Mizuho Securities USA LLC lifted its stake in shares of Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL - Free Report) by 45.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 23,885 shares of the basic materials company's stock after acquiring an additional 7,464 shares during the quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC's holdings in Ecolab were worth $5,597,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its position in Ecolab by 3.1% in the 3rd quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 3,904 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $997,000 after acquiring an additional 119 shares in the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Ecolab by 6.0% in the 3rd quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 7,672 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $1,959,000 after purchasing an additional 433 shares during the period. Intech Investment Management LLC increased its position in Ecolab by 16.4% in the third quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 9,501 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $2,426,000 after buying an additional 1,337 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Ecolab by 0.6% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,403,088 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $358,250,000 after buying an additional 8,332 shares during the period. Finally, First County Bank CT lifted its position in shares of Ecolab by 24.2% during the 3rd quarter. First County Bank CT now owns 1,417 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $362,000 after buying an additional 276 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.91% of the company's stock.
Ecolab Stock Up 0.2 %
NYSE:ECL traded up $0.56 on Thursday, reaching $252.95. 884,819 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,051,720. The company has a market capitalization of $71.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.27, a PEG ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.14. Ecolab Inc. has a 12 month low of $217.05 and a 12 month high of $273.69. The company has a current ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $255.53 and its 200 day simple moving average is $250.16.
Ecolab (NYSE:ECL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The basic materials company reported $1.81 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.81. Ecolab had a net margin of 13.42% and a return on equity of 22.50%. Equities analysts predict that Ecolab Inc. will post 7.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Ecolab Dividend Announcement
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 18th will be paid a dividend of $0.65 per share. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.03%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 18th. Ecolab's payout ratio is 35.23%.
Analyst Ratings Changes
A number of brokerages have weighed in on ECL. Redburn Atlantic lowered shares of Ecolab from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $270.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Monday. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Ecolab from $290.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Ecolab from $295.00 to $313.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on Ecolab from $295.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, Argus upgraded Ecolab to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $286.88.
Read Our Latest Report on Ecolab
Insider Buying and Selling at Ecolab
In related news, 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 transaction 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 position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Machiel Duijser sold 5,721 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 13th. The stock was 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. The trade was a 60.25 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 17,435 shares of company stock worth $4,637,985 over the last quarter. Insiders own 0.04% of the company's stock.
Ecolab Company Profile
(
Free Report)
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.
Further Reading
Before you consider Ecolab, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Ecolab wasn't on the list.
While Ecolab currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
Just getting into the stock market? These 10 simple stocks can help beginning investors build long-term wealth without knowing options, technicals, or other advanced strategies.
Get This Free Report
