Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) reported Q1 results on Wednesday. By now, you know the drill when it comes to consumer-products companies -- weak-dollar-helped-and-commodity-costs-did-not-help. I gotta say, though, that Colgate-Palmolive showed that vigilance in terms of costs can have a positive impact, and that a business does not have to be defined by inflation.

Net sales exploded to the upside by more than 15% (again, currency effects). Net income likewise charged higher, rising 17% to 90 cents per share on an adjusted basis. I know -- superlatives such as "exploded" and "charged higher" might seem a bit hyper here, but it's always cool when a consumer-products company hits those double-digit increases. Colgate-Palmolive, like Clorox (NYSE: CLX) and Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG), leverages its stable of brands to drive growth in cash flows (Procter & Gamble, by the way, also recently reported quarterly results). This worked like a charm, since cash flow from operations during the past three-month period increased 17%. Way to go, management. Margins, however, were pressured, as can be expected, and they will continue to be pressured in the near future.

The earnings release mentioned the flagship Colgate toothpaste product -- I am a user of the brand, and in fact, I bought a new variety earlier this week. I've said it before and I'll say it again -- the supermarket is full of investing ideas, and Colgate-Palmolive is one of them. The company had a great quarter, it beat expectations according to Briefing.com -- albeit by the usual suspect, namely the "proverbial penny" -- and it seems solid enough. A potential core holding, Colgate-Palmolive should do well over the coming year. Yesterday's 6.7% drop in the price of the shares could have been seen as a buying opportunity for patient, long-term investors, but I'll concede that the stock could languish for a little while.

Disclosure: I don't own shares in any of the companies mentioned; positions can change at any time.

Colgate-Palmolive brushes up on double-digit growth originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 01 May 2008 09:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A million tubes of antifreeze toothpaste recalled originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The FDA has announced that it has discovered traces of antifreeze in 5-oz. tubes of toothpaste labeled with the Colgate brand and imported from South Africa by MS USA Trading Inc. The boxes containing the product are labeled "Made in South Africa," and include Regular, Herbal, Gel and Triple versions of the toothpaste.

Colgate-Palmolive Co. (NYSE: CL) issued a statement today stating that the tainted toothpaste is counterfeit, and has been found in stores in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland. The company said it does not import any Colgate from South Africa, and, of course, antifreeze is not an ingredient in any of its products. Those who wonder if they have purchased counterfeit Colgate can call toll-free: 1-800-468-6502.

Just last week, the FDA announced it had found the same chemical, diethylene glycol, in toothpastes imported from China and sold at bargain retail outlets. A recall of a number of offbrands of toothpaste widely sold in Puerto Rico was announced on June 8.

Don't want that fresh, anti-freeze breath? Colgate, FDA pull counterfeit toothpaste off shelves originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 14 Jun 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.