Colgate weighs $1B sale of select personal brands

Colgate-Palmolive is exploring the sale of several mass-market personal care brands as part of a strategic portfolio realignment, according to a Reuters report citing people familiar with the matter. The consumer products giant is working with Goldman Sachs to gauge buyer interest in assets including Softsoap, Irish Spring, and Speed Stick.

The targeted divestment involves a subset of the personal care division, which covers deodorants, soaps, shower gels, and skin care lines. Sources indicated that the brands up for sale could collectively fetch more than $1 billion in a potential transaction.

Trimming these secondary lines would allow Colgate to focus capital and marketing resources on high-margin core categories, specifically oral care and pet nutrition. The move comes as consumer goods conglomerates navigate elevated energy costs, potential import tariffs, and price-sensitive consumers that pressure operating margins.

Colgate holds a market capitalization of approximately $70 billion and has generated a roughly 4% stock gain over the past year.