Generali Asset Management SPA SGR decreased its holdings in shares of Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL – Free Report) by 26.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 19,386 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 7,047 shares during the period. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR’s holdings in Ecolab were worth $5,223,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of ECL. Brighton Jones LLC grew its holdings in Ecolab by 164.7% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 3,700 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $867,000 after purchasing an additional 2,302 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in shares of Ecolab by 7.6% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 7,152 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,813,000 after buying an additional 506 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its position in shares of Ecolab by 19.3% in the 1st quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 120,176 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $30,467,000 after buying an additional 19,431 shares in the last quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management boosted its position in shares of Ecolab by 47.8% in the 1st quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 1,559 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $395,000 after buying an additional 504 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sowell Financial Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Ecolab in the 1st quarter worth about $765,000. 74.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Ecolab Trading Up 0.2%
Shares of Ecolab stock opened at $273.65 on Thursday. Ecolab Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $221.62 and a fifty-two week high of $286.04. The firm has a market cap of $77.61 billion, a PE ratio of 36.53, a P/E/G ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 1.09. The business’s fifty day moving average is $274.41 and its two-hundred day moving average is $263.40. The company has a quick ratio of 1.12, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80.
Ecolab Announces Dividend
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 16th were issued a dividend of $0.65 per share. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 16th. Ecolab’s dividend payout ratio is presently 34.71%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
Several equities research analysts recently commented on ECL shares. Oppenheimer upgraded shares of Ecolab to an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Ecolab in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on Ecolab from $307.00 to $310.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, September 8th. Baird R W raised Ecolab from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, Mizuho upped their target price on Ecolab from $285.00 to $305.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $292.29.
Get Our Latest Analysis on ECL
Insider Activity at Ecolab
In related news, Director Suzanne M. Vautrinot sold 1,354 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $283.16, for a total value of $383,398.64. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 11,199 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,171,108.84. This represents a 10.79% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, SVP Jennifer J. Bradway sold 807 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $279.28, for a total value of $225,378.96. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 4,326 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,208,165.28. This represents a 15.72% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.04% of the stock is owned by insiders.
Ecolab 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.
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