CL vs. MO
CL (Colgate-Palmolive Company) and MO (Altria Group, Inc.) are both stocks. Both are in the Consumer Defensive sector — CL in Household & Personal Products, MO in Tobacco. Over the past 10 years, CL returned 4.44%/yr vs 7.21%/yr for MO. Their 0.33 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship.
Performance
CL vs. MO - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, CL achieves a 17.64% return, which is significantly lower than MO's 22.29% return. Over the past 10 years, CL has underperformed MO with an annualized return of 4.44%, while MO has yielded a comparatively higher 7.21% annualized return.
CL
- 1D
- -0.33%
- 1M
- -1.01%
- 6M
- 2.33%
- YTD
- 17.64%
- 1Y
- 11.61%
- 3Y*
- 8.52%
- 5Y*
- 5.29%
- 10Y*
- 4.44%
- ALL TIME*
- 10.28%
MO
- 1D
- 0.57%
- 1M
- -4.49%
- 6M
- 13.75%
- YTD
- 22.29%
- 1Y
- 17.80%
- 3Y*
- 23.87%
- 5Y*
- 15.92%
- 10Y*
- 7.21%
- ALL TIME*
- 17.80%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $438.38M | $416.63M | $459.32M | |
| $637.73M | $559.86M | $594.92M |
CL vs. MO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CL Colgate-Palmolive Company | 17.64% | -10.98% | 16.57% | 3.78% | -5.44% | 2.08% | 27.17% | 18.60% | -19.19% | 17.88% |
MO Altria Group, Inc. | 22.29% | 18.17% | 40.76% | -3.70% | 4.37% | 24.18% | -10.21% | 7.87% | -27.14% | 9.45% |
Correlation
The correlation between CL and MO is 0.41, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.41 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.41 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.41 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.40 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 3, 1977 | 0.33 |
Fundamentals
CL:
$73.06B
MO:
$114.07B
CL:
$2.53
MO:
$4.76
CL:
36.15
MO:
14.37
CL:
9.34
MO:
0.31
CL:
3.50
MO:
5.24
CL:
$21.05B
MO:
$21.87B
CL:
$12.72B
MO:
$15.52B
CL:
$3.68B
MO:
$11.75B
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Return for Risk
CL vs. MO — Risk / Return Rank
CL
MO
CL vs. MO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) and Altria Group, Inc. (MO). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| CL | MO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.20 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.16 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.10 | 1.15 | -0.05 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.69 | 1.09 | -0.40 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.37 | 2.71 | -1.33 |
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Drawdowns
CL vs. MO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum CL drawdown since its inception was -58.91%, smaller than the maximum MO drawdown of -65.43%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CL and MO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| CL | MO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -58.91% | -65.43% | +6.52% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -16.97% | -16.40% | -0.57% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -29.05% | -16.40% | -12.65% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -29.05% | -25.83% | -3.22% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -29.05% | -53.69% | +24.64% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -12.03% | -8.80% | -3.23% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.24% | -11.90% | +0.66% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 8.47% | 6.59% | +1.88% |
Volatility
CL vs. MO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is 7.62%, while Altria Group, Inc. (MO) has a volatility of 12.13%. This indicates that CL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than MO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| CL | MO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.62% | 12.13% | -4.51% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 17.78% | 20.12% | -2.34% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.53% | 24.97% | -2.44% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.97% | 21.27% | -2.30% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.87% | 23.29% | -3.42% |
Dividends
CL vs. MO - Dividend Comparison
CL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.30%, less than MO's 6.21% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CL Colgate-Palmolive Company | 2.30% | 2.61% | 2.18% | 2.40% | 2.36% | 2.10% | 2.05% | 2.48% | 2.79% | 2.11% | 2.37% | 2.25% |
MO Altria Group, Inc. | 6.21% | 7.21% | 7.65% | 9.52% | 8.05% | 7.43% | 8.29% | 6.57% | 6.07% | 3.56% | 3.48% | 3.73% |
Financials
CL vs. MO - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Colgate-Palmolive Company and Altria Group, Inc.. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
CL vs. MO - Profitability Comparison
CL - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Colgate-Palmolive Company reported a gross profit of 3.30B and revenue of 5.36B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 61.5%.
MO - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Altria Group, Inc. reported a gross profit of 4.58B and revenue of 6.11B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 74.9%.
CL - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Colgate-Palmolive Company reported an operating income of 1.02B and revenue of 5.36B, resulting in an operating margin of 19.0%.
MO - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Altria Group, Inc. reported an operating income of 3.14B and revenue of 6.11B, resulting in an operating margin of 51.3%.
CL - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Colgate-Palmolive Company reported a net income of 693.00M and revenue of 5.36B, resulting in a net margin of 12.9%.
MO - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Aug 2026, Altria Group, Inc. reported a net income of 2.30B and revenue of 6.11B, resulting in a net margin of 37.6%.
Frequently Asked Questions
CL and MO have a correlation of 0.41, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
MO has higher volatility (12.13%) compared to CL (7.62%). In terms of maximum drawdown, CL dropped -58.91% vs MO's -65.43%.
MO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.72 vs 0.52), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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