Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) Issues Q3 2026 Earnings Guidance

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) updated its third quarter 2026 earnings guidance on Tuesday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 2.130-2.230 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of 2.270. The company issued revenue guidance of -.

Ecolab Trading Down 1.2%

NYSE:ECL traded down $3.31 on Wednesday, reaching $279.59. 286,470 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,489,874. The firm has a market capitalization of $78.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.89. The company’s 50 day moving average is $267.82 and its 200-day moving average is $273.30. Ecolab has a 1-year low of $243.15 and a 1-year high of $309.27. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The basic materials company reported $2.09 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.08 by $0.01. Ecolab had a return on equity of 22.64% and a net margin of 12.80%.The company had revenue of $4.42 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.39 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.89 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Ecolab has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 2.130-2.230 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Ecolab will post 8.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ecolab Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, June 16th were issued a $0.73 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, June 16th. This represents a $2.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.0%. Ecolab’s payout ratio is presently 39.51%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Ecolab from $295.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday. UBS Group restated a “buy” rating and set a $342.00 target price on shares of Ecolab in a report on Wednesday. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Ecolab from $325.00 to $330.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, June 24th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on Ecolab from $352.00 to $345.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, May 20th. Finally, Bank of America raised their price objective on Ecolab from $337.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 21st. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Ecolab currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $326.44.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director David Maclennan purchased 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 13th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $250.65 per share, for a total transaction of $250,650.00. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 25,230 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,323,899.50. This trade represents a 4.13% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Michel D. Doukeris bought 7,750 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 10th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $258.00 per share, for a total transaction of $1,999,500.00. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 8,326 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,148,108. The trade was a 1,345.49% increase in their position. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have acquired 10,550 shares of company stock worth $2,719,508 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.50% of the company’s stock.

Ecolab News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Ecolab this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q2 earnings and revenue beat expectations. Ecolab reported adjusted diluted EPS of $2.09, up 11% year over year and ahead of the $2.08 consensus estimate. Sales rose 10% to approximately $4.4 billion, exceeding expectations of $4.39 billion. Ecolab Q2 2026 earnings release
• Positive Sentiment: Full-year outlook was raised. Management now expects 2026 adjusted EPS of $8.05 to $8.25, representing 7% to 10% growth. Organic sales growth accelerated to 5%, while High-Tech sales increased 29% and Life Sciences sales rose 15%. Pricing, volume growth and productivity helped offset higher commodity costs. Ecolab Q2 earnings and revenue report
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst sentiment improved. JPMorgan raised its Ecolab price target from $295 to $305 and upgraded its rating to “overweight.” William Blair analyst Tim Mulrooney also reiterated a Buy rating, citing the earnings beat, higher guidance and improving margins. JPMorgan Ecolab price-target update
• Neutral Sentiment: Share repurchases provided additional support. Ecolab bought back approximately 1.2 million shares during the quarter, potentially supporting per-share results and shareholder returns.
• Negative Sentiment: Near-term guidance was cautious. Third-quarter adjusted EPS guidance of $2.13 to $2.23 was below the $2.27 consensus estimate, which could limit near-term upside. Erste Group Bank also modestly reduced its FY2027 EPS forecast to $9.35 from $9.40.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ecolab

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ECL. Wexford Capital LP purchased a new position in Ecolab in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. JPL Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ecolab during the third quarter worth approximately $26,000. Kemnay Advisory Services Inc. bought a new position in Ecolab during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in Ecolab in the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, Greenline Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Ecolab in the fourth quarter valued at about $32,000. 74.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.