SCL vs. CL
SCL (Stepan Company) and CL (Colgate-Palmolive Company) are both stocks. SCL operates in Specialty Chemicals (Basic Materials), while CL operates in Household & Personal Products (Consumer Defensive). Over the past 10 years, SCL returned 0.58%/yr vs 4.62%/yr for CL. At a 0.20 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
SCL vs. CL - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SCL achieves a 16.81% return, which is significantly higher than CL's 14.60% return. Over the past 10 years, SCL has underperformed CL with an annualized return of 0.58%, while CL has yielded a comparatively higher 4.62% annualized return.
SCL
- 1D
- 2.50%
- 1M
- 11.59%
- YTD
- 16.81%
- 6M
- 15.27%
- 1Y
- 3.34%
- 3Y*
- -15.27%
- 5Y*
- -14.41%
- 10Y*
- 0.58%
CL
- 1D
- 0.07%
- 1M
- 0.69%
- YTD
- 14.60%
- 6M
- 15.59%
- 1Y
- 1.61%
- 3Y*
- 8.47%
- 5Y*
- 3.79%
- 10Y*
- 4.62%
SCL vs. CL - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCL Stepan Company | 16.81% | -24.60% | -30.29% | -9.74% | -12.91% | 5.24% | 17.75% | 39.96% | -5.21% | -2.06% |
CL Colgate-Palmolive Company | 14.60% | -10.98% | 16.57% | 3.78% | -5.44% | 2.08% | 27.17% | 18.60% | -19.19% | 17.88% |
Correlation
The correlation between SCL and CL is 0.25, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.25 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.19 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.28 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.26 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 17, 1992 | 0.20 |
Fundamentals
SCL:
$1.25B
CL:
$72.02B
SCL:
-$0.62
CL:
$2.58
SCL:
0.53
CL:
3.48
SCL:
1.05
CL:
496.66
SCL:
$2.34B
CL:
$20.80B
SCL:
$259.28M
CL:
$12.49B
SCL:
$96.49M
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
SCL vs. CL — Risk / Return Rank
SCL
CL
SCL vs. CL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Stepan Company (SCL) 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.
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.
| SCL | CL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.10 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.22 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.04 | 1.01 | +0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.03 | -0.08 | +0.11 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.05 | -0.14 | +0.19 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
SCL vs. CL - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SCL drawdown since its inception was -66.78%, which is greater than CL's maximum drawdown of -58.91%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SCL and CL.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| SCL | CL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -66.78% | -58.91% | -7.87% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -32.78% | -18.64% | -14.14% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -54.09% | -29.05% | -25.04% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -64.83% | -29.05% | -35.78% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -66.78% | -29.05% | -37.73% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -56.18% | -14.31% | -41.87% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -17.01% | -11.24% | -5.77% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 19.53% | 11.35% | +8.18% |
Volatility
SCL vs. CL - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Stepan Company (SCL) is 6.94%, while Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) has a volatility of 8.32%. This indicates that SCL 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
| SCL | CL | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.94% | 8.32% | -1.38% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 30.89% | 17.28% | +13.61% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 36.52% | 21.83% | +14.69% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 30.34% | 18.81% | +11.53% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 31.61% | 19.75% | +11.86% |
Dividends
SCL vs. CL - Dividend Comparison
SCL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.88%, more than CL's 2.34% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CL Colgate-Palmolive Company | 2.34% | 2.61% | 2.18% | 2.40% | 2.36% | 2.10% | 2.05% | 2.48% | 2.79% | 2.11% | 2.37% | 2.25% |
SCL Stepan Company | 2.88% | 3.27% | 2.33% | 1.55% | 1.63% | 1.01% | 0.95% | 1.00% | 1.25% | 1.06% | 0.95% | 1.47% |
Financials
SCL vs. CL - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Stepan Company 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
SCL vs. CL - Profitability Comparison
SCL - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Stepan Company reported a gross profit of 64.85M and revenue of 604.51M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 10.7%.
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%.
SCL - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Stepan Company reported an operating income of -49.62M and revenue of 604.51M, resulting in an operating margin of -8.2%.
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%.
SCL - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Stepan Company reported a net income of -41.41M and revenue of 604.51M, resulting in a net margin of -6.9%.
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
SCL and CL have a correlation of 0.25, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
CL has higher volatility (8.32%) compared to SCL (6.94%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SCL dropped -66.78% vs CL's -58.91%.
SCL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.03 vs -0.07), 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 SCL 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