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Compare Stocks › AMT vs CL

American Tower Corporation (AMT) vs Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL)

AMT
American Tower Corporation
$181.61
VS
CL
Colgate-Palmolive Company
$87.26

Rewards

AMT
  • ★Gross margin of 74.0% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • ★Free cash flow has grown at a 27.6% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.
  • ★Return on equity has consistently exceeded 20% over 4 years, indicating efficient use of shareholder capital.
CL
  • ★Colgate-Palmolive Company has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
  • ★Gross margin of 60.1% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • ★Colgate-Palmolive Company scores 98/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency as the strongest competitive dimension.

Risks

AMT
  • ⚠FCF yield of 5.5% suggests reasonable valuation assuming continued moderate growth.
  • ⚠High leverage (4.45x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
  • ⚠Net debt/EBITDA of 6.2x indicates heavy leverage — it would take over 4 years of EBITDA to pay off net debt.
CL
  • ⚠High leverage (16.41x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
  • ⚠7 insider sales totaling $25.1M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.

Key Valuation Metrics

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AMT
CL
Valuation
$4.61B
Free Cash Flow
$3.32B
5.45%
FCF Yield
4.74%
29.34
Trailing P/E
33.18
26.42
Forward P/E
21.52
Quality & Moat
7.10%
ROIC
40.64%
24.92%
ROE
438.68%
73.96%
Gross Margin
60.06%
0.38
PEG Ratio
1.56
Balance Sheet Safety
4.45
Debt / Equity
16.41
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
6.23
Net Debt / EBITDA
1.33
3.79%
Dividend Yield
2.43%
AMT: 7Ties: 1CL: 4
AMTCL

Historical Fundamentals

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AMT

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

CL

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

$1 Retained Earnings Test

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AMT
N/A
Net losses over 3 years — test not applicable
Company had negative cumulative retained earnings
Σ Retained
$-2.91B
Δ Market Cap
$-16.77B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
CL
$-1.07
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Market Cap Declined
Σ Retained
$1.96B
Δ Market Cap
$-2.10B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

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AMT
13579.2% Overvalued
Price is 13579.2% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $181.61
Fair Value: $1.33
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
CL
98.8% Overvalued
Price is 98.8% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $87.26
Fair Value: $43.89
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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AMT

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $182?

+20.4%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +12.2%

The market implies +20.4% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

Standard FCF implies a demanding +12.2%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

CL

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $87?

+15.7%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +9.6%

The market implies +15.7% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

Standard FCF implies a demanding +9.6%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

Economic Moat Score

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AMT
51/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Narrow moat with revenue predictability as the key competitive advantage. Improving roic consistency would strengthen the moat.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
CL
98/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. ROIC Consistency is the standout factor.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.

Forensic Accounting

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AMT
-2.49
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
CL
-3.00
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Ownership Breakdown

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AMT
Insiders 0.1%Institutions 89.2%Retail & Other 10.7%
No. of Institutional Holders2,385
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
CL
Insiders 0.1%Institutions 86.2%Retail & Other 13.6%
No. of Institutional Holders2,536
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

Insider Buying Activity

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AMT
1
Buys (3M)
2
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $1.49M
KALATHUR RAJESH
Director
$494,936
@ $185.30 · 2026-03-10
REILLY EUGENE F
Director
$994,110
@ $178.99 · 2025-10-31
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
CL
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

Insider Selling Activity

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AMT
7
Sells (3M)
8
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $22.18M
DOWLING RUTH T
Officer
$173,092
@ $178.08 · 2026-04-29
VONDRAN STEVEN OWEN
Chief Executive Officer
$6.31M
@ $188.46 · 2026-03-04
DOWLING RUTH T
General Counsel
$128,564
@ $188.51 · 2026-03-04
NOEL EUGENE M
Chief Operating Officer
$7.87M
@ $191.05 · 2026-03-02
DOWLING RUTH T
General Counsel
$122,121
@ $186.16 · 2026-02-27
MEYER ROBERT JOSEPH JR
Officer
$831,695
@ $186.73 · 2026-02-27
SMITH RODNEY M
Chief Financial Officer
$6.60M
@ $192.09 · 2026-02-17
FONT JUAN HERNANDEZ
Officer
$149,998
@ $208.33 · 2025-07-31
GOEL SANJAY
Officer
$863,680
@ $215.92 · 2025-03-17
MEYER ROBERT JOSEPH JR
Officer
$1.14M
@ $201.67 · 2025-02-27
REEVE PAMELA D A
Director
$1.01M
@ $202.97 · 2025-02-26
SMITH RODNEY M
Chief Financial Officer
$3.14M
@ $189.70 · 2025-02-13
SMITH RODNEY M
Chief Financial Officer
$3.00M
@ $181.10 · 2025-01-16
GOEL SANJAY
Officer
$1.19M
@ $238.00 · 2024-09-13
NOEL EUGENE M
Officer
$7.95M
@ $240.00 · 2024-09-10
PUECH OLIVIER
Officer
$4.37M
@ $230.00 · 2024-09-03
PUECH OLIVIER
Officer
$2.26M
@ $226.35 · 2024-08-26
VONDRAN STEVEN OWEN
Chief Executive Officer
$4.95M
@ $230.00 · 2024-08-02
PUECH OLIVIER
Officer
$2.33M
@ $233.27 · 2024-08-02
GOEL SANJAY
Officer
$1.13M
@ $235.39 · 2024-08-02
MEYER ROBERT JOSEPH JR
Officer
$508,020
@ $232.93 · 2024-08-02
GOEL SANJAY
Officer
$702,061
@ $200.36 · 2024-06-04
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
CL
7
Sells (3M)
9
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $25.35M
TSOURAPAS PANAGIOTIS
Officer
$4.78M
@ $95.57 · 2026-02-12
HAZLIN JOHN
Officer
$1.98M
@ $94.25 · 2026-02-10
MALCOLM GREGORY
Officer
$1.21M
@ $94.91 · 2026-02-06
MASSEY SALLY
Officer
$1.51M
@ $95.03 · 2026-02-05
WALLACE NOEL R
Chief Executive Officer
$4.28M
@ $93.91 · 2026-02-04
DANIELS JENNIFER M.
Officer
$2.08M
@ $94.34 · 2026-02-04
SUTULA STANLEY J III
Chief Financial Officer
$9.22M
@ $94.27 · 2026-02-04
MASSEY SALLY
Officer
$100,061
@ $80.89 · 2025-11-21
MASSEY SALLY
Officer
$200,183
@ $88.97 · 2025-05-15
MASSEY SALLY
Officer
$736,152
@ $92.02 · 2025-02-25
MALCOLM GREGORY
Officer
$101,121
@ $95.94 · 2024-11-26
WALLACE NOEL R
Chief Executive Officer
$3.17M
@ $95.00 · 2024-11-22
SUTULA STANLEY J III
Chief Financial Officer
$4.27M
@ $94.11 · 2024-11-05
SUTULA STANLEY J III
Chief Financial Officer
$4.68M
@ $93.53 · 2024-11-01
HUND-MEJEAN MARTINA
Director
$240,228
@ $103.86 · 2024-08-23
DANIELS JENNIFER M.
Officer
$2.26M
@ $102.76 · 2024-08-08
TSOURAPAS PANAGIOTIS
Officer
$1.52M
@ $102.94 · 2024-08-08
KOOYMAN JOHN W
Officer
$2.55M
@ $102.88 · 2024-08-06
MASSEY SALLY
Officer
$1.64M
@ $103.28 · 2024-08-06
MALCOLM GREGORY
Officer
$1.09M
@ $103.10 · 2024-08-06
TSOURAPAS PANAGIOTIS
Officer
$3.98M
@ $99.47 · 2024-07-31
DANIELS JENNIFER M.
Officer
$2.09M
@ $94.15 · 2024-05-14
MASSEY SALLY
Officer
$1.15M
@ $94.06 · 2024-05-09
TSOURAPAS PANAGIOTIS
Officer
$1.13M
@ $94.15 · 2024-05-09
KOOYMAN JOHN W
Officer
$326,882
@ $93.47 · 2024-05-07
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

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AMT
FearGreed
😐Neutral(46/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
CL
FearGreed
😐Neutral(57/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

⚖️ Buffett Signal

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AMT
⚪Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (46)
CL
⚪Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (57)
View AMT Full AnalysisView CL Full Analysis
AMT vs CL: Which Is the Better Buy? | SafetyMargin.io