Monday, July 2, 2007

Colgate-Palmolive Company

Colgate-Palmolive is one of the world's leading multinational purveyors of hygienic products such as soap, toothpaste and detergent. Given the company's seemingly boring product focus, Colgate's employees and management should be commended for producing more than $1.3 billion in net income on just $11.4 billion in total revenues.

Like so many multinationals, Colgate has a tainted environmental record that is best symbolized by the Chemsol federal Superfund site at Piscataway, New Jersey. The company is facing a $23 million settlement with state and federal authorities that would go to clean up the site.

Colgate's iconic brands such as Ajax, Dynamo, Irish Spring, Palmolive, Softsoap, Speed Stick, and the eponymous toothpaste have tremendous value that the company has used to excellent effect in the United States and around the world. While the company is unlikely to break out with the sort of growth that might excite investors, sustained global economic growth will create tens of millions of new customers every year in the Third World.

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