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EWING, NJ - Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE:CHD), a leading manufacturer of household and personal care products, has expanded its Board of Directors with the appointment of Michael R. Smith, effective Monday. Smith, who is currently serving as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of McCormick (NYSE:MKC) & Company, Incorporated, will also join the Audit Committee of the Board.
Smith, who has announced his upcoming retirement from McCormick, will remain with the company until early 2025 to aid in the leadership transition. His extensive experience in financial roles is expected to benefit Church & Dwight's strategic oversight. Additionally, Smith sits on the board of directors for MillerKnoll (NASDAQ:MLKN), Inc.
The appointment brings the number of Board members at Church & Dwight to 11. Smith will receive compensation in line with the company's standard policies for non-employee directors, details of which are disclosed in the proxy statement dated March 22, 2024.
According to the company's statement, there are no familial ties between Smith and any current directors or executive officers, nor are there any related party transactions necessitating disclosure under SEC regulations.
This announcement, based on a press release statement.
In other recent news, Church & Dwight Co., Inc. has been the subject of several analyst reviews and has reported strong first-quarter results.
BMO Capital Markets resumed coverage on the company, bestowing an Outperform rating and setting a price target of $230.00, citing the significant scale boost provided by the recent Enerplus (NYSE:ERF) acquisition. CFRA also raised its price target for Church & Dwight to $114, reaffirming its Buy rating, following a first-quarter adjusted EPS of $0.96, a 12.9% year-over-year increase, and revenue reaching $1.5 billion.
Evercore ISI increased its price target for the company from $107.00 to $110.00, while maintaining a neutral In Line rating. This followed Church & Dwight's guidance anticipating a moderation in second-quarter sales and a lower EPS. Goldman Sachs also adjusted its outlook on the company, increasing the price target to $116 from $110 and sustaining a Buy rating, following the company's strong first-quarter results and organic sales growth of 5.2%.
In the company's earnings call, Church & Dwight reported a 5.1% increase in sales and a 5.2% rise in organic sales for the first quarter. The company's gross margin saw significant expansion, and it also announced the strategic acquisition of Graphico, expanding its footprint in the Japanese market.
With these recent developments, Church & Dwight has raised its full-year gross margin and EPS growth forecasts.
InvestingPro Insights
As Church & Dwight Co. (NYSE:CHD) welcomes financial expert Michael R. Smith to its Board, investors may find encouragement in the company's robust financial health, as reflected in recent InvestingPro data. The company boasts a substantial market capitalization of $25.82 billion USD, indicative of its significant presence in the industry. Furthermore, Church & Dwight's dedication to shareholder value is evident in its consistent dividend growth, with a dividend yield of 1.08% and a remarkable track record of increasing dividends for 19 consecutive years, a testament to its financial stability and commitment to returning value to its investors.
InvestingPro Tips highlight the company's perfect Piotroski Score of 9, suggesting strong fiscal health, and its low price volatility, which could be appealing for risk-averse investors. With a Price/Earnings (P/E) ratio of 33.27 and a Price/Earnings Growth (PEG) ratio of 0.37 for the last twelve months as of Q1 2024, the company's stock is trading at a low P/E ratio relative to near-term earnings growth, indicating potential for value investment. For investors seeking additional insights, there are over 14 InvestingPro Tips available, which can be accessed by visiting https://www.investing.com/pro/CHD. To explore these insights in depth, use the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get up to 10% off a yearly Pro and a yearly or biyearly Pro+ subscription.
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