Cresset Asset Management LLC Grows Holdings in Ecolab Inc. $ECL

Key Points

• Cresset Asset Management LLC increased its position in Ecolab Inc. by 27.8%, owning 44,060 shares valued at approximately $11.2 million at the end of the first quarter.
• Ecolab reported quarterly earnings of $1.89 per share, slightly missing estimates of $1.90, with revenue matching expectations at $4.03 billion.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.65 per share, which will be paid on October 15th, representing an annual yield of 0.9%.

Cresset Asset Management LLC raised its stake in Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL - Free Report) by 27.8% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 44,060 shares of the basic materials company's stock after acquiring an additional 9,579 shares during the quarter. Cresset Asset Management LLC's holdings in Ecolab were worth $11,198,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Dunhill Financial LLC increased its holdings in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 76 shares during the period. Navigoe LLC acquired a new stake in Ecolab in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Accredited Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Ecolab in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Ridgewood Investments LLC boosted its position 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 buying an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Olde Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Ecolab in the first quarter valued at approximately $38,000. 74.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Suzanne M. Vautrinot sold 1,354 shares of Ecolab stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 19th. The shares were 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 in the company, valued at $3,171,108.84. This trade represents a 10.79% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director David Maclennan acquired 600 shares of Ecolab stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 13th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $278.51 per share, with a total value of $167,106.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director directly owned 20,253 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,640,663.03. The trade was a 3.05% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.04% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on ECL shares. Oppenheimer upgraded shares of Ecolab to an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Baird R W raised shares of Ecolab from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $260.00 target price on shares of Ecolab and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 20th. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Ecolab from $293.00 to $295.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 14th. Finally, Mizuho lifted their target price on shares of Ecolab from $285.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $291.21.

Ecolab Stock Up 0.8%

ECL traded up $2.39 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $285.45. The company had a trading volume of 352,743 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,302,135. Ecolab Inc. has a 52 week low of $221.62 and a 52 week high of $286.04. 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 company has a market capitalization of $80.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.11, a PEG ratio of 2.92 and a beta of 1.06. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $269.58 and its 200 day moving average price is $259.60.

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 29th. The basic materials company reported $1.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.90 by ($0.01). The business 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. On average, 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 disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.65 per share. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 16th. Ecolab's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 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.