Ecolab Inc. $ECL Shares Sold by Ameriprise Financial Inc.

Key Points

• Ameriprise Financial Inc. has reduced its stake in Ecolab Inc. by 23.9%, owning 1,126,265 shares valued at approximately $285.8 million after selling 352,859 shares in Q1.
• Several institutional investors have adjusted their holdings in Ecolab, with Forum Financial Management increasing its stake by 2.8% to own 1,449 shares.
• Ecolab recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.65 per share, with an ex-dividend date of September 16, resulting in a 0.9% yield for investors.

Ameriprise Financial Inc. lowered its stake in Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL - Free Report) by 23.9% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,126,265 shares of the basic materials company's stock after selling 352,859 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. owned about 0.40% of Ecolab worth $285,822,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Norinchukin Bank The raised its position in shares of Ecolab by 16.6% during the 1st quarter. Norinchukin Bank The now owns 21,434 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $5,434,000 after acquiring an additional 3,053 shares in the last quarter. CW Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Ecolab by 3.3% during the 1st quarter. CW Advisors LLC now owns 107,626 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $27,286,000 after acquiring an additional 3,473 shares in the last quarter. Summit Financial LLC raised its position in shares of Ecolab by 7.1% during the 1st quarter. Summit Financial LLC now owns 2,979 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $755,000 after acquiring an additional 198 shares in the last quarter. United Asset Strategies Inc. raised its position in shares of Ecolab by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. United Asset Strategies Inc. now owns 55,252 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $14,007,000 after acquiring an additional 562 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wormser Freres Gestion raised its position in shares of Ecolab by 2.6% during the 1st quarter. Wormser Freres Gestion now owns 32,282 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $8,082,000 after acquiring an additional 824 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.91% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on ECL shares. Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on Ecolab from $307.00 to $303.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Mizuho raised their target price on Ecolab from $285.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. Citigroup cut their price target on Ecolab from $320.00 to $315.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Raymond James Financial started coverage on Ecolab in a research report on Tuesday. They set a "market perform" rating on the stock. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised Ecolab from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $273.00 to $300.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $291.21.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Suzanne M. Vautrinot sold 1,354 shares of Ecolab stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $283.16, for a total transaction of $383,398.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 11,199 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,171,108.84. The trade was a 10.79% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director David Maclennan acquired 600 shares of Ecolab stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 13th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $278.51 per share, with a total value of $167,106.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 20,253 shares of the company's stock, valued at $5,640,663.03. The trade was a 3.05% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.04% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Ecolab Stock Performance

Shares of ECL stock traded up $0.71 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $279.07. The company had a trading volume of 1,817,272 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,309,288. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $270.22 and its 200 day simple moving average is $260.20. Ecolab Inc. has a 52-week low of $221.62 and a 52-week high of $286.04. The stock has a market cap of $79.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.26, a PEG ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 1.44 and a quick ratio of 1.12.

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The basic materials company reported $1.89 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.90 by ($0.01). Ecolab had a net margin of 13.59% and a return on equity of 22.52%. The business had revenue of $4.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.03 billion. Ecolab has set its Q3 2025 guidance at 2.020-2.120 EPS. FY 2025 guidance at 7.420-7.620 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Ecolab Inc. will post 7.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ecolab Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 16th will be paid a $0.65 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 16th. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. Ecolab's payout ratio is 34.71%.

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.