Kampmann Melissa S. Has $3.40 Million Stake in Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL)

Kampmann Melissa S. cut its position in Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL - Free Report) by 18.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 14,519 shares of the basic materials company's stock after selling 3,330 shares during the period. Ecolab comprises about 2.7% of Kampmann Melissa S.'s portfolio, making the stock its 15th largest position. Kampmann Melissa S.'s holdings in Ecolab were worth $3,402,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Empowered Funds LLC increased its stake in Ecolab by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 3,904 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $997,000 after purchasing an additional 119 shares in the last quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Ecolab by 1.9% in the third quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC now owns 56,877 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $14,529,000 after buying an additional 1,070 shares during the period. Caprock Group LLC increased its position in shares of Ecolab by 6.9% during the third quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 7,166 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $1,834,000 after acquiring an additional 461 shares in the last quarter. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG acquired a new stake in shares of Ecolab during the third quarter worth $6,441,000. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its position in Ecolab by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 132,757 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $33,897,000 after acquiring an additional 374 shares in the last quarter. 74.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Ecolab

In other news, EVP Larry L. Berger sold 10,858 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $266.95, for a total transaction of $2,898,543.10. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 15,744 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,202,860.80. This trade represents a 40.82 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director David Maclennan purchased 400 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 13th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $264.51 per share, with a total value of $105,804.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 18,767 shares in the company, valued at $4,964,059.17. The trade was a 2.18 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 17,435 shares of company stock valued at $4,637,985 in the last three months. 0.04% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley upgraded Ecolab from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and increased their target price for the stock from $263.00 to $280.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on Ecolab from $285.00 to $307.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. StockNews.com upgraded Ecolab from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday. Redburn Atlantic cut shares of Ecolab from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $270.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Monday. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Ecolab from $257.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Ecolab presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $286.88.

Ecolab Stock Performance

NYSE:ECL traded up $1.72 on Monday, hitting $252.72. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,468,589 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,052,553. Ecolab Inc. has a one year low of $217.05 and a one year high of $273.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $71.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.14. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $254.48 and a two-hundred day moving average of $250.06. The company has a current ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79.

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The basic materials company reported $1.81 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts' consensus estimates of $1.81. Ecolab had a return on equity of 22.50% and a net margin of 13.42%. Research analysts predict that Ecolab Inc. will post 7.54 earnings per share for the current year.

Ecolab Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 18th will be paid a $0.65 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 18th. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.03%. Ecolab's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 35.23%.

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.