Colgate India Q2 sales rise 12.2%, profit grows 4.3%

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Toothpaste volumes, premium products lifted quarterly sales, but higher advertising and employee expenses constrained bottom line growth

By Amit Vijay Mohile

Updated - October 22, 2026 at 10:59 PM.

Manish Anandani, MD and CEO

Colgate-Palmolive (India) reported a 12.2 per cent increase in net sales to ₹1,691.57 crore in the September quarter, up from ₹1,507.24 crore in the corresponding quarter last year.

Net profit, however, saw a modest rise of 4.3 per cent, from ₹327.51 crore to ₹341.57 crore during the period, as higher advertising expenditure moderated earnings growth despite stronger toothpaste volumes and premiumisation.

Domestic growth

The oral-care market leader reported its second consecutive quarter of double-digit domestic growth, with high-single-digit toothpaste volume expansion led by premium products and Colgate MaxFresh.

Advertising expenditure increased 39.9 per cent to ₹314.82 crore during the quarter. The additional ₹89.72 crore it spent was nearly half the ₹184.33 crore increase in quarterly sales. Advertising accounted for 18.6 per cent of net sales, compared with 14.9 per cent a year earlier.

“Capitalising on this healthy and competitive margin profile, we further stepped up investments in brand building and premiumisation throughout the quarter,” Manish Anandani, MD and CEO, said.

Margins improve

Gross margin expanded from 69.2 per cent to 69.6 per cent, supported by the company’s Funding the Growth cost-efficiency programme. However, net profit margin contracted from 21.7 per cent to 20.2 per cent, indicating that higher sales and cost savings did not translate into proportionate earnings growth.

Profit before tax increased 4.1 per cent to ₹460.22 crore while employee expenses increased 15.1 per cent to ₹135.92 crore, adding to expenditure.

Colgate said adjusted net profit grew 5.5 per cent after excluding one-offs, including a charge related to GST’s inverted duty structure. The charge was not separately quantified in the release, while the quarterly financial statement recorded no exceptional expense.

Brand investments

Colgate introduced Harry Potter-themed oral-care products and Bluey-themed toothpaste with a pump dispenser. Marketing initiatives included campaigns for Colgate Visible White and partnerships with athletes for Colgate Total. The consumption push continues into Q3 through a Kaun Banega Crorepati partnership featuring Amitabh Bachchan in 100 episode-specific messages encouraging night-time brushing.

In the first half, net sales rose from ₹2,927.88 crore to ₹3,282.13 crore, up 12.1 per cent, while net profit rose from ₹648.13 crore to ₹684.65 crore, up 5.6 per cent. The board also declared an interim dividend of ₹24 per share, involving a payout of ₹652.77 crore, with November 2 as the record date and payments beginning November 19.

“We remain committed to navigating commodity cost fluctuations through disciplined cost savings and calibrated pricing actions,” Anandani said.

Published on October 22, 2026

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