Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) Shares Sold by First Western Trust Bank

First Western Trust Bank cut its position in Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL - Free Report) by 8.6% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 24,251 shares of the basic materials company's stock after selling 2,291 shares during the period. First Western Trust Bank's holdings in Ecolab were worth $6,192,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Coastline Trust Co purchased a new stake in Ecolab in the third quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Triad Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Ecolab during the second quarter worth approximately $26,000. PSI Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Ecolab during the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. Kings Path Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Ecolab during the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. Finally, LRI Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Ecolab during the first quarter worth approximately $31,000. 74.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Ecolab Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of ECL traded up $0.72 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $245.96. 455,454 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,082,921. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.30. Ecolab Inc. has a 52 week low of $182.39 and a 52 week high of $262.61. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $252.35 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $243.95. The stock has a market capitalization of $69.65 billion, a PE ratio of 34.57, a PEG ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 1.13.

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The basic materials company reported $1.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.82 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $4 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.03 billion. Ecolab had a return on equity of 22.12% and a net margin of 13.05%. The business's revenue was up 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.54 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that Ecolab Inc. will post 6.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Ecolab from $260.00 to $300.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of Ecolab from $260.00 to $279.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $306.00 price objective on shares of Ecolab in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Ecolab from $240.00 to $263.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reiterated a "market perform" rating on shares of Ecolab in a research note on Friday, October 18th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Ecolab has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $279.87.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Ecolab news, EVP Gregory B. Cook sold 3,811 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $249.33, for a total value of $950,196.63. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 8,080 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,014,586.40. This trade represents a 32.05 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Victoria Reich sold 393 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $98,250.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 24,041 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,010,250. The trade was a 1.61 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 578,355 shares of company stock valued at $142,728,965 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.04% of the company's stock.

Ecolab 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.