Quick verdict: CL vs CLX in 2026

In a head-to-head CL vs CLX stock comparison for 2026, The Clorox Company (CLX) appears to hold a slight overall edge based on a majority of the comparable metrics in profitability, valuation, and analyst upside. Colgate-Palmolive (CL) leads in revenue growth momentum and analyst buy ratings, while Clorox excels in valuation and potential DCF upside. Investors considering should I buy CL or CLX stock in 2026 will find distinct strengths in each, with CLX offering a more attractive valuation and higher predicted upside. This is not investment advice.

CL vs CLX: key metrics side by side

Full side-by-side comparison of CL and CLX across valuation, profitability, growth and analyst sentiment. Data updated 2026-05-07.

CL vs CLX valuation comparison

When assessing CL vs CLX valuation, investors will observe significant differences. Colgate-Palmolive (CL) trades at a P/E ratio of 33.53x, which is considerably higher than The Clorox Company’s (CLX) P/E ratio of 14.51x. This suggests that CLX is trading at a much more attractive multiple relative to its earnings. Furthermore, the Price-to-Book (P/B) ratios present a stark contrast: CL’s P/B is an exceptionally high 482.54x, while CLX reports a negative P/B of -163.69x. A negative P/B often indicates that a company’s liabilities exceed its assets, which while sometimes a red flag, in cases of strong cash flow businesses can be a consequence of aggressive share buybacks or unique accounting, and certainly points to a distinct valuation profile compared to CL.

Looking at intrinsic value, the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) models suggest considerable upside potential for both companies, but overwhelmingly in favor of CLX. CL’s DCF valuation indicates an upside of +33.1% from its current price of $87.21 to a fair value of $116.11. However, CLX presents a massive DCF upside of +271.7%, projecting a fair value of $335.85 from its current price of $90.365. Based on these metrics, CLX appears to be significantly cheaper and potentially undervalued according to DCF analysis, making it a compelling option for value-focused investors undertaking a CL vs CLX fundamentals and valuation study.

CL vs CLX growth comparison

In terms of growth, a key consideration for the cl vs clx stock comparison 2026, Colgate-Palmolive (CL) shows a modest lead over The Clorox Company (CLX). CL reported a year-over-year revenue growth of 1.4%, generating $20.38 billion in revenue. This is a slightly stronger momentum compared to CLX, which posted revenue growth of 0.2% on $7.10 billion in revenue. While both companies operate in the mature consumer defensive sector, CL’s ability to achieve higher top-line expansion suggests a marginally more dynamic market position or effective strategy in the current economic climate.

Analyzing margins, which can also reflect growth quality, CL registered an EBITDA margin of 18.84%, slightly trailing CLX’s 19.62%. This indicates CLX is slightly more efficient at converting revenue into operating profit before non-cash expenses, despite its slower revenue growth. CL’s gross margin, as per the scorecard, is 60.06% compared to CLX’s 43.77%, indicating that CL has a much stronger pricing power or cost of goods sold advantage. However, CLX manages to convert its lower gross profit into a slightly higher EBITDA margin. For investors evaluating should i buy cl or clx stock 2026 based on growth, CL shows a better revenue growth rate, but CLX maintains a slightly superior operational efficiency at the EBITDA level.

CL vs CLX profitability

Delving into profitability, The Clorox Company (CLX) demonstrates a slight edge over Colgate-Palmolive (CL) in net margin. CLX recorded a net margin of 11.18%, surpassing CL’s 10.04%. This indicates that for every dollar of revenue, CLX retains a slightly higher percentage as profit after all expenses, including taxes. This efficiency in converting sales to bottom-line profit is a positive signal for CLX’s operational management and cost control strategies.

When examining cash generation, CL appears to be more efficient. Colgate-Palmolive (CL) boasts a Free Cash Flow (FCF) yield of 5.38%, which is notably higher than The Clorox Company’s (CLX) FCF yield of 3.48%. A higher FCF yield suggests that CL generates more cash relative to its market capitalization, which can be used for debt reduction, dividends, or share buybacks. Both companies have an N/A% for Return on Equity (ROE), which means we cannot use this metric for direct comparison of capital efficiency. Nevertheless, for those prioritizing strong free cash flow in their CL vs CLX fundamentals and valuation analysis, CL holds a distinct advantage.

Analyst ratings: CL vs CLX

Analyst sentiment presents a mixed picture in this CL vs CLX stock comparison 2026, with Colgate-Palmolive (CL) garnering stronger ‘Buy’ ratings, but Clorox (CLX) offering higher price target upside. CL is covered by 45 analysts, with 42.2% recommending a ‘Buy.’ The consensus among these analysts is ‘Hold,’ with a target price of $94.9, representing an upside of +8.8% from its current price of $87.21. This indicates a moderately positive outlook, suggesting some room for appreciation but not an overwhelming conviction for a strong breakout.

In contrast, The Clorox Company (CLX) is covered by a smaller pool of 28 analysts, with a lower percentage of ‘Buy’ ratings at 14.3%. The consensus for CLX also stands at ‘Hold.’ However, despite fewer ‘Buy’ recommendations, CLX’s average target price of $105.5 suggests a more substantial upside of +16.7% from its current price of $90.365. This larger projected upside for CLX, combined with its impressive DCF upside, implies that while fewer analysts are outright bullish, those who are see significant potential for the stock to climb higher. For investors asking should i buy cl or clx stock 2026, CL appears to have broader analyst support, but CLX offers greater potential price appreciation according to their targets.

Should I buy CL or CLX stock in 2026?

Deciding should I buy CL or CLX stock in 2026 depends heavily on individual investment objectives. For growth-oriented investors, Colgate-Palmolive (CL) might appear slightly more appealing due to its higher year-over-year revenue growth of 1.4% compared to CLX’s 0.2%. While neither company is a high-growth stock given their sector, CL’s marginal lead in top-line expansion suggests it has stronger momentum in gaining market share or expanding its product reach within the consumer defensive segment. Its higher percentage of analyst ‘Buy’ ratings also points to a more favorable sentiment regarding its future performance.

For value investors, The Clorox Company (CLX) presents a significantly more attractive proposition based on the CL vs CLX fundamentals and valuation. CLX’s P/E ratio of 14.51x is substantially lower than CL’s 33.53x, indicating a more reasonable price relative to its earnings. Moreover, the DCF analysis suggests an enormous upside of +271.7% for CLX, dwarfing CL’s +33.1%. This deeply discounted intrinsic value, coupled with a higher EBITDA margin of 19.62% compared to CL’s 18.84%, makes CLX a compelling choice for those seeking undervalued assets with strong operational efficiency.

Income-focused investors will also find CLX more appealing due to its higher dividend yield. The Clorox Company offers a dividend yield of 0.05%, which, while modest, is still more than double Colgate-Palmolive’s 0.02% yield. Both are generally considered stable dividend payers within the consumer defensive sector, but CLX offers a slightly better return on capital through dividends. Ultimately, the choice between CL and CLX in this cl vs clx stock comparison 2026 hinges on whether you prioritize steady, if modest, growth and broader analyst consensus (CL) or deep value, higher potential upside, and a better dividend yield (CLX). This is not investment advice.

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FAQ: CL vs CLX