Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) EVP Buys $263,830.00 in Stock

Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) EVP Benjamin Clark purchased 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 11th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $263.83 per share, with a total value of $263,830.00. Following the acquisition, the executive vice president owned 1,083 shares in the company, valued at approximately $285,727.89. The trade was a 1,204.82% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

Ecolab Trading Up 1.3%

Ecolab stock traded up $3.47 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $268.88. 2,046,157 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,508,771. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Ecolab Inc. has a 12 month low of $243.15 and a 12 month high of $309.27. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $260.97 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $271.29. The stock has a market capitalization of $75.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.38, a PEG ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 0.90.

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The basic materials company reported $1.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.70. The firm had revenue of $4.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.03 billion. Ecolab had a net margin of 12.80% and a return on equity of 22.64%. The company’s revenue was up 10.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.50 EPS. Ecolab has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.430-8.630 EPS and its Q2 2026 guidance at 2.020-2.120 EPS. Analysts forecast that Ecolab Inc. will post 8.47 EPS for the current year.

Ecolab Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 16th will be paid a $0.73 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 16th. This represents a $2.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. Ecolab’s payout ratio is currently 39.51%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ECL has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Evercore reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $312.00 price objective on shares of Ecolab in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $337.00 price objective on shares of Ecolab in a research note on Wednesday, May 27th. UBS Group raised shares of Ecolab from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $293.00 to $325.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of Ecolab from $337.00 to $345.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 21st. Finally, Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Ecolab from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $323.41.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ecolab

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Wexford Capital LP purchased a new position in Ecolab during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. JPL Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Ecolab in the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Costello Asset Management INC purchased a new position in shares of Ecolab in the 1st quarter worth about $27,000. Kemnay Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Ecolab in the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Meeder Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Ecolab in the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. 74.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Ecolab Company Profile

Ecolab, Inc is a global provider of water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services. The company develops and supplies cleaning and sanitizing chemicals, dispensing equipment, water-treatment systems, pest elimination services and related technologies designed to help businesses maintain clean, safe and efficient operations. Its offerings span both products and onsite services, often paired with technical support and training.

Ecolab serves a broad range of end markets including hospitality and foodservice, food and beverage processing, healthcare, manufacturing and industrial operations, and energy and utilities.