Colgate posts Q4 results

NEW YORK — Colgate announced on Thursday that it ended the year with a quarter of “strong growth on both top and bottom lines.”



Net sales for the quarter totaled $4.36 billion, up 2% compared with the year-ago period. Organic sales grew 6.5%.



Net income, which included after tax charges related to its 2012 restructuring program, totaled $564 million during the quarter or 60 cents per diluted share. Excluding the items, net income in the fourth quarter was $697 million or 75 cents per diluted share.



Net income in the year-ago period, which also included after tax charges, was $598 million or 63 cents per diluted share.



“We are delighted to have ended the year with another quarter of strong growth on both the top and bottom lines. For the 11th consecutive quarter, operating profit, net income and diluted earnings per share all increased versus the year-ago period,” stated Ian Cook, chairman, president and CEO. “The strong 6.5% organic sales growth was led by the emerging markets, where organic sales grew a robust 10.5%. Our strong top-line momentum should continue into 2014, fueled by new products across all categories and in all geographies.”



In North America, net sales rose 2.5%, as organic sales rose 3%. Operating profit in North America rose 5% to $241 million.



New product launches planned for the first quarter include Colgate Optic White manual toothbrush + built-in whitening pen, Colgate Optic White Platinum Whiten and Protect toothpaste and Speed Stick Gear deodorants with new DryCore technology.