Ecolab (ECL) Expected to Announce Quarterly Earnings on Tuesday

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL - Get Free Report) is expected to post its Q1 2025 quarterly earnings results before the market opens on Tuesday, April 29th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $1.51 per share and revenue of $3.71 billion for the quarter. Ecolab has set its FY 2025 guidance at 7.420-7.620 EPS and its Q1 2025 guidance at 1.470-1.530 EPS.

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The basic materials company reported $1.81 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.81. Ecolab had a return on equity of 22.50% and a net margin of 13.42%. On average, analysts expect Ecolab to post $8 EPS for the current fiscal year and $9 EPS for the next fiscal year.

Ecolab Price Performance

Ecolab stock traded down $1.59 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $238.08. The company's stock had a trading volume of 899,317 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,150,408. Ecolab has a 12 month low of $218.19 and a 12 month high of $273.69. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $251.01 and its 200-day moving average price is $248.21. The company has a market capitalization of $67.53 billion, a PE ratio of 32.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.14.

Ecolab Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 18th were issued a $0.65 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 18th. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.09%. Ecolab's dividend payout ratio is currently 35.23%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

An institutional investor recently raised its position in Ecolab stock. Brighton Jones LLC grew its stake in Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL - Free Report) by 164.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 3,700 shares of the basic materials company's stock after purchasing an additional 2,302 shares during the period. Brighton Jones LLC's holdings in Ecolab were worth $867,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.91% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ECL has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. UBS Group lifted their price target on Ecolab from $257.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on shares of Ecolab from $306.00 to $294.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 10th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Ecolab from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $263.00 to $280.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of Ecolab from $305.00 to $275.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an "equal weight" rating and issued a $240.00 target price (down previously from $265.00) on shares of Ecolab in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $282.33.

About Ecolab

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.