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CL or DG or UL
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. Dollar General (DG) vs. Unilever (UL) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- CL leads YTD performance at 19.13%, driven by strong Q4 earnings beat and emerging markets growth.
- DG shows robust 10.67% YTD gains amid consumer staples rally, though faces operational challenges like store closures.
- UL trails with 2.95% YTD, experiencing recent share price weakness despite AI partnerships and undervaluation signals.
- Consumer staples sector outperforms broader market in recent market activity, highlighting defensive appeal for CL, DG, and UL.
- CL boasts highest market cap at $75B, while DG offers value with lower P/E of 25.27.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines CL (Colgate-Palmolive), DG (Dollar General), and UL (Unilever), three consumer staples giants navigating a volatile market environment. These companies provide essential goods—from oral care and household products to discount retail and global FMCG—making them relevant for defensive investors seeking stability amid economic uncertainty. Traders focused on relative performance, sector momentum, and recent catalysts will find value in analyzing their price behavior, earnings trends, and positioning in the ongoing consumer staples rally.
CL Overview and Recent Performance
Colgate-Palmolive (CL), a global leader in oral, personal, and home care products, operates with a market cap of approximately $75 billion. In recent market activity, the stock has delivered strong YTD gains of 19.13%, outpacing the S&P 500, supported by a Q4 2025 earnings beat where adjusted EPS reached $0.95 versus estimates of $0.91 and revenue hit $5.23 billion. Growth in emerging markets and AI-driven productivity enhancements have bolstered sentiment, with organic sales up amid macroeconomic resilience. Trading around $93.56, CL reflects steady demand for essentials, though elevated P/E of 35.57 signals premium valuation sensitivity to cost pressures.
DG Overview and Recent Performance
Dollar General (DG), a discount retailer targeting value-conscious consumers in rural and suburban areas, holds a $32 billion market cap. The stock has posted 10.67% YTD returns, benefiting from consumer staples sector strength, with shares near $146.31. Recent weeks saw mixed moves, including gains from profit outlook upgrades, though a store closure due to safety issues raised compliance concerns. Q3 revenue reached $10.65 billion, with analysts anticipating earnings beats ahead of March reports. At a P/E of 25.27, DG trades at a relative discount, influenced by operational execution and sensitivity to low-income spending shifts.
UL Overview and Recent Performance
Unilever (UL), a multinational in beauty, nutrition, and home care, commands a $146 billion market cap. YTD performance stands at 2.95%, with shares at $66.82 facing short-term weakness, down in recent weeks amid competition and market pressures. Strategic AI partnerships, including with BostonGene for multiomics research and Google Cloud initiatives, aim to drive innovation, positioning UL for long-term growth. P/E of 22.20 suggests potential undervaluation, with focus on technology transformation supporting resilience in essential goods demand.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
CL, DG, and UL operate in consumer staples but diverge in models: CL focuses on branded oral care with global emerging market exposure, DG on U.S. discount retail serving price-sensitive shoppers, and UL on broad FMCG with tech innovation. Growth drivers include CL's AI productivity and 4.5% organic sales, DG's value positioning amid inflation, and UL's AI/multiomics partnerships. Recent momentum favors CL (19% YTD) over DG (11%) and UL (3%). Risks encompass DG's compliance issues, UL's competition, and shared inflation sensitivity. Valuations show UL cheapest (P/E 22), CL priciest (36); sentiment tilts positive on staples stability versus broader volatility.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors CL due to superior trend consistency, earnings momentum from emerging markets, and relative stability in recent market activity. With 19% YTD gains and catalysts like AI productivity, it shows stronger positioning than DG's operational risks or UL's weaker momentum, though probabilities hinge on sustained staples outperformance.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full Disclaimers and Limitations.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
CL’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileDG’s FA Score has 0 green FA rating(s), and UL’s FA Score reflects 0 green FA rating(s).
- CL’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- DG’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- UL’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
CL’s TA Score shows that 6 TA indicator(s) are bullish while DG’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s), and UL’s TA Score reflects 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- CL’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 3 bearish.
- DG’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- UL’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
CL (@Household/Personal Care) experienced а +1.74% price change this week, while DG (@Discount Stores) price change was +9.46% , and UL (@Household/Personal Care) price fluctuated +0.33% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Household/Personal Care industry was +0.96%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +3.95%, and the average quarterly price growth was -8.44%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Discount Stores industry was +2.34%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +2.71%, and the average quarterly price growth was +7.10%.
Reported Earning Dates
CL is expected to report earnings on May 01, 2026.
DG is expected to report earnings on May 21, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Household/Personal Care (+0.96% weekly)Household/Personal Care companies sell products for home cleaning and/or personal hygiene and grooming purposes. Products of this industry include detergents, shampoos, soaps, cosmetics, fabric conditioners and infant care fragrances. Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Estee Lauder and Colgate-Palmolive are some of the biggest names in the business. A lot of the products become a necessary part of people’s daily routine, and therefore the industry is relatively less vulnerable to macroeconomic downturns. At the same time, product quality, consumer safety, and ease of use are extremely critical factors for a company to survive competition and earn recognition in this industry.
@Discount Stores (+2.34% weekly)Companies in the discount stores industry specialize in offering substantial discounts on a vast array of retail products. Some companies in this industry also operate general merchandise warehouse clubs. Products sold at discount stores are typically similar to those of any department store, but the pricing of the goods is generally much lower (and hence the name “discount”). Think Dollar General Corporation, Dollar Tree, Inc. and Five Below, Inc. Many discount stores target low-income households and/or price-sensitive consumers as their potential market. Discount stores’ profitability could hinge on factors like competitive pricing, sufficient locations, healthy revenue per square foot, and effective advertisement. These store operators could have an edge over other retailers during financial crises or recessions, when many consumers could be looking for less expensive alternatives.
| CL | DG | UL | |
| Capitalization | 68.8B | 27.9B | 125B |
| EBITDA | 3.96B | 3.24B | 11.3B |
| Gain YTD | 9.258 | -3.726 | -9.822 |
| P/E Ratio | 32.63 | 18.49 | 19.14 |
| Revenue | 20.4B | 42.7B | 59.8B |
| Total Cash | 1.29B | 1.14B | N/A |
| Total Debt | 8.55B | 15.7B | N/A |
CL | DG | UL | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 65 | 20 | 51 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 98 Overvalued | 45 Fair valued | 39 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 65 | 100 | 81 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 5 | 46 | 97 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 59 | 54 | 81 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 43 | 62 | 83 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 | 75 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
UL's Valuation (39) in the Household Or Personal Care industry is in the same range as DG (45) in the Discount Stores industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for CL (98) in the Household Or Personal Care industry. This means that UL's stock grew similarly to DG’s and somewhat faster than CL’s over the last 12 months.
CL's Profit vs Risk Rating (65) in the Household Or Personal Care industry is in the same range as UL (81) in the Household Or Personal Care industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for DG (100) in the Discount Stores industry. This means that CL's stock grew similarly to UL’s and somewhat faster than DG’s over the last 12 months.
CL's SMR Rating (5) in the Household Or Personal Care industry is somewhat better than the same rating for DG (46) in the Discount Stores industry, and is significantly better than the same rating for UL (97) in the Household Or Personal Care industry. This means that CL's stock grew somewhat faster than DG’s and significantly faster than UL’s over the last 12 months.
DG's Price Growth Rating (54) in the Discount Stores industry is in the same range as CL (59) in the Household Or Personal Care industry, and is in the same range as UL (81) in the Household Or Personal Care industry. This means that DG's stock grew similarly to CL’s and similarly to UL’s over the last 12 months.
CL's P/E Growth Rating (43) in the Household Or Personal Care industry is in the same range as DG (62) in the Discount Stores industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for UL (83) in the Household Or Personal Care industry. This means that CL's stock grew similarly to DG’s and somewhat faster than UL’s over the last 12 months.
| CL | DG | UL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 46% | 2 days ago 55% | 2 days ago 34% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 45% | 2 days ago 56% | 2 days ago 58% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 47% | 2 days ago 53% | 2 days ago 37% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 44% | 2 days ago 64% | 2 days ago 38% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 46% | 2 days ago 62% | 2 days ago 40% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 45% | 2 days ago 66% | 2 days ago 46% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 44% | 2 days ago 62% | 10 days ago 42% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 43% | 9 days ago 64% | 5 days ago 42% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 45% | 2 days ago 56% | N/A |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 47% | 2 days ago 60% | 2 days ago 40% |
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