Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) Price Target Cut to $275.00 by Analysts at Barclays

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL - Free Report) had its price objective trimmed by Barclays from $300.00 to $275.00 in a research report released on Thursday morning,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an overweight rating on the basic materials company's stock.

Several other research firms also recently weighed in on ECL. Citigroup reduced their target price on Ecolab from $305.00 to $275.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Ecolab from $285.00 to $307.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an "equal weight" rating and set a $240.00 price target (down previously from $265.00) on shares of Ecolab in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Redburn Atlantic cut Ecolab from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $270.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Monday, March 24th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on Ecolab from $306.00 to $294.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 10th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $282.33.

Ecolab Price Performance

Shares of NYSE ECL traded up $5.29 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $236.80. The stock had a trading volume of 1,333,538 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,147,212. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $252.63 and a 200-day simple moving average of $248.43. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79. The company has a market capitalization of $67.17 billion, a PE ratio of 32.09, a P/E/G ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.14. Ecolab has a 1 year low of $217.27 and a 1 year high of $273.69.

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The basic materials company reported $1.81 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts' consensus estimates of $1.81. Ecolab had a net margin of 13.42% and a return on equity of 22.50%. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Ecolab will post 7.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ecolab Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 18th were issued a $0.65 dividend. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.10%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 18th. Ecolab's dividend payout ratio is presently 35.23%.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Machiel Duijser sold 5,721 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $264.04, for a total value of $1,510,572.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 3,774 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $996,486.96. This represents a 60.25 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director David Maclennan bought 400 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 13th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $264.51 per share, for a total transaction of $105,804.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 18,767 shares in the company, valued at $4,964,059.17. This represents a 2.18 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 17,435 shares of company stock worth $4,637,985. 0.04% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ecolab

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV boosted its holdings in Ecolab by 134.8% in the fourth quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 108 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares during the period. Graney & King LLC bought a new stake in shares of Ecolab during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Midwest Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Ecolab during the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Dunhill Financial LLC lifted its holdings in Ecolab by 176.7% in the first quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 119 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Navigoe LLC acquired a new position in Ecolab in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.91% of the company's stock.

About Ecolab

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.