Colgate-Palmolive Co. (CL) is a major international consumer-products company with such brands as Colgate, Ajax and Palmolive. Its namesake toothpaste is number one in the US and Latin America, and the firm has 45% of the world oral-care market. It gets about 80% of revenue outside the US. Even if the world economy slows, the staples that the company sells should do well. The firm has paid a dividend for 117 consecutive years. Its current payout of $2.48/share/yr. recently yielded 2.3%.

Fiscal year: December. Earnings per share: 2013 est./$5.87…2012 est./$5.36…2011/$5.03.

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