Colgate-Palmolive India reported largely flat fourth-quarter results with net profit of ₹353.32 crore, marginally lower than ₹355 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. According to exchange filings, the company's revenue from operations rose 9% year-on-year to ₹1,582.77 crore from ₹1,452.02 crore in the previous year. However, EBITDA declined 2.3% to ₹510 crore versus ₹522 crore a year earlier, while EBITDA margin contracted sharply to 31.9% from 35.1% in the year-ago quarter. The margin pressure was attributed to higher operational costs, though revenue growth remained healthy supported by broad-based momentum across core and premium portfolios.
For the full financial year FY26, the company reported net profit after tax of ₹1,325.31 crore, down 7.7% from ₹1,437 crore in FY25. As reported by CNBC TV18, total consolidated income was marginally down to ₹6,124.16 crore for FY26 from ₹6,170.91 crore a year ago. The company attributed annual earnings impact to charges related to the inverted duty structure following GST changes, along with higher interest on tax refunds recorded in the base year. The second half of FY26 showed a clear recovery trend with H2 net sales growth of 5.2%, indicating improving demand conditions after a softer first half.
According to exchange filings, the company ended FY26 with continued acceleration in sales growth, with the domestic business recording 9% year-on-year growth in the fourth quarter. The company stated that Q4 net sales growth stood at 9%, supported by broad-based momentum across core and premium portfolios. Advertising spends during the quarter increased 10% year-on-year to ₹199 crore, representing 12.6% of net sales, as the company continued to focus on premiumisation and category consumption. The March-quarter recovery was aided by improving urban toothpaste demand, stronger traction in premium products such as Colgate Total and Visible White, and rural consumption-building initiatives. Total expenses of CPIL during the quarter were up 11% to ₹1,121.61 crore, while total income including other income reached ₹1,612.22 crore, up 8.8%.
Colgate-Palmolive India Managing Director & CEO Prabha Narasimhan highlighted the company's strong performance momentum, stating that 'This momentum was broad-based across our core and premium portfolios and balanced between pricing and volume. Crucially, our accelerated investments in the strategic premium business are yielding stellar results, delivering growth that is 3x the overall company growth.' The company's strategic focus on premium products continues to drive exceptional results, with premium business growth significantly outpacing overall company performance. This premiumisation strategy, combined with balanced pricing and volume growth, has contributed to the company's resilient performance despite challenging market conditions.
The company declared a second interim dividend of ₹24 per equity share of Re 1 each for FY26, with the dividend to be paid on or after June 17, 2026 to shareholders on record as of June 1, 2026. As reported by CNBC TV18, the board also approved the reappointment of Jacob Sebastian Madukkakuzy as Whole-time Director and Chief Financial Officer for a five-year term beginning October 28, 2026, subject to shareholder approval. The total FY26 dividend payout reached ₹48 per share, reflecting the company's commitment to shareholder returns despite challenging market conditions. The total dividend payout to shareholders will be ₹653 crore, demonstrating the company's strong cash generation capabilities and financial health.
