Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) Shares Acquired by Bank of Nova Scotia

Bank of Nova Scotia lifted its stake in Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL - Free Report) by 68.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 127,076 shares of the basic materials company's stock after buying an additional 51,488 shares during the quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia's holdings in Ecolab were worth $29,776,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC increased its holdings in shares of Ecolab by 7.0% in the third quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 2,292 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $585,000 after purchasing an additional 149 shares during the last quarter. MML Investors Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of Ecolab by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 50,272 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $12,836,000 after acquiring an additional 714 shares in the last quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd bought a new position in shares of Ecolab during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $1,710,000. Continuum Advisory LLC grew its holdings in shares of Ecolab by 33.6% in the third quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 390 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $97,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC increased its position in Ecolab by 9.5% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 796,170 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $203,285,000 after purchasing an additional 69,142 shares during the last quarter. 74.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Machiel Duijser sold 5,721 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $264.04, for a total transaction of $1,510,572.84. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 3,774 shares in the company, valued at approximately $996,486.96. This represents a 60.25 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Jennifer J. Bradway sold 856 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $267.37, for a total value of $228,868.72. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 4,140 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,106,911.80. This trade represents a 17.13 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 17,435 shares of company stock worth $4,637,985. 0.04% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Ecolab Stock Up 0.1 %

NYSE ECL traded up $0.22 on Tuesday, reaching $238.84. 493,285 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,406,634. Ecolab Inc. has a 12 month low of $217.05 and a 12 month high of $273.69. The company has a market cap of $67.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.36, a PEG ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $254.29 and a 200-day moving average price of $249.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.26.

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The basic materials company reported $1.81 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts' consensus estimates of $1.81. Ecolab had a net margin of 13.42% and a return on equity of 22.50%. As a group, research analysts forecast that Ecolab Inc. will post 7.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ecolab Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 18th will be paid a dividend of $0.65 per share. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.09%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 18th. Ecolab's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 35.23%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ECL has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Robert W. Baird set a $277.00 price objective on shares of Ecolab in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Ecolab from $313.00 to $265.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Piper Sandler raised their price target on Ecolab from $270.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, February 24th. Mizuho cut their price objective on shares of Ecolab from $302.00 to $285.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Ecolab from $257.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $285.67.

Ecolab Company Profile

Ecolab Inc provides water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Global Industrial; Global Institutional & Specialty; and Global Healthcare & Life Sciences. The Global Industrial segment offers water treatment and process applications, and cleaning and sanitizing solutions to manufacturing, food and beverage processing, transportation, chemical, metals and mining, power generation, pulp and paper, commercial laundry, petroleum, refining, and petrochemical industries.