Ecolab Inc logo

Ecolab Inc(ECL)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
3-STAR RATING
STRONG BUY
BUY for 9 days
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
+0.41% ▲
LAST CLOSE
$288.89
10/26/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for ECL

10/26/2026: ECL (3-star) is a STRONG-BUY. BUY for 9 days. Simulated Profits (0.41%). Updated daily EoD!

Ecolab Inc is a prominent provider of water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions, operating a business model that emphasizes recurring service revenue and digital integration. The company has a leading position in industrial and institutional markets, supported by strong margins and a consistent, long-term history of dividend growth. Its primary growth opportunity lies in the increasing global demand for water conservation and sustainability, while key risks include significant exposure to raw material price inflation and the execution challenges associated with large-scale acquisitions. Ecolab is well-suited for growth and dividend-focused investors, though market participants should monitor its success in managing acquisition integrations and maintaining profitability in volatile commodity markets.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorStrong fitEcolab benefits from secular tailwinds in water management and sustainability.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveThe stock often follows strong trends when industrial demand aligns with operational efficiency gains.
Value investorMixed fitThe stock frequently trades at a premium multiple due to its quality and market position.
Dividend investorStrong fitThe company has a multi-decade track record of dividend growth.
Low-risk investorStrong fitEcolab’s business model provides significant stability and resilience across economic cycles.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMediumThe stock generally tracks industrial trends and macro sentiment.
Valuation riskMedium / highThe stock often commands a premium valuation which may limit short-term upside.
Competition risk (specialty chemicals)MediumIntense competition in chemical commodities requires constant innovation.
Business qualityStrongEcolab’s franchise quality and service model provide durable competitive advantages.
Dividend incomeLowDividend growth is reliable, though initial yields are often low.
Execution riskMediumIntegrating large acquisitions like ChampionX is operationally demanding.

Price Behavior

Flat / Range-Bound
PRICE PATH

Flat / Range-Bound

The stock price has been trading within a narrow range with minimal directional movement.

Smooth
PRICE STABILITY

Smooth

The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 22.28%
Avg. Invested days 48
Today’s Advisory Strong Buy
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 4.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 3.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/26/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
ECL receives a 4-star rating, supported by solid company fundamentals, solid quantitative characteristics, and strong analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
ECL has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, solid cash generation (FCF margin 11.8%) and solid profitability (net margin 12.9%) are partially offset by slightly negative earnings growth (-1.7%), moderate revenue growth (+2.2%), very low insider ownership of 0.15%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
ECL's financial health is supported by strong cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation of $1.9B (11.8% of revenue). Liquidity is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is ECL's strongest growth driver at +4.7% FY2025 versus FY2024 (moderate, 3 stars). By comparison, while earnings growth (-1.7%, slightly negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 94.1% and approximately 99.8% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership is only 0.15%, which materially reduces the ownership score.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 8.22%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 5.90%
JPMorgan Chase & Co 5.22%
State Street Corp 4.20%
Morgan Stanley - Brokerage Accounts 2.79%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
ECL generates approximately $445 of gross profit, $181 of operating income, and $118 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Moderate margins and moderate cash conversion support a 3-star rating, while capital efficiency is moderate.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 17.84%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
ECL has a high-quality, large-cap, liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Quality TiltLarge / Mega Cap StabilityHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Large-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 80.88B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 38.73
1Y Target Price 325.05
Price to earnings Ratio 38.73
1Y Target Price 325.05
Volume (30-day avg) 1.3M shares
Beta 0.88
52 Weeks Range 241.85 - 306.79
Updated Date 10/25/2026
52 Weeks Range 241.85 - 306.79
Updated Date 10/25/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 0.97%
Basic EPS (TTM) 7.45

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Global IndustrialWater treatment, cleaning, and sanitizing for industrial manufacturing and food processing plants.Ecolab keeps large factories running efficiently and safely.
Institutional & SpecialtySanitation services and cleaning products for hospitals, restaurants, and hotels.Ecolab ensures hygiene standards in the public places we frequent.
Healthcare & Life SciencesContamination control and infection prevention for hospitals and pharmaceutical production.Ecolab provides the essential chemicals and protocols to keep medical environments sterile.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

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Earnings Date

Report Date 2026-10-27
When Before Market
Estimate 2.18
Actual -

Profitability

Profit Margin 12.57%
Operating Margin (TTM) 18.52%

Management Effectiveness

Return on Assets (TTM) 7.23%
Return on Equity (TTM) 21.96%

Valuation

Trailing PE 38.73
Forward PE 29.15
Enterprise Value 84.94B
Price to Sales(TTM) 4.8
Enterprise Value 84.94B
Price to Sales(TTM) 4.8
Enterprise Value to Revenue 5.04
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 21.32
Shares Outstanding 280.33M
Shares Floating 279.75M
Shares Outstanding 280.33M
Shares Floating 279.75M
Percent Insiders 0.15
Percent Institutions 94.1

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.