How did CL's Q4 earnings surprise impact annual performance?

Colgate-Palmolive's (CL) Q4 earnings surprise had a positive impact on its annual performance, contributing to a strong finish for the year.

1. **Q4 Earnings Surprise**: Colgate-Palmolive reported Q4 net income of $739 million, with earnings per share (EPS) of $0.91, surpassing Wall Street expectations. This marked a significant positive surprise, as the company's performance exceeded analysts' estimates.

2. **Annual Performance Impact**:
- **Revenue Growth**: The company's full-year revenue reached $20.1 billion, marking a 3.3% increase from the previous year. This growth was driven in part by the strong performance in Q4.
- **Net Income Increase**: Colgate-Palmolive reported a full-year net income of $2.89 billion, reflecting a 26% increase from the previous year. The Q4 earnings surprise thus contributed significantly to this annual net income growth.
- **Profit Margin Improvement**: The company's profit margin improved to 14%, up from 12% in the previous year. This improvement is a result of better cost management and operational efficiency, which were likely enhanced by the strong Q4 performance.
- **EPS Growth**: The EPS for the full year was $3.53, up from $2.78 in the previous year. The Q4 earnings surprise thus boosted the company's annual EPS, further highlighting the positive impact of its strong Q4 performance on the annual results.

|code|Ticker|Name|Date|Net Income (FY) YoY|Net Income (FY)|market_code|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|CL|CL.N|Colgate-Palmolive|2020|13.177681044717055|2.86E9|169|
|CL|CL.N|Colgate-Palmolive|2021|-18.25174825174825|2.338E9|169|
|CL|CL.N|Colgate-Palmolive|2022|-15.868263473053892|1.967E9|169|
|CL|CL.N|Colgate-Palmolive|2023|24.809354346720895|2.455E9|169|
|CL|CL.N|Colgate-Palmolive|2024|24.19551934826884|3.049E9|169|

3. **Market Reaction and Outlook**: Despite the Q4 earnings beat, Colgate-Palmolive's stock price dipped slightly following the announcement. However, the company's full-year performance demonstrates resilience and growth, which is a testament to its robust business model and market position.

In conclusion, Colgate-Palmolive's Q4 earnings surprise had a significant positive impact on its annual performance, contributing to revenue growth, net income increase, profit margin improvement, and EPS growth. This strong finish for the year reflects the company's effective management and strategic positioning in the consumer products market.