Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) reported earnings on Jan. 31. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Colgate-Palmolive met expectations on revenues and met expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue increased slightly and GAAP earnings per share increased.

Gross margins increased, operating margins contracted, net margins contracted.

Revenue details
 Colgate-Palmolive recorded revenue of $4.29 billion. The 17 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for a top line of $4.32 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 2.7% higher than the prior-year quarter's $4.17 billion.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
 EPS came in at $1.41. The 21 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $1.40 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.26 for Q4 were 4.1% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.21 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
 For the quarter, gross margin was 58.4%, 70 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 22.0%, 120 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 14.0%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $4.35 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.36.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $17.99 billion. The average EPS estimate is $5.89.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,306 members out of 1,356 rating the stock outperform, and 50 members rating it underperform. Among 496 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 486 give Colgate-Palmolive a green thumbs-up, and 10 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Colgate-Palmolive is hold, with an average price target of $111.32.

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