Sales Rise at Colgate-Palmolive

For the full year 2012, worldwide net sales rose 2% to $17.1 billion.

Global unit volume grew 3.0%, pricing increased 3.0% and foreign exchange was negative 4.0%. Excluding divested businesses, global unit volume grew 3.5%. The Sanex acquisition contributed 0.5% to full year sales and volume growth. Organic sales grew 6.0%. Net income for the full year 2012 rose 4% to $2.5 billion.

Ian Cook, chairman, president and CEO, commented, “We are very pleased to have ended the year with another quarter of strong profitability. Gross profit margin, operating profit margin and net income as a percent of sales all increased versus the year ago period.

“As we began 2012, we anticipated an intense competitive environment, and challenging foreign currency exchange and macroeconomic conditions worldwide. Despite this, we planned to improve worldwide market shares and volume growth, achieve gross margin expansion, increase commercial spending and grow diluted earnings per share at a double-digit rate, on a currency-neutral basis. We are delighted that we were able to achieve all of these objectives in 2012.”

Cook added, “Colgate’s global market shares in toothpaste and manual toothbrushes are both at record highs year to date. Colgate’s share of the global toothpaste market strengthened to 44.6% year to date, up 0.5 share points versus year ago. Our global leadership in manual toothbrushes also strengthened during the quarter with Colgate’s global market share in that category reaching 32.7% year to date, up 0.8 share points versus year ago.

“Looking forward, we expect our growth momentum to continue as we enter 2013. Our new product pipeline is very full around the world and we are pleased that our global restructuring program is on track and proceeding smoothly. We also continue to be sharply focused on our aggressive funding-the-growth programs and our strategic worldwide pricing initiatives,” he concluded.