Ecolab Inc.
ECL · NYSE
Company research
Ecolab Inc. (NYSE: ECL) is a global leader in water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with approximately 48,000 employees serving customers in more than 170 countries. The company operates through four segments — Global Water, Global Institutional & Specialty, Global Pest Elimination, and Global Life Sciences — delivering water treatment, cleaning and sanitizing, pest control, and contamination management solutions to industries ranging from food and beverage processing and healthcare to hospitality, pharmaceuticals, and industrial manufacturing. With approximately $16 billion in annual revenues, Ecolab's outcome-based business model combines proprietary chemistry, equipment, digital monitoring, and technical service to create recurring revenue streams and strong customer retention. The company markets its products under well-known brands including Ecolab, Kay, Purolite, and Bioquell, with a market capitalization of approximately $77.6 billion.
Research reports
Ultra Stock Analysis Pro · May 1, 2026Ecolab Inc. (ECL) – Comprehensive Analyst Report
Uses a combined technical backtest and fundamental screen to assign a HOLD rating with roughly 22% upside to a consensus target of $317.48, recommending investors “wait” for stronger technical confluence before entering despite solid revenue growth and high institutional ownership. The report highlights premium valuation multiples, moderate growth, and detailed risk factors around competition, regulatory changes, and technical trading performance, framing ECL as fundamentally strong but not an immediate entry candidate at current levels.
Simply Wall St · March 30, 2026Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) – Stock Valuation & Peer ComparisonConcludes that ECL is expensive based on its price‑to‑earnings ratio (around 36x) versus a peer average near 22x, flagging the stock as overvalued within the specialty chemicals peer set according to their quantitative valuation model. The analysis emphasizes that Ecolab’s valuation metrics sit materially above sector norms, implying limited upside and potential downside if growth or margins fail to justify the current premium.
Zacks Investment Research · January 12, 2026Ecolab Inc. (ECL) – Zacks Equity Research ReportRates Ecolab as Neutral long‑term (Zacks Recommendation) with a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) in the short term, noting robust top‑line growth, strong innovation in water treatment, life sciences and data‑center cooling, and the “One Ecolab” initiative driving cost efficiency and margin expansion. At the same time, the report underscores macro headwinds (tariffs, cost inflation, FX), stiff competition in core segments, and elevated valuation metrics, resulting in a balanced view where solid earnings growth is tempered by near‑term risk and a non‑compelling risk‑reward at current prices.