
| Asia Pacific | —% | 21% | 7% |
| Africa/Eurasia | —% | 10% | 6% |
| Hill's Pet Nutrition | 7% | 14% | 12% |
| Corporate | 2% | 20% | 14% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% |
(1)The Company has recast its historical geographic segment information to conform to the reporting structure effective as of July 1, 2024. The results of the skin health business previously reported within the Europe reportable operating segment are reported with the other skin health businesses in the North America reportable operating segment. See Note 10, Segment Information for additional details.
Since the inception of the 2022 Global Productivity Initiative, the Company has incurred cumulative pretax charges of $220 ($178 aftertax) in connection with the implementation of various projects as follows:
| Cumulative Charges | |
|---|---|
| as of September 30, 2024 | |
| Employee-Related Costs | $175 |
| Incremental Depreciation | 13 |
| Asset Impairments | 1 |
| Other | 31 |
| Total | $220 |
The following table summarizes the activity for the restructuring and related implementation charges discussed above and the related accruals:
| Employee-RelatedCosts | IncrementalDepreciation | AssetImpairments | Other | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | $10 | $— | $— | $1 | $11 |
| Charges | 49 | 13 | — | 15 | 77 |
| Cash Payments | (13) | — | — | (10) | (23) |
| Charges against assets | — | (13) | — | — | (13) |
| Foreign exchange | (1) | — | — | — | (1) |
| Balance at September 30, 2024 | $45 | $— | $— | $6 | $51 |
Employee-Related Costs primarily include severance and other termination benefits and are calculated based on long-standing benefit practices, written severance policies, local statutory requirements and, in certain cases, voluntary termination arrangements. Employee-Related Costs also include pension enhancements which are reflected as Charges against assets within Employee-Related Costs in the preceding table as the corresponding balance sheet amounts are reflected as a reduction of pension assets or an increase in pension liabilities. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, there wereno pension enhancements included in Charges against assets within Employee-Related Costs.
Incremental Depreciation is recorded to reflect changes in useful lives and estimated residual values for long-lived assets that will be taken out of service prior to the end of their normal service period. Asset Impairments are recorded to write down inventories and assets held for sale or disposal to their fair value based on amounts expected to be realized. Charges against assets within Asset Impairments are net of cash proceeds pertaining to the sale of certain assets.
- Inventories
Inventories by major class were as follows:
| September 30,2024 | December 31,2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Raw materials and supplies | $620 | $606 |
| Work-in-process | 49 | 46 |
| Finished goods | 1,489 | 1,411 |
| Total Inventories, net | $2,158 | $2,063 |
| Non-current inventory, net | (117) | (129) |
| Current Inventories, net | $2,041 | $1,934 |
- Earnings Per Share
For the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, earnings per share were as follows:
| Three Months Ended | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2024 · September 30, 2023 | |||||||
| Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company · Shares(millions) · PerShare · Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company · Shares(millions) · PerShare | |||||||
| Basic EPS | $737 | 817.7 | $0.90 | $708 | 825.6 | $0.86 | |
| Stock options and restricted stock units | 4.8 | 1.7 | |||||
| Diluted EPS | $737 | 822.5 | $0.90 | $708 | 827.3 | $0.86 | |
For the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the average number of stock options and restricted stock units that were anti-dilutive and not included in diluted earnings per share calculations were 315,441 and 13,538,153, respectively.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, earnings per share were as follows:
| Nine Months Ended | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2024 · September 30, 2023 | |||||||
| Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company · Shares(millions) · PerShare · Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company · Shares(millions) · PerShare | |||||||
| Basic EPS | $2,150 | 820.1 | $2.62 | $1,582 | 828.8 | $1.91 | |
| Stock options and restricted stock units | 4.1 | 1.7 | |||||
| Diluted EPS | $2,150 | 824.2 | $2.61 | $1,582 | 830.5 | $1.90 | |
For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the average number of stock options and restricted stock units that were anti-dilutive and not included in diluted earnings per share calculations were 113,356 and 13,504,588, respectively.
Basic and diluted earnings per share are computed independently for each quarter and any year-to-date period presented. As a result of changes in the number of shares outstanding during the year and rounding, the sum of the quarters’ earnings per share may not necessarily equal the earnings per share for any year-to-date period.
- Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Additions to and reclassifications out of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Cumulative translation adjustments, pre-tax | $(10) | $(46) | $(175) | $60 |
| Tax amounts | 51 | (30) | 12 | (25) |
| Cumulative translation adjustments, net of tax | 41 | (76) | (163) | 35 |
| Pension and other benefits: | ||||
| Net actuarial gains (losses), prior service costs and settlements during the period | 22 | 40 | 21 | 40 |
| Amortization of net actuarial losses (gains), transition and prior service costs(1) | 7 | 7 | 22 | 23 |
| Retirement Plan and other retiree benefit adjustments, pre-tax | 29 | 47 | 43 | 63 |
| Tax amounts | (8) | (15) | (11) | (18) |
| Retirement Plan and other retiree benefit adjustments, net of tax | 21 | 32 | 32 | 45 |
| Cash flow hedges: | ||||
| Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, pre-tax | (8) | 7 | (6) | 1 |
| Tax amounts | 1 | (2) | 1 | — |
| Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, net of tax | (7) | 5 | (5) | 1 |
| Total Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | $55 | $(39) | $(136) | $81 |
(1)These components of Other comprehensive income (loss) are included in the computation of total pension cost. See Note 8, Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits for additional details.
There were no tax impacts on Other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCI”) attributable to Noncontrolling interests.
- Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits
Components of Net periodic benefit cost for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:
| Three Months Ended September 30, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pension Benefits · Other Retiree Benefits | ||||||
| United States · International | ||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Service cost | $1 | $— | $3 | $3 | $2 | $2 |
| Interest cost | 23 | 20 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 |
| Expected return on plan assets | (20) | (20) | (7) | (5) | — | — |
| Amortization of actuarial losses (gains) | 10 | 12 | 2 | 1 | (5) | (6) |
| Net periodic benefit cost | $14 | $12 | $5 | $5 | $5 | $3 |
| Other postretirement charges | 5 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Total pension cost | $19 | $12 | $5 | $5 | $5 | $3 |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pension Benefits · Other Retiree Benefits | ||||||
| United States · International | ||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Service cost | $1 | $— | $11 | $9 | $6 | $6 |
| Interest cost | 70 | 68 | 22 | 22 | 26 | 29 |
| Expected return on plan assets | (58) | (61) | (20) | (14) | — | — |
| Amortization of actuarial losses (gains) | 31 | 34 | 4 | 3 | (13) | (14) |
| Net periodic benefit cost | $44 | $41 | $17 | $20 | $19 | $21 |
| Other postretirement charges | 5 | 4 | — | — | — | — |
| ERISA litigation matter | — | 267 | — | — | — | — |
| Total pension cost | $49 | $312 | $17 | $20 | $19 | $21 |
Other postretirement charges for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 included pension and other charges amounting to $5. Other postretirement charges for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 included pension and other charges of $0 and $4, respectively, incurred pursuant to the 2022 Global Productivity Initiative.
In the first quarter of 2023, the Company recorded a charge of $267 as a result of a decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (the “Second Circuit”) affirming a grant of summary judgment to the plaintiffs in a lawsuit under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) seeking the recalculation of benefits and other relief associated with a 2005 residual annuity amendment to the Colgate-Palmolive Company Employees’ Retirement Income Plan (the “Retirement Plan”). The decision resulted in an increase in the obligations of the Retirement Plan, which based on the current funded status of the Retirement Plan and depending on the asset performance, impact of interest rates for the remainder of the year and further developments in the litigation, may require a cash contribution by the Company in 2025. See Note 9, Contingencies for additional information.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company madeno voluntary contributions to its U.S. postretirement plans.
- Contingencies
As a global company serving consumers in more than 200 countries and territories, the Company is routinely subject to a wide variety of legal proceedings. These include disputes relating to intellectual property, contracts, product liability, marketing, advertising, foreign exchange controls, antitrust and trade regulation, as well as labor and employment, pension, data privacy and security, environmental and tax matters and consumer class actions. In addition, management proactively reviews and monitors the Company’s exposure to, and the impact of, environmental matters. The Company is party to various environmental matters and, as such, may be responsible for all or a portion of the cleanup, restoration and post-closure monitoring of several sites.
The Company establishes accruals for loss contingencies when it has determined that a loss is probable and that the amount of loss, or range of loss, can be reasonably estimated. Any such accruals are adjusted thereafter as appropriate to reflect changes in circumstances.
The Company also determines estimates of reasonably possible losses or ranges of reasonably possible losses in excess of related accrued liabilities, if any, when it has determined that a loss is reasonably possible and it is able to determine such estimates. For those matters disclosed below for which the amount of any potential losses can be reasonably estimated, the Company currently estimates that the aggregate range of reasonably possible losses in excess of any accrued liabilities is $0 to approximately $275 (based on current exchange rates). The estimates included in this amount are based on the Company’s analysis of currently available information and, as new information is obtained, these estimates may change. Due to the inherent subjectivity of the assessments and the unpredictability of outcomes of legal proceedings, any amounts accrued or included in this aggregate range may not represent the ultimate loss to the Company. Thus, the Company’s exposure and ultimate losses may be higher or lower, and possibly significantly so, than the amounts accrued or the range disclosed above.
Based on current knowledge, management does not believe that the ultimate resolution of loss contingencies arising from the matters discussed herein will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or its ongoing results of operations or cash flows. However, in light of the inherent uncertainties noted above, an adverse outcome in one or more matters could be material to the Company’s results of operations or cash flows for any particular quarter or year.
Brazilian Matters
There are certain tax and civil proceedings outstanding, as described below, related to the Company’s 1995 acquisition of the Kolynos oral care business from Wyeth (the “Seller”).
The Brazilian internal revenue authority has disallowed interest deductions and foreign exchange losses taken by the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary for certain years in connection with the financing of the Kolynos acquisition. The tax assessments with interest, penalties and any court-mandated fees, at the current exchange rate, are approximately $105. This amount includes additional assessments received from the Brazilian internal revenue authority in April 2016 relating to net operating loss carryforwards used by the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary to offset taxable income that had also been deducted from the authority’s original assessments. The Company has been disputing the disallowances by appealing the assessments since October 2001.
In each of September 2015, February 2017, September 2018, April 2019 and August 2020, the Company lost an administrative appeal and subsequently challenged these assessments in the Brazilian federal courts. Currently, there arethree lawsuits pending in the Lower Federal Court andtwo cases have progressed to the Federal Court of Appeals. Although there can be no assurances, management believes, based on the opinion of its Brazilian legal counsel, that the disallowances are without merit and that the Company should ultimately prevail. The Company is challenging these disallowances vigorously. In November 2023, based upon changes in Brazilian tax law, the Company filed petitions inthree of the actions requesting that the penalty portion of the claim be removed. The Brazilian tax authority agreed with the Company's position and in August 2024 reduced its claim intwo of those actions and in October 2024 reduced its claim in the third.
In July 2002, the Brazilian Federal Public Attorney filed a civil action against the federal government of Brazil, Laboratorios Wyeth-Whitehall Ltda. (the Brazilian subsidiary of the Seller) and the Company, as represented by its Brazilian subsidiary, in the 6th. Lower Federal Court in the City of São Paulo, seeking to annul an April 2000 decision by the Brazilian Board of Tax Appeals that found in favor of the Seller’s Brazilian subsidiary on the issue of whether it had incurred taxable capital gains as a result of the divestiture of Kolynos. The action seeks to make the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary jointly and severally liable for any tax due from the Seller’s Brazilian subsidiary. The case has been pending since 2002, and the Lower Federal Court has not issued a decision. Although there can be no assurances, management believes, based on the opinion of its Brazilian legal counsel, that the Company should ultimately prevail in this action. The Company is challenging this action vigorously.
In December 2005, the Brazilian internal revenue authority issued to the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary a tax assessment with interest, penalties and any court-mandated fees of approximately $53, at the current exchange rate, based on a claim that certain purchases of U.S. Treasury bills by the subsidiary and their subsequent disposition during the period 2000 to 2001 were subject to a tax on foreign exchange transactions. The Company had been disputing the assessment within the internal revenue authority’s administrative appeals process. However, in November 2015, the Superior Chamber of Administrative Tax Appeals denied the Company’s final administrative appeal, and the Company has filed a lawsuit in the Brazilian federal court. In the event the Company is unsuccessful in this lawsuit, further appeals are available within the Brazilian federal courts. Although there can be no assurances, management believes, based on the opinion of its Brazilian legal counsel, that the tax assessment is without merit and that the Company should ultimately prevail. The Company is challenging this assessment vigorously. In addition, in April 2024, based upon changes in Brazilian tax law, the Company filed a petition in this matter requesting that the penalty portion of the claim be removed. The Brazilian tax authority has not yet responded to that petition.
Competition Matter
Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries were historically subject to actions and, in some cases, fines, by governmental authorities in a number of countries related to alleged competition law violations. Substantially all of these matters also involved other consumer goods companies and/or retail customers. The Company’s policy is to comply with antitrust and competition laws and, if a violation of any such laws is found, to take appropriate remedial action and to cooperate fully with any related governmental inquiry. The status as of September 30, 2024 of such competition law matters pending against the Company during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 is set forth below.
In July 2014, the Greek competition law authority issued a statement of objections alleging a restriction of parallel imports into Greece. The Company responded to this statement of objections. In July 2017, the Company received the decision from the Greek competition law authority in which the Company was fined $11. The Company appealed the decision to the Greek courts. In April 2019, the Greek courts affirmed the judgment against the Company’s Greek subsidiary, but reduced the fine to $10.5 and dismissed the case against Colgate-Palmolive Company. The Company’s Greek subsidiary and the Greek competition authority appealed the decision to the Greek Supreme Court.
Talcum Powder Matters
The Company has been named as a defendant in civil actions alleging that certain of its talcum powder products were contaminated with asbestos and/or caused mesothelioma and other cancers. Many of these actions involve a number of co-defendants from a variety of different industries, including suppliers of asbestos and manufacturers of products that, unlike the Company’s products, were designed to contain asbestos.
As of September 30, 2024, there were 313 individual cases pending against the Company in state and federal courts throughout the United States, as compared to 293 cases as of June 30, 2024 and 279 cases as of December 31, 2023. During the three months ended September 30, 2024,39 new cases were filed,18 cases were resolved by voluntary dismissal or settlement andone case was removed from the case count when it was established that the claim does not relate to talcum powder. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024,105 new cases were filed and 70 cases were resolved by voluntary dismissal, settlement or dismissal by the court, andone case was removed from the case count as described in the previous sentence. The value of the settlements in the periods presented was not material, either individually or in the aggregate, to such periods’ results of operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, one case resulted in a jury verdict in favor of the Company after a trial. Subsequently, the trial court granted plaintiffs’ motion for a new trial in that case. However, during the three months ended September 30, 2024, an appellate court granted the Company’s request to reinstate the jury’s verdict in favor of the Company. Plaintiffs are challenging the ruling of the appellate court.
A significant portion of the Company’s costs incurred in defending and resolving these claims has been, and the Company believes that a portion of the costs will continue to be, covered by insurance policies issued by several primary, excess and umbrella insurance carriers, subject to deductibles, exclusions, retentions, policy limits and insurance carrier insolvencies.
While the Company and its legal counsel believe that these cases are without merit and intend to challenge them vigorously, there can be no assurances regarding the ultimate resolution of these matters.
ERISA Matter
In June 2016, a lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (the “District Court”) against the Retirement Plan, the Company and certain individuals (the “Company Defendants”) claiming that residual annuity payments associated with a 2005 residual annuity amendment to the Retirement Plan were improperly calculated for certain Retirement Plan participants in violation of ERISA. The relief sought included recalculation of benefits, pre- and post-judgment interest and attorneys’ fees. This action was certified as a class action in July 2017. In July 2020, the District Court dismissed certain claims, and in August 2020 granted the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment on the remaining claims. In September 2020, the Company appealed to the Second Circuit. In March 2023, the Second Circuit affirmed the grant of summary judgment to the plaintiffs.
In light of the Second Circuit decision, the Company recorded a charge to earnings of $267 in the quarter ended March 31, 2023, which is comprised of the recalculation of benefits and interest. Possible additional charges associated with this matter are expected to be immaterial and, where estimable, are reflected in the range of reasonably possible losses disclosed above. The decision resulted in an increase in the obligations of the Retirement Plan, which based on the current funded status of the Retirement Plan and depending on the asset performance, impact of interest rates for the remainder of the year and further developments in the litigation, may require a cash contribution by the Company in 2025. In June 2023, the Company filed a petition for certiorari to the United States Supreme Court requesting permission for an appeal to that court and that petition was denied in October 2023. Also, in June 2023, the plaintiffs filed a motion to enter a revised final judgment in the District Court to address certain unresolved calculation issues, which the Company opposed. In March 2024, the District Court granted the plaintiffs’ motion and found for the plaintiffs on those calculation issues. The Company is appealing that decision to the Second Circuit.
- Segment Information
The Company operates intwo product segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition.
The operations of the Oral, Personal and Home Care product segment are managed geographically infive reportable operating segments: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa/Eurasia.
In connection with management changes, the Company realigned the reporting structure of its skin health business effective July 1, 2024. Accordingly, commencing with the quarter ended September 30, 2024, the results of the skin health business previously reported within the Europe reportable operating segment are reported with the other skin health businesses in the North America reportable operating segment, with no impact on the Company's consolidated results of operations or financial position. The Company has recast its historical geographic segment information to conform to the new reporting structure.
As a result of this reporting structure realignment, the Company reallocated the goodwill of its skin health business (approximately $223) from the Europe segment to the North America segment. In conjunction with this reporting structure realignment, the Company completed an assessment indicating no goodwill impairment existed as a result of this new segment reporting structure.
The Company evaluates segment performance based on several factors, including Operating profit. The Company uses Operating profit as a measure of operating segment performance because it excludes the impact of Corporate-driven decisions related to interest expense and income taxes.
The accounting policies of the operating segments are generally the same as those described in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Intercompany sales have been eliminated. Corporate operations include costs related to stock options and restricted stock units, research and development costs, Corporate overhead costs, restructuring and related implementation charges and gains and losses on sales of non-core product lines and assets. The Company reports these items within Corporate operations as they relate to Corporate-based responsibilities and decisions and are not included in the internal measures of segment operating performance used by the Company to measure the underlying performance of the operating segments.
Net sales by segment were as follows:
| Three Months Ended · Nine Months Ended | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, | September 30, | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Net sales | ||||
| Oral, Personal and Home Care | ||||
| North America | $1,004 | $1,025 | $3,076 | $3,044 |
| Latin America | 1,156 | 1,194 | 3,676 | 3,447 |
| Europe | 744 | 690 | 2,102 | 1,935 |
| Asia Pacific | 725 | 682 | 2,133 | 2,084 |
| Africa/Eurasia | 278 | 266 | 827 | 822 |
| Total Oral, Personal and Home Care | 3,907 | 3,857 | 11,814 | 11,332 |
| Pet Nutrition | 1,126 | 1,058 | 3,342 | 3,175 |
| Total Net sales | $5,033 | $4,915 | $15,156 | $14,507 |
Approximately two-thirds of the Company’s Net sales are generated from markets outside the U.S., with approximately 45% of the Company’s Net sales coming from emerging markets (which consist of Latin America, Asia (excluding Japan), Africa/Eurasia and Central Europe).
The Company’s Net sales of Oral, Personal and Home Care and Pet Nutrition products accounted for the following percentages of the Company’s Net sales:
| Three Months Ended · Nine Months Ended | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, | September 30, | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Net sales | ||||
| Oral Care | 44% | 43% | 43% | 42% |
| Personal Care | 18% | 19% | 18% | 19% |
| Home Care | 16% | 17% | 17% | 17% |
| Pet Nutrition | 22% | 21% | 22% | 22% |
| Total Net sales | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Operating profit by segment was as follows:
| Three Months Ended · Nine Months Ended | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, | September 30, | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Operating profit | ||||
| Oral, Personal and Home Care | ||||
| North America | $206 | $227 | $633 | $640 |
| Latin America | 365 | 372 | 1,187 | 1,050 |
| Europe | 181 | 165 | 502 | 422 |
| Asia Pacific | 199 | 193 | 602 | 564 |
| Africa/Eurasia | 65 | 66 | 195 | 196 |
| Total Oral, Personal and Home Care | 1,016 | 1,024 | 3,119 | 2,873 |
| Pet Nutrition | 258 | 201 | 691 | 575 |
| Corporate | (208) | (196) | (605) | (536) |
| Total Operating profit | $1,065 | $1,029 | $3,205 | $2,912 |
Corporate Operating profit (loss) for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023 included charges resulting from the 2022 Global Productivity Initiative of $15 and $2, respectively.
Corporate Operating profit (loss) for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 included charges resulting from the 2022 Global Productivity Initiative of $77.
Corporate Operating profit (loss) for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 included product recall costs of $25 and charges resulting from the 2022 Global Productivity Initiative of $25.
- Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments
The Company uses available market information and other valuation methodologies in assessing the fair value of financial instruments. Judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value and, accordingly, changes in assumptions or the estimation methodologies may affect the fair value estimates. The Company is exposed to the risk of credit loss in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to financial instrument contracts; however, nonperformance is considered unlikely and any nonperformance is unlikely to be material, as it is the Company’s policy to contract only with diverse, credit-worthy counterparties based upon both strong credit ratings and other credit considerations.
The Company is exposed to market risk from foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and commodity price fluctuations. Volatility relating to these exposures is managed on a global basis by utilizing a number of techniques, including working capital management, sourcing strategies, selling price increases, selective borrowings in local currencies and entering into selective derivative instrument transactions, issued with standard features, in accordance with the Company’s treasury and risk management policies, which prohibit the use of derivatives for speculative purposes and leveraged derivatives for any purpose. It is the Company’s policy to enter into derivative instrument contracts with terms that match the underlying exposure being hedged.
The Company’s derivative instruments include forward-starting interest rate swaps, foreign currency contracts and commodity contracts. The Company utilizes forward-starting interest rate swaps to mitigate the risk of variability in interest rate for future debt issuances and these swaps are valued using observable benchmark rates (Level 2 valuation). The Company utilizes foreign currency contracts, including forward and swap contracts, option contracts, local currency deposits and local currency borrowings to hedge portions of its foreign currency purchases, assets and liabilities arising in the normal course of business and the net investment in certain foreign subsidiaries. These contracts are valued using observable market rates (Level 2 valuation). Commodity futures contracts are utilized to hedge the purchases of raw materials used in production. These contracts are measured using quoted commodity exchange prices (Level 1 valuation). The duration of foreign currency and commodity contracts generally does not exceed 12 months.
The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s derivative instruments and other financial instruments which are carried at fair value in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| Assets · Liabilities | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Account · Fair Value · Account · Fair Value | ||||||||||
| Designated derivative instruments · September 30, 2024 · December 31, 2023 · September 30, 2024 · December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| Foreign currency contracts | Other current assets | $31 | $19 | Other accruals | $39 | $25 | ||||
| Commodity contracts | Other current assets | — | — | Other accruals | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Total designated | $31 | $19 | $40 | $26 | ||||||
| Other financial instruments | ||||||||||
| Marketable securities | Other current assets | $260 | $179 | |||||||
| Total other financial instruments | $260 | $179 | ||||||||
The carrying amount of cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities, accounts receivable and short-term debt approximated fair value as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. The estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term debt, including the current portion, as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, was $7,565 and $7,862, respectively, and the related carrying value was $7,929 and $8,239, respectively. The estimated fair value of long-term debt was derived principally from quoted prices on the Company’s outstanding fixed-term notes (Level 2 valuation).
The following tables present the notional values as of:
| September 30, 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign Currency Contracts | Foreign Currency Debt | Commodity Contracts | Total | |
| Fair Value Hedges | $1,732 | $— | $— | $1,732 |
| Cash Flow Hedges | 1,022 | — | 26 | 1,048 |
| Net Investment Hedges | 474 | 4,269 | — | 4,743 |
| December 31, 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign Currency Contracts | Foreign Currency Debt | Commodity Contracts | Total | |
| Fair Value Hedges | $1,625 | $— | $— | $1,625 |
| Cash Flow Hedges | 869 | — | 39 | 908 |
| Net Investment Hedges | 280 | 3,908 | — | 4,188 |
The amount of gain (loss) recognized in income associated with fair value hedges did not have a material impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.
The amount of gain (loss) recognized in income and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI) associated with cash flow hedges did not have a material impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.
The following table presents the amount of gain (loss) on net investment hedges recognized in the Company’s AOCI:
| Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Hedging instruments: | ||||
| Foreign currency contracts | $(4) | $(37) | $20 | $(19) |
| Foreign currency debt | (216) | 50 | (82) | 90 |
| Total gain (loss) on net investment hedges | $(220) | $13 | $(62) | $71 |
- Supplier Finance Program
The Company has agreements to provide supplier finance programs which facilitate participating suppliers’ ability to finance payment obligations of the Company with designated third-party financial institutions. Participating suppliers may, at their sole discretion, elect to finance one or more payment obligations of the Company prior to their scheduled due dates at a discounted price to participating financial institutions. The Company’s obligations to its suppliers, including amounts due and scheduled payment dates, are not impacted by suppliers’ decisions to finance amounts under these arrangements. The outstanding payment obligations under the Company’s supplier finance programs are included in Accounts Payable in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and were not material as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
- Income Taxes
The effective income tax rate was 21.3% for the third quarter of 2024 as compared to 21.9% for the third quarter of 2023. The quarterly provision for income taxes is determined based on the Company’s estimated full year effective income tax rate adjusted by the amount of tax attributable to infrequent or unusual items that are separately recognized on a discrete basis in the income tax provision in the quarter in which they occur. The Company’s current estimate of its full year effective income tax rate before discrete period items is 23.7%, flat with the comparable period of 2023.
In the third quarter of 2023, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) issued a notice giving taxpayers temporary relief from the effects of certain U.S. tax regulations that were issued in December 2021, which place greater restrictions on foreign taxes that are creditable against U.S. taxes on foreign-source income. This notice allowed taxpayers to defer the application of these new regulations through the end of 2023. In December 2023, the IRS issued further guidance modifying this temporary relief period to the date that a notice or other guidance withdrawing or modifying the temporary relief is issued. The Company will recognize the impact, if any, in the period in which the temporary relief is withdrawn or modified.
The Company has ongoing federal, state and international income tax audits in various jurisdictions and evaluates uncertain tax positions that may be challenged by local tax authorities and not fully sustained. All U.S. federal income tax returns through December 31, 2013 have been audited by the IRS and there are limited matters which the Company plans to appeal for years 2010 through 2013. One such matter relates to the IRS assessment of taxes on the Company by imputing income on certain activities within one of our international operations, which is also under audit for the years 2014 through 2018. There were U.S. Tax Court rulings during 2023 in favor of the IRS against unrelated third parties on similar matters. Despite the U.S. Tax Court rulings, the Company continues to believe that the tax assessment against the Company is without merit. While there can be no assurances, the Company believes this matter will ultimately be decided in favor of the Company. The amount of tax plus interest for the years 2010 through 2018 is estimated to be approximately $150, which is not included in the Company’s uncertain tax positions. In May 2024, the IRS initiated an audit for the years 2019 through 2021.
On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IRA”) was enacted, which among other things, implements a 15% minimum tax on book income of certain large corporations effective for years beginning after December 31, 2022. Based on the Company’s analysis, as well as guidance published by the IRS, the IRA, and in particular the 15% minimum tax, did not have an impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. Subsequent to the aforementioned guidance published by the IRS, on September 12, 2024, the U.S. Treasury Department and IRS released proposed regulations relating to this 15% minimum tax. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of these regulations and will evaluate any additional guidance and clarification that becomes available.
Additionally, on December 15, 2022, the 27 member states of the European Union (“EU”) reached an agreement on a minimum level of taxation for certain large corporations to pay a minimum corporate tax rate of 15% in every jurisdiction in which they operate. This agreement, which is known as the Minimum Tax Directive (part of the “Pillar II Model Rules”), was supposed to be transposed into the laws of all EU member states by December 31, 2023. Most member states complied, while some were granted extensions of time. In addition, many other jurisdictions outside the EU have also committed to implement this Directive while others have implemented a similar minimum tax regime consistent with the policy of the Pillar II Model Rules. Details of these rules are still being developed and, in some cases, enactment and timing is still uncertain. Based on current legislation and available guidance, this Directive does not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. However, as these rules and related regulations are revised and implemented, the Company will evaluate the impact, if any, on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
During the quarter ended June 30, 2023, the Company reassessed with its legal and tax advisers certain tax deductions taken in prior years by one of our subsidiaries and concluded that it was more likely than not that the deductions would not be sustained by the courts in that jurisdiction. The value of the tax deductions was not material to the Company in any year in which they were taken. The cumulative effect of the change in tax position of $148 was reflected as a discrete item in the quarter ended June 30, 2023 income tax expense, partially offset by the reversal of certain prior years’ withholding tax reserves of $22 that were no longer required. The tax liability was paid in the quarter ended September 30, 2023.
Executive Overview
Business Organization
Colgate-Palmolive Company (together with its subsidiaries, “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” or “Colgate”) is a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for all people, their pets and our planet. We seek to deliver sustainable, profitable growth and superior shareholder returns, as well as to provide Colgate people with an innovative and inclusive work environment. We do this by developing and selling science-led products globally that make people’s and their pets’ lives healthier and more enjoyable and by embracing our sustainability and social impact and diversity, equity and inclusion (“DE&I”) strategies across our organization.
We are tightly focused on two product segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition. Within these segments, we follow a closely defined business strategy to grow our key product categories and increase our overall market share. Within the categories in which we compete, we prioritize our efforts based on their capacity to maximize the use of the organization’s core competencies and strong global equities and to deliver sustainable, profitable long-term growth.
Operationally, we are organized along geographic lines with management teams having responsibility for the business and financial results in each region. We compete in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide with established businesses in all regions contributing to our sales and profitability. Approximately two-thirds of our Net sales are generated from markets outside the U.S., with approximately 45% of our Net sales coming from emerging markets (which consist of Latin America, Asia (excluding Japan), Africa/Eurasia and Central Europe). This geographic diversity and balance help to reduce our exposure to business and other risks in any one country or part of the world.
The Oral, Personal and Home Care product segment is managed geographically in five reportable operating segments: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa/Eurasia, all of which sell primarily to a variety of traditional and eCommerce retailers, wholesalers, distributors, dentists and, in some segments, skin health professionals. Through Hill’s Pet Nutrition, we also compete on a worldwide basis in the pet nutrition market, selling products principally through authorized pet supply retailers, veterinarians and eCommerce retailers. We also sell certain of our products direct-to-consumer. We are engaged in manufacturing and sourcing of products and materials on a global scale and have major manufacturing facilities, warehousing facilities and distribution centers in every region around the world.
In connection with management changes, we realigned the reporting structure of our skin health business effective July 1, 2024. Accordingly, commencing with the quarter ending September 30, 2024, the results of the skin health business previously reported within the Europe reportable operating segment are now reported with our other skin health businesses in the North America reportable operating segment, with no impact on the Company's consolidated results of operations or financial position.
On an ongoing basis, management focuses on a variety of key indicators to monitor business health and performance. These indicators include net sales (including volume, pricing and foreign exchange components), organic sales growth (net sales growth excluding the impact of foreign exchange, acquisitions and divestments), a non-GAAP financial measure, and gross profit margin, selling, general and administrative expenses, operating profit, net income and earnings per share, in each case, on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis, as well as measures used to optimize the management of working capital, capital expenditures, cash flow and return on capital. In addition, we review market share, household penetration and other data to assess how our brands are performing within their categories on a global and regional basis. The monitoring of these indicators and our Code of Conduct and corporate governance practices help to maintain business health and strong internal controls. For additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures and the Company’s use of market share data and the limitations of such data, see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and “Market Share Information” below.
The War in Ukraine
The war in Ukraine, and the related geopolitical tensions, have had and continue to have a significant impact on our operations in Ukraine and Russia, though it has not been material to our Consolidated Financial Statements. While our ability to do business in Ukraine has been significantly impacted, we remain committed to providing access to our products to people in the region. In Russia, we are importing and selling a reduced portfolio of health and hygiene products for everyday use. We have no manufacturing facilities in Russia and have ceased all capital investments and media activities in the country. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, our business in the Eurasia region constituted approximately 1% of our consolidated net sales and approximately 2% of our consolidated operating profit. We have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, risks related to the impact of the war in Ukraine, including increases in the costs and, in certain cases, limitations on the availability of certain raw and packaging materials and commodities (including oil and natural gas), supply chain and logistics challenges, import restrictions, foreign currency volatility and reputational concerns. We also have faced and continue to face challenges to our ability to repatriate cash from Russia and finding banking partners to support our Russian operations and we may face challenges to our ability to protect our assets in Russia. We also continue to monitor the impact of sanctions, export controls and import restrictions imposed in response to the war in Ukraine.
The War in the Middle East
The war in the Middle East has not had a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements. Uncertainties and risks remain as to the duration of the war and its impact on geopolitical relations and stability in North Africa, the Middle East and nearby regions. The war has impacted and may continue to impact, among other things, supply chain and logistics, the availability and price of raw and packaging materials and commodities such as oil, consumer sentiment and consumption and category growth rates in the region.
For more information about factors that could impact our business, including due to geopolitical conflicts, such as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, refer to Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Business Strategy
To achieve our business and financial objectives, we are focused on driving organic sales growth and consistent compounded earnings per share growth through science-led, core and premium innovation, pursuing higher-growth adjacent categories and segments, expanding in faster-growing channels and markets and delivering margin expansion through operating leverage and efficiency. We continue to prioritize our investments in high growth segments within our Oral Care, Personal Care and Pet Nutrition businesses. We are also seeking to lead in the development of human capital and to maximize the impact of our sustainability and social impact and DE&I strategies. We are strengthening and leveraging our capabilities in areas such as innovation, digital, artificial intelligence, eCommerce and data and analytics, enabling us to be more responsive in today’s rapidly changing world. We continue to invest behind our brands, including through advertising, and to develop initiatives to build strong relationships with consumers, dental, veterinary and skin health professionals and traditional and eCommerce retailers. We continue to believe that growth opportunities are greater in those areas of the world in which economic development and rising consumer incomes expand the size and number of markets for our products.
The investments needed to drive growth are supported through continuous, Company-wide initiatives to lower costs and increase effective asset utilization. Through these initiatives, which are referred to as our funding-the-growth initiatives, we seek to become even more effective and efficient throughout our businesses. These initiatives are designed to reduce costs associated with direct materials, indirect expenses, distribution and logistics and advertising and promotional materials, among other things, and encompass a wide range of projects, examples of which include raw material substitution, reduction of packaging materials, consolidating suppliers to leverage volumes and increasing manufacturing efficiency through SKU reductions and formulation simplification.
Significant Items Impacting Comparability
During the quarter ended June 30, 2023, we reassessed with our legal and tax advisers certain tax deductions taken in prior years by one of our subsidiaries and concluded that it was more likely than not that the deductions would not be sustained by the courts in that jurisdiction. The value of the tax deductions was not material to us in any year in which they were taken. The cumulative effect of the change in tax position of $148 was reflected as a discrete item in the quarter ended June 30, 2023 income tax expense, partially offset by the reversal of certain prior years’ withholding tax reserves of $22 that are no longer required (hereinafter referred to as the “foreign tax matter”). The tax liability was paid in the quarter ended September 30, 2023. See Note 13, Income Taxes, to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
During the quarter ended March 31, 2023, we recorded a charge of $267 as a result of a decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (the “Second Circuit”) affirming a grant of summary judgment to the plaintiffs in a lawsuit under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act seeking the recalculation of benefits and other relief associated with a 2005 residual annuity amendment to the Colgate-Palmolive Company Employees’ Retirement Income Plan (the “Retirement Plan”). The decision resulted in an increase in the obligations of the Retirement Plan, which based on the current funded status of the Retirement Plan and depending on the asset performance, impact of interest rates for the remainder of the year and further developments in the litigation, may require a cash contribution by the Company in 2025. In June 2023, we filed a petition for certiorari to the United States Supreme Court requesting permission for an appeal to that court and that petition was denied in October 2023. Also, in June 2023, the plaintiffs filed a motion to enter a revised final judgment in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (the “District Court”) to address certain unresolved calculation issues, which we opposed. In March 2024, the District Court granted the plaintiffs’ motion and found for the plaintiffs on those calculation issues. We are appealing that decision to the Second Circuit. See Note 9, Contingencies to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
During the quarter ended March 31, 2023, we announced a voluntary recall of select Fabuloso multi-purpose cleaner products sold in the United States and Canada. The costs associated with the voluntary recall had a $25 impact on our Operating profit in the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
On January 27, 2022, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved a targeted productivity program (the “2022 Global Productivity Initiative”). All initiatives under the program have been implemented as of the third quarter of 2024 and we expect to incur the remaining charges by the end of 2024. The 2022 Global Productivity Initiative resulted in the reallocation of resources towards our strategic priorities and faster growth businesses, efficiencies in our operations and the streamlining of our supply chain to reduce structural costs. Total pretax charges from the implementation of the 2022 Global Productivity Initiative are expected to be approximately $225 ($180 aftertax), once all charges are recorded. Total annualized pretax savings from the 2022 Global Productivity Initiative are expected to be approximately $125 ($100 aftertax). For more information regarding the 2022 Global Productivity Initiative, see “Restructuring and Related Implementation Charges” below.
In the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, we incurred pretax costs of $15 (aftertax costs of $13) and $2 (aftertax costs of $2), respectively, resulting from the 2022 Global Productivity Initiative.
In the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, we incurred pretax costs of $77 (aftertax costs of $67) and $29 (aftertax costs of $23), respectively, resulting from the 2022 Global Productivity Initiative.
Outlook
Looking forward, we expect global macroeconomic, political and market conditions to remain challenging, including as a result of inflation, high interest rates and foreign currency volatility. We have taken and are taking additional pricing to try to offset the increases in raw and packaging material costs we have seen in recent years. This has negatively impacted consumer demand for our products. Additionally, inflation has impacted the broader economy with consumers around the world facing widespread rising prices as well as high interest rates resulting from measures to address inflation. Such inflation and high interest rates may negatively impact consumer consumption or discretionary spending and/or change their purchasing patterns by foregoing purchasing certain of our products or by switching to “private label” or to our lower-priced product offerings. Although we continue to devote significant resources to support our brands and market our products at multiple price points, these changes could reduce demand for and sales volumes of our products or result in a shift in our product mix from higher margin to lower margin product offerings. In light of this challenging environment, we expect continued volatility across all of our categories and it is therefore difficult to predict category growth rates in the near term.
Given that approximately two-thirds of our Net sales originate in markets outside the U.S., we have experienced and will likely continue to experience volatile foreign currency fluctuations, particularly in Argentina and Türkiye, which are considered hyper-inflationary economies. As discussed above, we have also experienced higher raw and packaging material costs. While we have taken, and will continue to take, measures to mitigate the effect of these conditions, such as the 2022 Global Productivity Initiative and our funding-the-growth and revenue growth management initiatives, in the current environment it may become increasingly difficult to implement certain of these mitigation strategies. Should these conditions persist, they could adversely affect our future results.
While the global marketplace in which we operate has always been highly competitive, we continue to experience heightened competitive activity in certain markets from strong local competitors, from other large multinational companies, some of which have greater resources than we do, and from new entrants into the market in many of our categories. Such activities have included more aggressive product claims and marketing challenges, as well as increased promotional spending and geographic expansion.
We have been negatively affected by changes in the policies and practices of our trade customers in key markets, such as inventory destocking, fulfillment requirements, limitations on access to shelf space, delisting of our products and certain sustainability, supply chain and packaging standards or initiatives. In addition, the retail landscape in many of our markets continues to evolve as a result of the continued growth of eCommerce, changing consumer preferences (as consumers increasingly shop online and via mobile and social applications) and the increased presence of alternative retail channels, such as subscription services and direct-to-consumer businesses. We plan to continue to invest behind our data strategy, digital and analytics (including artificial intelligence) capabilities and higher growth businesses. The substantial growth in eCommerce and the emergence of alternative retail channels have created and may continue to create pricing pressures and/or adversely affect our relationships with our key retailers.
We continue to closely monitor the impact of geopolitical events and tensions, such as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and tensions between China and Taiwan and the challenging market conditions discussed above, on our business and the related uncertainties and risks. While we have taken, and will continue to take, measures to mitigate the effects of these events and conditions, we cannot estimate with certainty the full extent of their impact on our business, results of operations, cash flows and/or financial condition. For more information about factors that could impact our business, see “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
We believe that we are well prepared to meet the challenges ahead due to our strong financial condition, experience operating in challenging environments, resilient global supply chain, dedicated and diverse global team and focused business strategy. Our strategy is based on driving organic sales growth and consistent compounded earnings per share growth through science-led, core and premium innovation, pursuing higher-growth adjacent categories and segments, expanding in faster-growing channels and markets and delivering margin expansion through operating leverage and efficiency. We are also seeking to lead in the development of human capital and to maximize our sustainability and social impact and DE&I strategies. Our commitment to these priorities, the strength of our brands, the breadth of our global footprint and a commitment to profitability and driving efficiency in cash generation should position us well to manage through the challenges we face and increase shareholder value over time.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.