BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. Cuts Position in Ecolab Inc. $ECL

Key Points

• BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. has reduced its stake in Ecolab Inc. by 0.2%, now owning 649,602 shares valued at approximately $164.66 million.
• Several institutional investors have changed their positions in Ecolab, including Aptus Capital Advisors, which increased its stake by 2.2%, and Brooklyn Investment Group, which grew its holdings by 112.6%.
• Ecolab recently announced a quarterly dividend of $0.65 per share, with a yield of 0.9%, scheduled for payment on October 15th, after the record date of September 16th.

BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. lessened its holdings in shares of Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL - Free Report) by 0.2% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 649,602 shares of the basic materials company's stock after selling 1,183 shares during the period. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. owned approximately 0.23% of Ecolab worth $164,661,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Dunhill Financial LLC grew its holdings in Ecolab by 176.7% during 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 period. Navigoe LLC acquired a new position in Ecolab during the fourth quarter worth $31,000. Accredited Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Ecolab during the fourth quarter worth $33,000. Ridgewood Investments LLC grew its holdings in Ecolab by 70.6% in the first quarter. Ridgewood Investments LLC now owns 145 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Finally, City Holding Co. acquired a new stake in Ecolab in the first quarter valued at $39,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.91% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Ecolab news, Director David Maclennan bought 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, for a total transaction of $167,106.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 20,253 shares of the company's stock, valued at $5,640,663.03. This represents a 3.05% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Suzanne M. Vautrinot sold 1,354 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $283.16, for a total value of $383,398.64. Following the transaction, the director owned 11,199 shares in the company, valued at $3,171,108.84. This trade represents a 10.79% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.04% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Robert W. Baird raised Ecolab from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating and upped their target price for the company from $273.00 to $300.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Oppenheimer raised Ecolab to an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Citigroup lowered their target price on Ecolab from $320.00 to $315.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $260.00 target price on Ecolab and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, May 20th. Finally, Baird R W raised Ecolab from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $291.21.

Ecolab Price Performance

Shares of ECL traded up $0.5990 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $283.6590. 1,149,487 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,307,422. The company has a quick ratio of 1.12, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. The stock has a market capitalization of $80.45 billion, a PE ratio of 37.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.92 and a beta of 1.06. Ecolab Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $221.62 and a fifty-two week high of $286.04. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $269.58 and a 200 day simple moving average of $259.60.

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

Ecolab Dividend Announcement

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

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.