CL vs UL: which was the better investment?
Colgate-Palmolive Company against Unilever PLC on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Mar 25, 1980 to Aug 28, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did CL beat UL?
Yes — measured from Mar 25, 1980 to Aug 28, 2026 with dividends reinvested, CL came out ahead: $4,517,267 versus $1,927,742 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 14.1% annual return against 12.0%.
What would $10,000 in CL be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) on Mar 25, 1980 would be worth about $4,517,267 as of Aug 28, 2026, a total return of 45072.7% (14.1% per year). The same $10,000 in UL would be worth $1,927,742.
Which was riskier — CL or UL?
CL swung with an annualized volatility of 24.0% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -34.1%; UL ran at 24.3% volatility with a -53.5% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.50 for CL vs 0.41 for UL.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Mar 25, 1980 through Aug 28, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with CL vs UL. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.