Colgate-Palmolive explores sale of personal care brands worth over $1 billion

Colgate-Palmolive has hired investment bank Goldman Sachs to oversee the potential divestiture of several personal care brands, a process that could generate upwards of $1 billion. The targeted unit comprises deodorants, bar and liquid soaps, shower gels and skin-care products, but the company plans to sell only a few of these lines. This strategy mirrors a wave of portfolio reshaping among consumer conglomerates seeking to mitigate the impact of tariffs, higher energy costs and strained consumer spending.

Nestle recently sold its vitamins business to Yellow Wood for roughly $1 billion after other asset sales. At the Barclays consumer conference, CEO Noel Wallace warned of mounting competition in the North American market and said a “long-term turnaround” would require focusing on core brands. Colgate’s personal care segment contributed about 17% of net sales in 2025, roughly $3.5 billion, while oral care remains its largest revenue driver.