Compare StocksCL vs HD

Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) vs The Home Depot, Inc. (HD): Which Is the Better Buy in 2026?

As of 2026-06-19, CL is overvalued at $89, with a DCF intrinsic value of $45 and a margin of safety of -98%. HD is overvalued at $334, with an intrinsic value of $250 and a margin of safety of -34%. Of the two, HD has the wider margin of safety.

CL
Colgate-Palmolive Company
$89.48
VS
HD
The Home Depot, Inc.
$334.28

Rewards

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.
HD
  • The Home Depot, Inc. has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
  • The Home Depot, Inc. scores 87/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with margin stability as the strongest competitive dimension.
  • Return on equity has consistently exceeded 20% over 4 years, indicating efficient use of shareholder capital.

Risks

CL
  • High leverage (13.49x net debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
  • 10 insider sales with no purchases over the past 12 months — a persistent pattern of insider selling.
HD
  • High leverage (4.48x net debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
  • 11 insider sales with no purchases over the past 12 months — a persistent pattern of insider selling.

Key Valuation Metrics

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CL
HD
Valuation
$3.32B
Free Cash Flow
$10.13B
4.64%
FCF Yield
3.04%
34.68
Trailing P/E
23.72
22.13
Forward P/E
20.75
Quality & Moat
40.64%
ROIC
20.22%
363.58%
ROE
128.38%
60.06%
Gross Margin
33.13%
1.62
PEG Ratio
1.90
Balance Sheet Safety
13.49
Net Debt / Equity
4.48
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
1.33
Net Debt / EBITDA
2.49
2.30%
Dividend Yield
2.76%
CL: 6Ties: 1HD: 5
CLHD

Historical Fundamentals

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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. The dashed forward point is the forward P/E — today's price ÷ analyst consensus EPS.

HD

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation. The dashed forward point is the forward P/E — today's price ÷ analyst consensus EPS.

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation. The dashed forward point is the forward P/E — today's price ÷ analyst consensus EPS.

$1 Retained Earnings Test

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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
HD
$-1.09
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Market Cap Declined
Σ Retained
$17.64B
Δ Market Cap
$-19.32B
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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CL
98.0% Overvalued
Price is 98.0% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $89.48
Fair Value: $45.20
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
HD
33.5% Overvalued
Price is 33.5% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $334.28
Fair Value: $250.30
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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CL

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $89?

+15.5%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +9.9%

The market implies +15.5% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

Standard FCF implies a demanding +9.9%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

HD

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $334?

+11.8%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +16.8%

The market implies +11.8% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

Standard FCF implies a demanding +16.8%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

Economic Moat Score

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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.
HD
87/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. Margin Stability 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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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.
HD
-2.40
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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CL
Insiders 0.1%Institutions 88.1%Retail & Other 11.8%
No. of Institutional Holders2,617
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.
HD
Insiders 0.1%Institutions 76.1%Retail & Other 23.8%
No. of Institutional Holders5,106
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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CL
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
HD
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
BRENNEMAN GREGORY D
Director
$999,767
@ $346.66 · 2025-03-14
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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CL
2
Sells (3M)
10
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $26.11M
MALCOLM GREGORY
Officer
$203,412
@ $88.44 · 2026-05-15
MASSEY SALLY
Officer
$751,633
@ $87.41 · 2026-05-07
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
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
HD
0
Sells (3M)
11
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $23.56M
MCPHAIL RICHARD V
Chief Financial Officer
$940,670
@ $368.89 · 2026-03-04
DEATON JOHN A.
Officer
$661,617
@ $369.00 · 2026-03-04
ROSEBOROUGH TERESA WYNN
General Counsel
$1.00M
@ $348.52 · 2025-12-26
BROWN ANGIE
Chief Technology Officer
$695,948
@ $357.63 · 2025-12-12
BASTEK WILLIAM D
Officer
$974,445
@ $423.12 · 2025-09-12
ROSEBOROUGH TERESA WYNN
General Counsel
$2.27M
@ $413.23 · 2025-08-22
BASTEK WILLIAM D
Officer
$1.55M
@ $410.23 · 2025-08-22
DECKER EDWARD P.
Chief Executive Officer
$13.07M
@ $397.22 · 2025-08-21
BROWN ANGIE
Chief Technology Officer
$404,070
@ $404.07 · 2025-08-20
MCPHAIL RICHARD V
Chief Financial Officer
$1.36M
@ $403.66 · 2025-08-20
PADILLA HECTOR A
Officer
$640,609
@ $404.17 · 2025-08-20
DEATON JOHN A.
Officer
$3.29M
@ $369.99 · 2025-06-03
ROSEBOROUGH TERESA WYNN
General Counsel
$2.00M
@ $369.28 · 2025-05-28
SIDDIQUI FAHIM
Chief Technology Officer
$954,564
@ $367.14 · 2025-05-22
BASTEK WILLIAM D
Officer
$1.24M
@ $416.61 · 2024-11-22
HOURIGAN TIMOTHY A
Officer
$6.55M
@ $409.52 · 2024-11-18
ROSEBOROUGH TERESA WYNN
General Counsel
$9.03M
@ $408.91 · 2024-11-14
PADILLA HECTOR A
Officer
$1.48M
@ $408.96 · 2024-11-14
CAMPBELL ANN-MARIE
Officer
$12.24M
@ $408.40 · 2024-11-14
MCPHAIL RICHARD V
Chief Financial Officer
$2.65M
@ $408.45 · 2024-11-13
SCARDINO KIMBERLY R.
Officer
$617,100
@ $363.00 · 2024-08-19
ROSEBOROUGH TERESA WYNN
General Counsel
$1.87M
@ $359.32 · 2024-08-15
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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CL
FearGreed
😐Neutral(55/100)

"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.
HD
FearGreed
😐Neutral(51/100)

"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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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 (55)
HD
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 (51)
View CL Full AnalysisView HD Full Analysis

Frequently Asked Questions: CL vs HD

Is Colgate-Palmolive Company or The Home Depot, Inc. more undervalued in 2026?

Based on our discounted cash flow model, HD trades at a -33.5% margin of safety (intrinsic value $250 vs. price $334), compared to CL's -98.0% margin of safety (intrinsic $45 vs. $89).

Which stock has a wider economic moat, Colgate-Palmolive Company or The Home Depot, Inc.?

CL scores 98/100 (Wide moat), while HD scores 87/100 (Wide moat). The moat score measures competitive advantage durability across ROIC consistency, margin stability, revenue predictability, and reinvestment efficiency.

Which company has better free cash flow, Colgate-Palmolive Company or The Home Depot, Inc.?

Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) generates a 4.6% free cash flow yield, compared to The Home Depot, Inc.'s 3.0%. A higher FCF yield means the business converts more of its market value into cash that can be returned to shareholders or reinvested.

Which stock has higher return on invested capital, Colgate-Palmolive Company or The Home Depot, Inc.?

CL earns 40.6% ROIC versus HD's 20.2%. A higher ROIC means the company generates more profit per dollar of capital employed, a hallmark of durable competitive advantage in Buffett-style analysis.

Which dividend is safer, Colgate-Palmolive Company's or The Home Depot, Inc.'s?

HD's dividend earns a safety score of 69/100 (Safe), compared to CL's 64/100 (Safe). HD has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years.