Church & Dwight Reports 5.2-Percent Increase In Sales In 1Q 2016

Church & Dwight Co., Inc. reported organic sales grew 5.2 percent in the first quarter of 2016, compared with the same quarter in 2015, according to company CEO Matthew T. Farrell who presided over the company's latest earnings call. Chief financial officer Richard A. Dierker said earnings per share rose 7.5 percent to $0.86 from $0.80 in the previous year. Reported revenue grew 4.5 percent to $849 million, Dierker added. International sales grew 13.3 percent, with underlying growth at about 9 percent. Reported gross margin increased 80 basis points to 44.6 percent compared with the previous year. Also, the company said marketing spending increased 4.2 percent year over year.