Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) Raised to "Buy" at Jefferies Financial Group

Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Ecolab (NYSE:ECL - Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Friday morning, MarketBeat.com reports. They currently have $310.00 target price on the basic materials company's stock, up from their prior target price of $235.00.

Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on Ecolab from $243.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Ecolab from $270.00 to $295.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Ecolab from $260.00 to $306.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, September 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Ecolab from $225.00 to $228.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of Ecolab from $234.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a research note on Monday, September 30th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $271.80.

Ecolab Stock Up 1.7 %

Shares of NYSE:ECL traded up $4.36 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $261.46. The company had a trading volume of 1,017,234 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,088,555. Ecolab has a 1-year low of $156.72 and a 1-year high of $262.61. The stock has a market cap of $74.67 billion, a PE ratio of 48.34, a P/E/G ratio of 2.58 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91. The business's 50 day moving average price is $249.84 and its 200 day moving average price is $239.51.

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 30th. The basic materials company reported $1.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.67 by $0.01. Ecolab had a return on equity of 21.65% and a net margin of 10.95%. The company had revenue of $3.99 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.03 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.24 EPS. The business's revenue was up 3.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that Ecolab will post 6.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ecolab Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 17th were given a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 17th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.87%. Ecolab's dividend payout ratio is 42.22%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Victoria Reich sold 393 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $98,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 24,041 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,010,250. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, Director Victoria Reich sold 393 shares of the company'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 completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 24,041 shares in the company, valued at $6,010,250. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Gregory B. Cook sold 3,811 shares of Ecolab stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $249.33, for a total value of $950,196.63. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 8,080 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,014,586.40. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.04% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ecolab

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Triad Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ecolab during the second quarter valued at about $26,000. PSI Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Ecolab during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Kings Path Partners LLC acquired a new position in Ecolab in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. LRI Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Ecolab during the first quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, MFA Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Ecolab during the second quarter worth $33,000. Institutional investors own 74.91% of the company's stock.

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.