Pressure plaque builds on Colgate's Q4 showing

Can it fill the cavity of doubt with its premium strategy? Analysts weigh in

- RAM PRASAD SAHU

India's largest listed oral care company, Colgate-Palmolive (India), undershot even the modest expectations of the Street in the January-March quarter (Q4) of 2024-25 (FY25). The subdued performance was driven by rising competition and sluggish demand in urban areas. Although a rebound is expected in the second half of the current financial year, brokerages have lowered earnings forecasts and expect the stock, which has fallen roughly 8 per cent over the past week, to face further downward pressure.

Despite the lacklustre near-term outlook, valuations remain elevated, with the stock trading at 45x consensus earnings estimates for 2025-26 (FY26).