Colgate-Palmolive reports organic growth in third quarter of 2015

Colgate-Palmolive has announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2015, highlighting the underlying organic growth it achieved during the period.

The company achieved a  worldwide net sales total of just under $4 billion (2.6 billion pounds) during the three months, with global unit volume growth of one percent and pricing up by 3.5 percent.

Because of a negative foreign exchange impact of 13 percent, sales were nominally down by 8.5 percent compared to the third quarter of 2014, but organic sales grew by five percent, and its gross profit margin, operating profit margin and net income as a percentage of sales all increased.

Its leading share of the global toothpaste market increased to 44.7 percent for the year to date, while its global leadership in manual toothbrushes also strengthened to 34.5 percent.

Ian Cook, chairman, president and chief executive officer at Colgate-Palmolive, said: "In the face of challenging macroeconomic conditions worldwide, we are pleased to have achieved another quarter of strong organic sales growth, driven by positive unit volume growth and higher pricing."