Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) PT Raised to $243.00

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) had its price target upped by Robert W. Baird from $232.00 to $243.00 in a report published on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a neutral rating on the basic materials company’s stock.

Several other research analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Ecolab from $237.00 to $256.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 10th. Barclays raised Ecolab from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price target for the company from $225.00 to $260.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 28th. Piper Sandler assumed coverage on Ecolab in a research note on Wednesday, April 3rd. They issued an overweight rating and a $260.00 target price on the stock. Raymond James lifted their price objective on shares of Ecolab from $230.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, April 3rd. Finally, Mizuho upgraded shares of Ecolab from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the stock from $216.00 to $260.00 in a report on Friday, April 12th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $233.65.

Ecolab Trading Down 0.5 %

NYSE ECL opened at $224.98 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92. Ecolab has a 12 month low of $156.72 and a 12 month high of $231.86. The company has a market capitalization of $64.32 billion, a PE ratio of 41.66, a P/E/G ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 1.08. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $224.37 and a 200 day simple moving average of $202.37.

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 30th. The basic materials company reported $1.34 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.33 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $3.75 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.74 billion. Ecolab had a net margin of 10.01% and a return on equity of 20.56%. Ecolab’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.88 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Ecolab will post 6.49 EPS for the current year.

Ecolab Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 19th were paid a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 18th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.01%. Ecolab’s dividend payout ratio is currently 42.22%.

Institutional Trading of Ecolab

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ECL. Cross Staff Investments Inc acquired a new stake in shares of Ecolab during the first quarter worth $231,000. Oak Ridge Investments LLC raised its stake in Ecolab by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. Oak Ridge Investments LLC now owns 40,390 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $9,326,000 after purchasing an additional 1,748 shares in the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in Ecolab by 6.6% in the 1st quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 87,440 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $20,190,000 after purchasing an additional 5,428 shares during the period. Avior Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Ecolab by 13.1% during the 1st quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 12,475 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $2,880,000 after purchasing an additional 1,442 shares in the last quarter. Finally, J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Ecolab by 2.2% during the first quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 4,659 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,076,000 after purchasing an additional 101 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 74.91% of the company’s stock.

Ecolab Company 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.