MO vs. CL
MO (Altria Group, Inc.) and CL (Colgate-Palmolive Company) are both stocks. Both are in the Consumer Defensive sector — MO in Tobacco, CL in Household & Personal Products. Over the past 10 years, MO returned 7.79%/yr vs 4.21%/yr for CL. At a 0.33 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
MO vs. CL - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, MO achieves a 25.71% return, which is significantly higher than CL's 10.27% return. Over the past 10 years, MO has outperformed CL with an annualized return of 7.79%, while CL has yielded a comparatively lower 4.21% annualized return.
MO
- 1D
- -1.25%
- 1M
- 4.65%
- YTD
- 25.71%
- 6M
- 27.02%
- 1Y
- 28.81%
- 3Y*
- 25.85%
- 5Y*
- 16.08%
- 10Y*
- 7.79%
CL
- 1D
- -2.83%
- 1M
- -1.69%
- YTD
- 10.27%
- 6M
- 14.49%
- 1Y
- -2.21%
- 3Y*
- 6.80%
- 5Y*
- 3.26%
- 10Y*
- 4.21%
MO vs. CL - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MO Altria Group, Inc. | 25.71% | 18.17% | 40.76% | -3.70% | 4.37% | 24.18% | -10.21% | 7.87% | -27.14% | 9.45% |
CL Colgate-Palmolive Company | 10.27% | -10.98% | 16.57% | 3.78% | -5.44% | 2.08% | 27.17% | 18.60% | -19.19% | 17.88% |
Correlation
The correlation between MO and CL is 0.35, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.35 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.39 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.41 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.40 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 4, 1977 | 0.33 |
Fundamentals
MO:
$119.27B
CL:
$69.29B
MO:
$4.79
CL:
$2.58
MO:
14.87
CL:
33.37
MO:
0.32
CL:
8.62
MO:
5.49
CL:
3.35
MO:
$21.82B
CL:
$20.80B
MO:
$14.80B
CL:
$12.49B
MO:
$11.70B
CL:
$3.92B
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
MO vs. CL — Risk / Return Rank
MO
CL
MO vs. CL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Altria Group, Inc. (MO) and Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL). 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.
| MO | CL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.39 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.79 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.25 | 1.00 | +0.25 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.76 | -0.12 | +1.88 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.45 | -0.20 | +4.65 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| MO | CL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.29 | -0.10 | +1.39 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.78 | 0.17 | +0.61 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.34 | 0.21 | +0.13 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.69 | 0.42 | +0.27 |
Drawdowns
MO vs. CL - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MO drawdown since its inception was -65.43%, which is greater than CL's maximum drawdown of -58.91%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MO and CL.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| MO | CL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -65.43% | -58.91% | -6.52% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -16.40% | -18.64% | +2.24% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -16.40% | -29.05% | +12.65% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.83% | -29.05% | +3.22% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -53.69% | -29.05% | -24.64% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.37% | -17.54% | +13.17% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.93% | -11.24% | -0.69% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.49% | 11.29% | -4.80% |
Volatility
MO vs. CL - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Altria Group, Inc. (MO) is 6.69%, while Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) has a volatility of 7.77%. This indicates that MO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than CL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| MO | CL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.69% | 7.77% | -1.08% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 17.32% | 17.27% | +0.05% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.53% | 21.67% | +0.86% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.64% | 18.77% | +1.87% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.96% | 19.74% | +3.22% |
Dividends
MO vs. CL - Dividend Comparison
MO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.89%, more than CL's 2.43% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CL Colgate-Palmolive Company | 2.43% | 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. | 5.89% | 7.21% | 7.65% | 9.52% | 8.05% | 7.43% | 8.29% | 6.57% | 6.07% | 3.56% | 3.48% | 3.73% |
Financials
MO vs. CL - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Altria Group, Inc. and Colgate-Palmolive Company. 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
MO vs. CL - Profitability Comparison
MO - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Altria Group, Inc. reported a gross profit of 3.51B and revenue of 5.43B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 64.6%.
CL - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Colgate-Palmolive Company reported a gross profit of 3.23B and revenue of 5.32B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 60.6%.
MO - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Altria Group, Inc. reported an operating income of 2.96B and revenue of 5.43B, resulting in an operating margin of 54.5%.
CL - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Colgate-Palmolive Company reported an operating income of 1.16B and revenue of 5.32B, resulting in an operating margin of 21.7%.
MO - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Altria Group, Inc. reported a net income of 2.18B and revenue of 5.43B, resulting in a net margin of 40.2%.
CL - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Colgate-Palmolive Company reported a net income of 646.00M and revenue of 5.32B, resulting in a net margin of 12.1%.
Frequently Asked Questions
MO and CL have a correlation of 0.35, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
CL has higher volatility (7.77%) compared to MO (6.69%). In terms of maximum drawdown, MO dropped -65.43% vs CL's -58.91%.
MO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.29 vs -0.10), 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.
Find the right allocation for MO and CL
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer