Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) Sets New 12-Month High Following Better-Than-Expected Earnings

Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) shares hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday following a better than expected earnings announcement. The company traded as high as $294.84 and last traded at $295.4910, with a volume of 324622 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $288.16.

The basic materials company reported $2.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.07 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $4.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.20 billion. Ecolab had a net margin of 12.49% and a return on equity of 22.55%. The business’s revenue was up 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.81 earnings per share. Ecolab has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.430-8.630 EPS and its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.670-1.730 EPS.

Ecolab Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 16th were paid a $0.73 dividend. This represents a $2.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.0%. This is an increase from Ecolab’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 16th. Ecolab’s payout ratio is currently 41.95%.

Ecolab News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Ecolab this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 adjusted EPS beat and margins expanded — Ecolab reported $2.08 adjusted EPS (vs. ~ $2.07 consensus) with margin improvement and 4.8% revenue growth year-over-year, which underpins the stronger profit outlook. Ecolab Shares Rise As Q4 Earnings, Revenue Edge Past Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: FY‑2026 guidance nudges above consensus — management set FY26 EPS at $8.43–$8.63 (consensus ~ $8.46) and Q1 EPS at $1.67–$1.73 (roughly in line), signaling confidence in sustained demand for its cleaning, sanitization and water solutions. Reuters coverage highlights the guidance-driven upside. Ecolab forecasts 2026 profit above estimates on strong demand
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support — William Blair updated/maintained a Buy rating citing sustained earnings outperformance and margin expansion alongside expectations for volume recovery, which can help sustain investor demand. Ecolab: Sustained Earnings Outperformance and Margin Expansion Underpin Buy Rating
• Neutral Sentiment: Guidance is broadly in line with expectations — while EPS guidance slightly exceeds consensus at the midpoint, revenue guidance sits close to Street views, making the raise modest rather than transformative. Ecolab Q4 Press Release / Slide Deck
• Negative Sentiment: Revenue narrowly missed estimates and some caution remains — Q4 revenue was $4.19B vs. ~$4.20B expected, and several reports note cautious sentiment around near‑term volume trends in parts of the business, which contributed to mixed initial market reactions. ECL Stock Falls in Pre-Market Despite Q4 Earnings Beat, Margins Expand
• Negative Sentiment: High valuation raises execution risk — ECL trades at a rich multiple (PE ~43), so upside depends on continued margin expansion and volume recovery; any slowdown would likely pressure the stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ECL has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Barclays increased their price target on Ecolab from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Mizuho set a $315.00 price objective on shares of Ecolab in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Robert W. Baird set a $307.00 target price on shares of Ecolab in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Ecolab from $250.00 to $265.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets set a $307.00 price target on shares of Ecolab and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Ecolab currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $297.33.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Boo Alexander A. De sold 1,422 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, November 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $268.25, for a total transaction of $381,451.50. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 5,726 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,535,999.50. This represents a 19.89% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director David Maclennan acquired 750 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 8th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $257.60 per share, with a total value of $193,200.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 23,035 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,933,816. This represents a 3.37% increase in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. Corporate insiders own 0.50% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ecolab

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Ecolab by 3.6% in the 4th quarter. Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,028 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $270,000 after purchasing an additional 36 shares during the last quarter. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC grew its position in Ecolab by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC now owns 1,362 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $395,000 after purchasing an additional 36 shares during the last quarter. St. Johns Investment Management Company LLC increased its stake in Ecolab by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter. St. Johns Investment Management Company LLC now owns 2,995 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $807,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Ecolab by 22.0% in the fourth quarter. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. now owns 211 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $55,000 after buying an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Addison Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Ecolab by 5.2% during the fourth quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 764 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $201,000 after buying an additional 38 shares during the period. 74.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Ecolab Stock Up 4.1%

The firm has a market capitalization of $84.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.10, a P/E/G ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a quick ratio of 1.33, a current ratio of 1.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $271.71 and its 200 day moving average price is $270.92.

About Ecolab

Ecolab, Inc is a global provider of water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services. The company develops and supplies cleaning and sanitizing chemicals, dispensing equipment, water-treatment systems, pest elimination services and related technologies designed to help businesses maintain clean, safe and efficient operations. Its offerings span both products and onsite services, often paired with technical support and training.

Ecolab serves a broad range of end markets including hospitality and foodservice, food and beverage processing, healthcare, manufacturing and industrial operations, and energy and utilities.