Colgate-Palmolive

None of the warning signs we check for were found.

We look for five warning signs: doubt it can keep going, weak checks on its own accounts, a notice that its past accounts can't be relied on, a change of auditor, and one customer bringing in a big share of sales. We don't check lawsuits, investigations or debt yet.

We checked the auditor's report, internal controls, restatement notices, auditor changes and big customers in the 10-K filed 23 Feb 2026, plus the 10-Q filed 31 Jul 2026 and 6 later 8-Ks.

• It carries a lot of debt: 147.9× its equity.

Whether the price already reflects the risks is what the deep dive is for.

• We face risks associated with significant international operations, including exposure to foreign currency fluctuations.

  Uncertainties and risks remain as to the evolving situation in Venezuela. We have operations, including a manufacturing facility, in Venezuela; however, since December 31, 2015, the local operating results from our Venezuela operations have not been included in our Consolidated Financial Statements. Nonetheless, the situation in Venezuela could have ramifications for our business in Venezuela and the broader Latin American region and on geopolitical relations more generally. The situation may impact consumer sentiment and consumption and category growth rates in the Latin American region, supply chain and logistics, and the availability and cost of raw and packaging materials and commodities, such as oil.

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• We may not realize the benefits that we expect from our Strategic Growth and Productivity Program.

  Could happen

  Our new three-year productivity program, which we refer to as the “Strategic Growth and Productivity Program,” was approved by the Board on July 31, 2025 in an effort to drive future growth and support the Company’s 2030 strategy. The program includes initiatives to better align our organizational structure to support our strategic initiatives, optimize our global supply chain to drive agility and efficiencies and simplify and streamline our organizational structure to reduce overhead costs. The successful implementation of the program may present significant organizational challenges and, in some cases, may require successful negotiations with third parties, including works councils and unions. As a result, we may not be able to realize the anticipated benefits from the Strategic Growth and Productivity Program. Events and circumstances, such as financial or strategic difficulties, delays and unexpected costs may occur that could result in our not realizing all of the anticipated benefits or our not realizing such benefits on our expected timetable. In addition, changes in foreign exchange rates or in tax, labor or immigration laws may result in our not achieving anticipated cost savings. If we are unable to realize the anticipated savings of the Strategic Growth and Productivity Program, our ability to fund other initiatives and enhance profitability may be adversely affected. Any failure to implement the Strategic Growth and Productivity Program in accordance with our expectations could adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. For additional information regarding the Strategic Growth and Productivity Program, refer to Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Significant Items Impacting Comparability” and “– Restructuring and Related Implementation Charges.”

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• Legal claims and proceedings could adversely impact our business.

  Could happen

  As a global company serving consumers in more than 200 countries and territories, we are and may continue to be subject to a wide variety of legal claims and proceedings, including disputes relating to intellectual property, contracts, product liability, marketing, advertising, foreign exchange controls, antitrust and trade regulation, labor and employment, pension and benefits, data privacy and security, environmental and tax matters and consumer class actions. Regardless of their merit, these claims can require significant time and expense to investigate and defend, and since litigation, particularly product liability and consumer class action litigation in the United States, is inherently uncertain, there is no guarantee that we will be successful in these matters. In particular, the potential impact of talc-related litigation is highly uncertain, as outcomes in cases filed against manufacturers of talcum powder products have ranged from dismissals to defense verdicts to outsized jury awards of both compensatory and punitive damages.

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• Volatility in material and other costs has in the past and may continue to adversely impact our profitability.

  Already happened

  Raw and packaging material commodities, such as resins, essential oils, tropical oils, pulp, tallow, corn, poultry and soybeans, are subject to market price variations. Increases in the costs of and/or a reduction in the availability of commodities, energy (including fuel prices), logistics (including trucks and containers) or other necessary services, including as a result of macroeconomic and geopolitical tensions, conflicts and uncertainty, such as in Ukraine, the Middle East and Venezuela, developments in trade relations (including new or increased tariffs, new or revised trade agreements, sanctions, export controls or import restrictions), widespread health emergencies, such as pandemics or epidemics, changes in supply and demand and/or the impact of climatic events have affected and, in some instances, are likely to continue to adversely affect our profit margins. We have taken and may continue to take actions to mitigate these cost increases in the form of price increases and efforts to achieve cost efficiencies in areas such as manufacturing and distribution, or otherwise manage the exposure through sourcing strategies, productivity initiatives, including our funding-the-growth initiatives and the Strategic Growth and Productivity Program, and the limited use of commodity hedging contracts. These actions may not, however, fully offset these higher costs and our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition have been and may continue to be adversely impacted.

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• The rapidly changing retail landscape and changing consumer preferences may adversely affect our business.

  Could happen

  If we are not successful in adapting or effectively reacting to the rapidly changing retail landscape, changes in consumer behavior, preferences or purchasing patterns and/or executing our 2030 business strategy which is, in part, focused on omni-channel demand generation, our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition could be adversely affected.

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