Nebula Research & Development LLC Buys 6,317 Shares of Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL)

Nebula Research & Development LLC raised its stake in shares of Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL - Free Report) by 127.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 11,267 shares of the basic materials company's stock after purchasing an additional 6,317 shares during the period. Nebula Research & Development LLC's holdings in Ecolab were worth $2,640,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV grew its holdings in shares of Ecolab by 134.8% in the fourth quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 108 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 62 shares in the last quarter. Graney & King LLC bought a new position in Ecolab in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Midwest Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Ecolab in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Millstone Evans Group LLC bought a new position in Ecolab in the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. Finally, Kestra Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Ecolab in the 4th quarter valued at $39,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.91% of the company's stock.

Ecolab Price Performance

Shares of NYSE ECL traded up $1.01 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $247.92. 593,719 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,404,702. The company has a market capitalization of $70.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79. Ecolab Inc. has a 52-week low of $220.96 and a 52-week high of $273.69. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $249.50 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $247.90.

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The basic materials company reported $1.50 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts' consensus estimates of $1.50. The company had revenue of $3.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.71 billion. Ecolab had a return on equity of 22.50% and a net margin of 13.42%. Ecolab's revenue for the quarter was down 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.34 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Ecolab Inc. will post 7.54 EPS for the current 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 paid a $0.65 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 18th. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.05%. Ecolab's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 35.23%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, SVP Jennifer J. Bradway sold 856 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $267.37, for a total transaction of $228,868.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 4,140 shares in the company, valued at $1,106,911.80. This represents a 17.13 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Machiel Duijser sold 5,721 shares of Ecolab stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $264.04, for a total transaction of $1,510,572.84. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 3,774 shares in the company, valued at approximately $996,486.96. This trade represents a 60.25 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 17,435 shares of company stock valued at $4,637,985 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.50% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on ECL shares. Barclays reduced their price objective on Ecolab from $300.00 to $275.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Argus upgraded Ecolab to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Seaport Res Ptn upgraded Ecolab from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Citigroup reduced their price objective on Ecolab from $305.00 to $275.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on Ecolab from $295.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $282.73.

Ecolab Company 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.