Colgate and Kimberly-Clark to Open Near 52-Week Highs

While the markets trended downward most of the day yesterday, consumer goods giants Colgate-Palmolive CL and Kimberly-Clark KMB reached new mutliyear highs of $90.99 and $69.39 per share, respectively. Colgate-Palmolive reported strong second-quarter results earlier this summer, due in part to strong sales overseas. It also completed the acquisition of the Sanex personal care brand from Unilever UL. New York-based Colgate produces oral care products, soaps, deodorants, laundry detergents, pet foods and the like. It has a market cap of $43.8 million. Its dividend yield is 2.6% and the return on equity is 89.1%. The P/E ratio is lower than the industry average and the long-term EPS growth forecast is 9.3%. The share price is more than 23% higher than a year ago, as well as up about 6% in the past month. The stock has outperformed competitors such as Clorox CLX and Procter & Gamble PG over the past six months. Kimberly-Clark recently announced it would open product development centers in Colombia and South Korea. Its dividend has averaged 7.7% annual growth over the past five years and it has a payout of 63%. Founded in 1872, the Dallas-based company is known for disposable diapers, facial tissues, paper towels and surgical gowns. It sports a market cap of $27.1 billion. Analysts expect revenues to be 6.6% higher in the current quarter. The return on equity is 32.5% and the dividend yield is 4.1%. The P/E ratio is lower than the industry average and forecast to go lower. Shares are trading about 12% higher year to date and have risen more than 7% in the past month. The stock has also outperformed competitor Procter & Gamble over the past six months.