ECL - Ecolab Inc. | StockAlert.pro

Stock Details

Ecolab Inc. (ECL), a prominent company in the industrial applications and services sector within the soap, detergents, cleang preparations, perfumes, cosmetics industry, is based in USA and primarily trades on the NYSE.Currently, the stock is trading at $271.97. Over the past 52 weeks, it has ranged between $218.78 and $274.17. This places the current price at 99.2% of its 52-week high and 24.3% above its 52-week low. Recent trading volume was recorded at 972,464. The International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) for this stock is US2788651006.

Fundamentals

Valuation Metrics

P/E Ratio (TTM)

36.39

Above market average

Forward P/E

35.46

Earnings expected to grow

PEG Ratio

3.75

Potentially overvalued

Price to Book

8.54

EV/EBITDA

21.41

EPS (TTM)

$7.35

Price to Sales

4.83

Beta

1.04

Similar volatility to market

How is ECL valued relative to its earnings and growth?

Ecolab Inc. trades at a P/E ratio of 36.39, which is above the market average of approximately 20. This premium valuation suggests investors expect above-average growth or the company has competitive advantages justifying the higher multiple. Looking ahead, the forward P/E of 35.46 is lower than the current P/E, indicating analysts expect earnings to grow over the next year. The PEG ratio of 3.75 indicates a premium valuation even accounting for growth.

What is ECL's risk profile compared to the market?

With a beta of 1.04, Ecolab Inc. is roughly as volatile as the market, moving in line with broad market trends. This moderate beta suggests the stock offers market-level returns without excessive volatility. The price-to-book ratio of 8.54 shows investors value the company above its book value, which often reflects intangible assets or growth prospects.

Performance & Growth

Profit Margin

13.40%

Operating Margin

14.70%

Return on Equity

24.80%

Return on Assets

7.76%

Revenue Growth (YoY)

17.80%

Earnings Growth (YoY)

6.50%

How profitable and efficient is ECL's business model?

Ecolab Inc. achieves a profit margin of 13.40%, meaning it retains $13.40 from every $100 in revenue after all expenses. This represents a solid margin typical of well-run businesses, showing the company can effectively balance revenue generation with cost control. The operating margin of 14.70% reveals how efficiently the company runs its core business operations before interest and taxes. With ROE at 24.80% and ROA at 7.76%, the company generates strong returns on invested capital.

What are ECL's recent growth trends?

Ecolab Inc.'s revenue grew by 17.80% year-over-year, showing steady progress in growing the business. This positive trajectory indicates the company maintains competitive positioning in its markets. Earnings increased by 6.50% year-over-year, reflecting the bottom-line impact of business performance. These growth metrics should be evaluated against SOAP, DETERGENTS, CLEANG PREPARATIONS, PERFUMES, COSMETICS industry averages for proper context.

Dividend Information

Dividend Per Share

$2.44

Dividend Yield

0.97%

Ex-Dividend Date

6/17/2025

Dividend Date

7/15/2025

What dividend income can investors expect from ECL?

Ecolab Inc. offers a dividend yield of 0.97%, paying $2.44 per share annually. This modest yield below 2% suggests the company prioritizes growth investments over current income. While the dividend provides some return, investors are likely attracted more by capital appreciation potential than income generation. To receive the next dividend, shares must be purchased before the ex-dividend date of 6/17/2025.

How reliable is ECL's dividend for long-term investors?

The dividend sustainability can be assessed through the payout ratio - Ecolab Inc. pays $2.44 per share in dividends against earnings of $7.35 per share, resulting in a payout ratio of 33.20%. This balanced payout between 30-60% suggests a sustainable dividend policy that allows both shareholder returns and business reinvestment. The dividend appears well-covered by earnings. The next dividend payment is scheduled for 7/15/2025.

Company Size & Market

Shares Outstanding

283.51M

Book Value/Share

$23.46

Asset Type

Common Stock

What is ECL's market capitalization and position?

Ecolab Inc. has a market capitalization of $75.83B, classifying it as a large-cap stock ($10B-$200B). Large-caps are typically industry leaders with established business models, offering a balance of stability and growth potential. They often provide dividend income and are core holdings in institutional portfolios. With 283.51M shares outstanding, the company's ownership is relatively concentrated. As a participant in the SOAP, DETERGENTS, CLEANG PREPARATIONS, PERFUMES, COSMETICS industry, it competes with other firms in this sector.

How does ECL's price compare to its book value?

Ecolab Inc.'s book value per share is $23.46, while the current stock price is $271.97, resulting in a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 11.59. This high P/B ratio indicates significant intangible assets, strong brand value, or high growth expectations. Technology and consumer brand companies often trade at elevated P/B ratios due to intellectual property and competitive advantages not reflected on the balance sheet. As a common stock, this represents equity ownership with voting rights.

Analyst Ratings

Analyst Target Price

$272.69

0.26% upside potential

Analyst Recommendations

Strong Buy

Buy

Hold

Sell

Strong Sell

How reliable are analyst predictions for ECL?

25 analysts cover ECL with 44% recommending buy/strong buy ratings. Analyst predictions have mixed reliability - studies show consensus rarely beats market returns consistently. The mixed views reflect uncertainty about the outlook. The consensus target of $272.69 implies 0.3% upside, but targets are often adjusted to follow price moves rather than predict them.

What is the Wall Street consensus on ECL?

Current analyst recommendations:3 Strong Buy, 8 Buy, 13 Hold, 01 Strong Sell. The neutral stance suggests uncertainty or fair valuation at current levels.Remember that analyst opinions often lag price movements and can be influenced by investment banking relationships.

Fundamentals last updated: Jul 1, 2025, 03:20 AM

Ecolab Inc. (ECL) Stock