Is CL or KMB cheaper?

On trailing earnings, KMB is cheaper: CL trades at a 34.75 P/E and KMB at 16.06.

Which has grown faster, CL or KMB?

Over the past five years, CL grew revenue faster — CL at a 4.46% CAGR versus KMB at -2.61%.

Does CL or KMB pay a bigger dividend?

CL yields 2.34% and KMB yields 4.97% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is CL or KMB more profitable?

KMB runs the higher net margin — CL at 10.04% versus KMB at 12.81%.

Which has been the better investment, CL or KMB?

Over the past 10-year, CL delivered the higher annualized total return — CL at 4.61% versus KMB at 1.05%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) vs Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB)

KMB leads on 9 of 16 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Colgate-Palmolive Company and Kimberly-Clark Corporation across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 14, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

Colgate-Palmolive Company

$71.58B

$89.45Consumer Defensive

KMB

Kimberly-Clark Corporation

$33.95B

$102.29Consumer Defensive

Total return — CL vs KMB

growth of $100 · last 30y

CL +777.0%KMB +195.9%CL compounded faster

CL KMB

CL vs KMB: by the numbers

•CL is the larger company ($71.58B vs $33.95B market cap).
•KMB trades at the lower earnings multiple (16.06 vs 34.75 P/E).
•KMB converts more revenue to profit (12.81% vs 10.04% net margin).
•CL grew revenue faster over the past five years (4.46% vs -2.61% CAGR).
•KMB pays the higher dividend yield (4.97% vs 2.34%).

Which is better, CL or KMB?

Metric tally: CL 7 · KMB 9

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueKMB(lower P/E)

GrowthCL(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeKMB(higher dividend yield)

QualityCL(higher ROIC)

Valuation

Metric	CL	KMB
P/E ratio	34.75	16.06●
Forward P/E	22.22	13.49●
P/S ratio	3.46	2.06●
P/B ratio	496.66	18.98●
EV / EBITDA	21.17	13.26●
FCF yield	5.23%	7.56%●

Profitability

Metric	CL	KMB
Gross margin	60.06%●	35.86%
Operating margin	21.21%●	13.27%
Net margin	10.04%	12.81%●
ROE	1439.31%●	117.98%
ROIC	30.34%●	17.62%

Dividends

Metric	CL	KMB
Dividend yield	2.34%	4.97%●
Payout ratio	79.17%	83.55%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	CL	KMB
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	4.46%●	-2.61%
EPS CAGR (5Y)	-3.47%	-2.50%●
FCF CAGR (5Y)	3.88%●	3.38%
Total return CAGR (5Y)	3.78%●	-0.94%

Frequently asked

Which is better, CL or KMB?: It depends on your goal. value: KMB (lower P/E); growth: CL (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: KMB (higher dividend yield); quality: CL (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, KMB leads 9 to 7.
Is CL or KMB cheaper?: On trailing earnings, KMB is cheaper: CL trades at a 34.75 P/E and KMB at 16.06.
Which has grown faster, CL or KMB?: Over the past five years, CL grew revenue faster — CL at a 4.46% CAGR versus KMB at -2.61%.
Does CL or KMB pay a bigger dividend?: CL yields 2.34% and KMB yields 4.97% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is CL or KMB more profitable?: KMB runs the higher net margin — CL at 10.04% versus KMB at 12.81%.
Which has been the better investment, CL or KMB?: Over the past 10-year, CL delivered the higher annualized total return — CL at 4.61% versus KMB at 1.05%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full CL analysis Full KMB analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

Colgate-Palmolive P/E ratio Kimberly-Clark P/E ratio Colgate-Palmolive dividend yield Kimberly-Clark dividend yield Colgate-Palmolive ROE Kimberly-Clark ROE Colgate-Palmolive operating margin Kimberly-Clark operating margin Colgate-Palmolive revenue growth Kimberly-Clark revenue growth Colgate-Palmolive free cash flow Kimberly-Clark free cash flow

Colgate-Palmolive & Kimberly-Clark appear in these rankings

Highest Dividend Yield Stocks Dividend Aristocrats Highest ROE Stocks Highest ROIC Stocks

Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 14, 2026.