Ecolab Inc. (ECL) Stock Price, News, Analysis

Technical Score (1D)

SELL

News Sentiment

MIXED

Ecolab’s director Eric Mark Green just increased his direct stake by 87 %, buying 3,690 shares for roughly $2.2 million at a price just above the close. The purchase signals insider confidence in the company’s near‑term prospects, especially across its four core segments—Global Water, Institutional & Specialty, Pest Elimination, and Life Sciences. Because the transaction is modest relative to ECL’s market cap, it does not alter the company’s guidance, but it does suggest management believes the current valuation underrepresents future growth. Over the next 1–10 trading days, this insider conviction could reinforce positive sentiment among investors, potentially smoothing short‑term volatility. Watch for any subsequent insider activity; a pattern of continued buying would strengthen the bullish narrative. Also monitor ECL’s upcoming earnings release for any updates on segment performance or strategic initiatives that could validate the director’s confidence. If earnings confirm robust growth in the Global Water and Life Sciences units, the market may interpret the insider purchase as a harbinger of sustained upside. Conversely, if earnings miss expectations, the recent buying could be viewed as a misstep, prompting a reassessment of the company’s outlook.

ECL|Analyst Targets

LOW TARGET

$295 +9.6%

2 analysts

MEAN TARGET

$325 +20.8%

13 analysts

HIGH TARGET

$360 +33.8%

17 analysts

PRICE RANGE

$295.00 - $360.00

SB / B / H / S / SS

9/15/6/1/1

DAILYIQ EST.

$331.40 (+23.1%)

ECL|Company Info

Sector

Basic Materials

Industry

Specialty Chemicals

Exchange

NYQ

Country

United States

Website

ecolab.com

Symbol

ECL

Description

Ecolab Inc. is a global provider of essential solutions focused on water, hygiene, and infection prevention, serving diverse industries worldwide. The company's operations are segmented into four key areas: Global Industrial, Global Institutional & Specialty, Global Healthcare & Life Sciences, and Global Pest Elimination. Ecolab delivers value by offering a comprehensive suite of products and services, including water treatment, cleaning and sanitizing solutions, and pest elimination services, targeting critical needs across sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, and hospitality. Its products are marketed through a multi-channel approach, leveraging field sales teams, distributors, and direct corporate accounts. Founded in 1923, Ecolab maintains its headquarters in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and has established itself as a leader in providing essential services to a broad customer base.

ECL|Insider Trading

Bought (1Y)

13,440 shares

$3.5M

Sold (1Y)

40,730.816 shares

$11.2M

Green Eric Mark-

Buy320 shares2026-09-11

Green Eric Mark-

Buy3,370 shares2026-09-11

Beck ChristopheCHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT & CEO

Sell17,862 shares2026-08-18

Cook Gregory BCo-COO - Global Businesses

Sell4,567.424 shares2026-08-11

Bradway Jennifer JSVP & CORPORATE CONTROLLER

Option Exercise6,457 shares2026-08-03

ECL|Fundamentals

Bullish

Verdict: Bullish

✓Revenue growing year over year

✓Positive net margin

✓Positive operating cash flow

Net Margin

12.9%

Revenue CAGR

6.2%

Current Ratio

1.08x

Debt / Equity

0.82x

Return on Equity

21.2%

ECL|Earnings Snapshot

Earnings Summary

Ecolab Inc. is a global provider of water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions, operating through four segments that serve manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, and pest elimination markets. The company’s specialty‑chemical focus places it within the Basic Materials sector, where it competes on recurring service contracts and high‑margin product sales. In the most recent quarters, Ecolab reported Q4 2025 earnings of $2.08 per share and revenue of $4.19 billion, narrowly beating estimates, while Q1 2026 delivered $1.70 EPS and $4.07 billion in sales, a slight revenue decline from the prior quarter but still above the $4.03 billion forecast. The company’s EPS trend has been relatively flat, with Q2 2026 at $2.09 versus the $2.08 guidance, and revenue growth has decelerated from a 3.5% increase in Q3 2025 to a 1.0% decline in Q1 2026, indicating a modest slowdown in top‑line momentum. Historically, Ecolab has maintained a consistent earnings beat pattern, posting positive EPS surprises in three of the last four quarters, while revenue growth has remained steady at around 3% YoY for the past three years, underscoring a resilient business model. Recent news highlights a $0.73 per share cash dividend announced for October 2026, reflecting confidence in operating margins and cash‑flow generation; the dividend aligns with the company’s long‑standing payout trend and may reinforce investor sentiment. Additionally, the firm’s Q2 FY2026 earnings beat estimates and raised full‑year outlook signal robust demand for its water‑management and hygiene solutions, though broader sector softness has tempered stock performance. Investors should watch for the next earnings release to assess whether guidance remains flat or improves, as any deviation could alter the market’s perception of Ecolab’s growth trajectory, and monitor commodity cost trends that could pressure margins.

Read full report

EPS

EstBeatMiss

Qtr	Est	Actual	+/−
Q3'26	$2.18	-	-
Q2'26	$2.08	$2.09	+0.5%
Q1'26	$1.70	$1.70	+0.1%
Q4'25	$2.07	$2.08	+0.6%
Q3'25	$2.07	$2.07	-0.1%
Q2'25	$1.90	$1.89	-0.3%

Revenue

EstBeatMiss

Qtr	Est	Actual	+/−
Q3'26	$4.8B	-	-
Q2'26	$4.4B	$4.4B	-0.4%
Q1'26	$4.0B	$4.1B	+0.9%
Q4'25	$4.2B	$4.2B	-0.1%
Q3'25	-	$4.2B	-
Q2'25	-	$4.0B	-

Full Earnings BreakdownEstimates, actuals, guidance, and historical context

→

ECL|Monthly Returns

Market Data

ECL Stock Snapshot

SELL32/100

$269.11−$0.30 (0.1%)

Market cap: 76.83B
P/E ratio: 36.3
Day range: $267.91 – $272.34
News sentiment: 52/100 · Neutral
Analyst target: $324.95 (+20.7%)
Consensus: Buy · 32 analysts

52-week range+10.7% off low · -13.2% from high

$243.15$310.00

Price $269.11 DailyIQ Est. $331.40

Ecolab Inc. is trading in the lower half of its 52-week range with momentum still pointing lower. Sector peers are worth watching - large caps in Basic Materials tend to move together on rotation.

Reverse DCF

What growth is priced into ECL?

RICH

At today's price, Ecolab Inc. needs to grow free cash flow about 23.4% a year for the next 10 years to justify its valuation at a 8.00% cost of capital. Over its actual history it has compounded free cash flow at 8.8% a year, so the market is asking for 14.6 percentage points above its own delivered rate. On that basis ECL looks priced above what its own growth record supports.

Implied FCF growth: 23.4%
Historical FCF CAGR: 8.8%
Growth gap: +14.6 pts
Verdict: RICH
Discount rate (WACC): 8.00%
Beta: 0.71

Behaviour On Record

What ECL's own history says about today's numbers

Realized volatility (21d): 18.6% 54th pct
Below its peak: -12.6%
vs 200-day average: -1.4%
Up days (1y): 51%

Ecolab Inc. is currently running 18.6% annualised volatility over the last 21 sessions. Measured against ECL's own 13 years of daily returns rather than a market-wide average, that is the 54th percentile — close to its own typical level, against a typical reading of 17.8%. The distinction matters because a number that looks calm for one stock is turbulent for another, and the absolute figure on its own tells you neither.

ECL is trading -12.6% below its running peak. Across 12 full years on file, its median worst-drawdown-in-a-year was -13.4%, and the deepest was -44.4% in 2022. The current pullback is therefore shallower than what this stock gives back in a typical year, which is context worth having before treating it as a dislocation.

Price sits -1.4% from its 200-day moving average. Against every other day in its history, that gap ranks at the 20th percentile — a narrower gap than it typically runs. Over the past year ECL closed higher on 51% of sessions, and it is currently 4 sessions into a falling streak.

On September specifically: over 13 years of records, ECL finished the month higher 4 of 13 times, with a median return of -0.9% and an average of -2.1%. Its strongest month historically has been November at +3.9% on average, its weakest September at -2.1%. Seasonality is a weak signal on its own — a decade is a small sample and regimes change — but it is a real distribution rather than a rule of thumb.

Overnight risk is measurable too: ECL has opened more than 2% away from the prior close in 82 of 3,268 sessions (2.5% of the time), with the largest gaps running +7.3% and -8.5%. For anyone holding through an event, that rate is a better guide to overnight exposure than the intraday range.

Across the last 3 dated reports on file, ECL moved an average of 3.4% in the session after earnings, closing higher 2 of those 3 times, with a median move of +2.3% and a largest of -4.0%.

All figures computed from 3,269 daily closes between 2013-09-19 and 2026-09-18, split-adjusted, recomputed daily. Percentiles are against ECL's own 13-year history, not a peer group or index.

Sector Rotation

Is money rotating into or out of ECL's sector?

Ecolab Inc. sits in the Materials sector, currently ranked 7th of 11 GICS sectors by relative-strength rotation score (lagging).

Sector rank: #7 of 11
Sector state: Lagging
Sector rotation score: 20

Options Market

What is the options market pricing for ECL?

CallsPuts

For Ecolab Inc.'s nearest expiry (2026-10-16, 27 days out), open interest is call-heavy, a bullish tilt (put/call ratio of 0.61), with at-the-money implied volatility around 26.3%. The options market is pricing roughly a ±6.6% move by that expiry — a range of about $257.74–$293.90.

Put/call ratio (2026-10-16): 0.61
ATM implied volatility: 26.3%
Total open interest: 6,069
Expected move by 2026-10-16: ±6.6% ($257.74–$293.90)

Analyst Rating Changes

Are analysts turning bullish or bearish on ECL?

Wells Fargo most recently reiterated its rating on Ecolab Inc. to Equal-Weight on Jul 30, 2026 with a price target of $295 (from $275). Over the last 90 days, coverage has run 1 upgrade against 0 downgrades, a net bullish lean.

Latest action: Wells Fargo — Equal-Weight
90-day upgrades: 1
90-day downgrades: 0
Net rating momentum: +1

Date	Firm	Action	Rating	Price target
Jul 30, 2026	Wells Fargo	Maintained	Equal-Weight	$275 → $295
Jul 29, 2026	Mizuho	Maintained	Outperform	$325 → $327
Jul 29, 2026	BMO Capital	Maintained	Outperform	$345 → $360
Jul 29, 2026	JP Morgan	Maintained	Overweight	$295 → $305
Jul 17, 2026	Oppenheimer	Upgrade	Perform → Outperform	$320
Jul 9, 2026	Deutsche Bank	Maintained	Buy	$325 → $335
Jul 7, 2026	RBC Capital	Reiterated	Outperform	$337
Jun 24, 2026	Citigroup	Maintained	Buy	$325 → $330
Jun 10, 2026	Wells Fargo	Maintained	Equal-Weight	$260 → $275
May 27, 2026	UBS	Upgrade	Neutral → Buy	$293 → $325
May 27, 2026	RBC Capital	Reiterated	Outperform	$337
May 20, 2026	Jefferies	Maintained	Buy	$352 → $345

ECL Competitive Positioning

Ecolab Inc. (ECL) is tracked alongside these names in Specialty Chemicals on DailyIQ — ranked by market cap, with today's move alongside.

ECLyou're hereEcolab Inc.$76.8B-0.11%
LINLinde plc$210.9B+0.30%
APDAir Products and Chemicals, Inc.$64.4B+0.04%
IFFInternational Flavors & Fragrances Inc.$21.7B-0.06%
ALBAlbemarle Corporation$13.6B+0.19%
EMNEastman Chemical Company$7.4B+0.03%

Held by These ETFs

ECL is a top holding in these ETFs tracked on DailyIQ — bar length shows portfolio weight.

News Sentiment Analysis

Sentiment gathered from recent headlines

52/100

Strong NegativeNeutralStrong Positive

MIXED

Recent News Coverage

Most recent articles, ranked by recency (click to expand).

10+ articles

What did this article say?

Ecolab’s stock has surged 59% over the past three years, prompting investors to question whether the current valuation reflects the company’s underlying cash‑flow prospects. The analysis compares Ecolab’s 36.3x P/E and discounted cash‑flow model to peers, highlighting that the firm’s recurring demand for cleaning and water‑treatment solutions underpins its projected cash generation. While the company’s financials appear solid, the article suggests the market may already have priced in the upside, leaving uncertainty about future upside potential. Investors should weigh whether the intrinsic value estimate aligns with the current share price and consider how macro‑economic shifts could impact demand for Ecolab’s services.

What did this article say?

Ecolab director Eric Mark Green increased his direct stake by 87%, adding 3,690 shares worth $2.19 million at a price just above the market close. The move raises his total holdings to 7,947 shares, reflecting a bullish stance on the company’s prospects. The transaction is modest relative to the company’s market cap but may signal management’s confidence in near‑term performance. Investors should watch for subsequent insider activity and any guidance updates that could reinforce this sentiment.

What did this article say?

Ecolab Inc. (ECL) has declared a $0.73 per share cash dividend, payable on October 15, 2026, with an ex‑dividend date of September 15, 2026. The payout reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to shareholder returns while preserving capital for growth in its core cleaning, sanitation, and water‑management businesses. The dividend aligns with ECL’s historical payout trend and is projected to remain sustainable given its strong cash flow generation and disciplined capital allocation. Investors should monitor the company’s quarterly earnings for any changes to dividend policy and the impact of macro‑economic factors on its operating margins.

What did this article say?

Ecolab (ECL) saw a notable insider purchase on September 14, when Director Eric M. Green acquired $1.02 million worth of company stock, as reported in a Form 4 filing. The transaction represents a significant personal stake, suggesting management confidence in the company’s near‑term prospects. While the purchase size is modest relative to the firm’s overall market cap, it may reinforce positive sentiment among investors and analysts. The move does not indicate any immediate operational or financial changes, but it could be viewed as a bullish signal for the stock’s short‑term trajectory.

What did this article say?

Ecolab (ECL) reported a solid second‑quarter 2026 performance, beating earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters and maintaining a 12.6% five‑year growth outlook. The company highlighted its high‑tech and digital platforms as key long‑term drivers, citing increased demand from semiconductor manufacturing and data‑center operations. While cost volatility remains a concern, management’s emphasis on research and development and a diversified product portfolio suggests continued resilience. Investors should monitor how cost pressures evolve and whether the high‑tech segment sustains its momentum.

What did this article say?

Ecolab (ECL) has underperformed the Nasdaq Composite over the past year, yet analysts maintain a bullish stance on its long‑term growth prospects. The company’s focus on expanding its hygiene and water‑management solutions is seen as a driver for future revenue growth. Market sentiment remains positive, with expectations that ECL will continue to outperform peers as demand for its services rises.

What did this article say?

North Star Asset Management and several other hedge funds increased their holdings in Ecolab Inc. (ECL) during Q2, adding roughly $22 million in shares. The cumulative institutional buying signals confidence in the company’s fundamentals despite a 1.5% intraday decline. The move comes as ECL’s 50‑day and 200‑day moving averages remain below current price, suggesting a potential short‑term pullback. Investors should watch how the new stake holders influence short‑term liquidity and whether the stock rebounds to the 50‑day average.

What did this article say?

Ecolab reported Q4 2025 adjusted earnings per share of $2.08, up 14.9% YoY and slightly above consensus, while revenue rose 4.8% to $4.19 billion, also beating estimates. Organic sales grew 2.9% and digital sales jumped 24%, indicating a healthy mix of traditional and tech‑enabled offerings. The company’s full‑year adjusted EPS of $7.53 reflects a 13.2% YoY increase, supporting a modest upside narrative as investors anticipate the next earnings release.

What did this article say?

Sanctuary Advisors LLC and several other institutional investors increased their holdings in Ecolab Inc. (ECL) during the second quarter, purchasing a combined value of roughly $8.3 million in shares. The moves represent routine portfolio adjustments and do not signal any change in the company’s fundamentals or outlook.

Technical Analysis

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Institutional & Hedge Fund Ownership

25 tracked managers · $28.36B combined position · 15 adding, 8 trimming, 2 unchanged (latest 13F filings)

Manager	Trend	Shares Held	% of Co.	Position Value	Filed
Vanguard Group Inc	▲ Buy	25,327,693	8.87%	$6.65B	2026-01-29
BlackRock, Inc.	▲ Buy	23,051,363	8.07%	$6.42B	2026-08-07
JPMorgan Chase & Co	▲ Buy	14,620,168	5.12%	$4.07B	2026-08-12
Morgan Stanley	▲ Buy	7,827,291	2.74%	$2.18B	2026-08-13
Geode Capital Management, LLC	▲ Buy	5,996,032	2.10%	$1.69B	2026-08-12
Norges Bank	▼ Sell	3,350,825	1.17%	$933.57M	2026-08-12
Capital Research Global Investors	▼ Sell	2,863,333	1.00%	$797.75M	2026-08-12
Northern Trust Corp	▼ Sell	2,729,870	0.96%	$760.57M	2026-08-13
Invesco Ltd.	▲ Buy	2,711,224	0.95%	$755.37M	2026-08-14
Bank of America Corp	▲ Buy	2,077,898	0.73%	$578.92M	2026-08-14
Goldman Sachs Group Inc	▼ Sell	1,944,814	0.68%	$541.84M	2026-08-14
Wells Fargo & Company	▲ Buy	1,656,724	0.58%	$461.58M	2026-08-14
Janus Henderson Group plc	• Hold	1,701,151	0.60%	$452.54M	2026-05-18
FMR LLC (Fidelity)	▼ Sell	1,526,292	0.53%	$425.24M	2026-08-13
Citadel Advisors LLC	• Hold	1,215,515	0.43%	$338.65M	2026-09-02
AllianceBernstein L.P.	▲ Buy	900,795	0.32%	$239.63M	2026-08-14
Balyasny Asset Management L.P.	▲ Buy	810,128	0.28%	$225.71M	2026-08-14
Baillie Gifford & Co	▲ Buy	734,234	0.26%	$204.56M	2026-08-06
Man Group plc	▼ Sell	514,890	0.18%	$143.45M	2026-08-14
AQR Capital Management LLC	▼ Sell	418,367	0.15%	$116.16M	2026-08-14
Citigroup Inc	▲ Buy	310,717	0.11%	$86.57M	2026-08-03
Renaissance Technologies LLC	▲ Buy	313,397	0.11%	$83.37M	2026-05-14
Susquehanna International Group, LLP	▲ Buy	265,928	0.09%	$74.09M	2026-08-14
Millennium Management LLC	▲ Buy	234,908	0.08%	$65.45M	2026-08-14
Two Sigma Investments, LP	▼ Sell	219,775	0.08%	$58.46M	2026-05-15

Q2 2026 flow:4.49M sh bought ($1.25B)1.28M sh sold ($356.14M)net +3.21M sh (+$894.37M)

Congressional Trading Activity

6 disclosed trades · ~$382.0K est. traded value · 3 buys, 3 sells

Member	Chamber	State	Type	Amount	Traded	Filed
Lisa McClain	House	MI09	▼ Sell	$1K - $15K	2025-10-31	2025-11-21
Lisa McClain	House	MI09	▲ Buy	$1K - $15K	2025-10-30	2025-11-21
Lisa McClain	House	MI09	▼ Sell	$1K - $15K	2025-10-30	2025-11-21
Jefferson Shreve	House	IN06	▼ Sell	$100K - $250K	2025-05-08	2025-06-22
Jefferson Shreve	House	IN06	▲ Buy	$100K - $250K	2025-04-07	2025-05-08
Lisa McClain	House	MI09	▲ Buy	$1K - $15K	2024-12-11	2025-08-13

ECL·Ecolab Inc.

EPS

Revenue

ECL Stock Snapshot

What growth is priced into ECL?

What ECL's own history says about today's numbers

Is money rotating into or out of ECL's sector?

What is the options market pricing for ECL?

Are analysts turning bullish or bearish on ECL?

ECL Competitive Positioning

Held by These ETFs

News Sentiment Analysis

Recent News Coverage

Technical Analysis

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News Sentiment Analysis

Recent News Coverage

Technical Analysis

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ECL·Ecolab Inc.

EPS

Revenue

ECL Stock Snapshot

What growth is priced into ECL?

What ECL's own history says about today's numbers

Is money rotating into or out of ECL's sector?

What is the options market pricing for ECL?

Are analysts turning bullish or bearish on ECL?

ECL Competitive Positioning

Held by These ETFs

News Sentiment Analysis

Recent News Coverage

Technical Analysis

Real-time indicators across multiple timeframes

Discover More

News Sentiment Analysis

Recent News Coverage

Technical Analysis

Real-time indicators across multiple timeframes

Discover More

Market Status

Recently Viewed

Portfolio

Email Alerts

Portfolio News

Economic Events

Earnings Events

Economic News