Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) Shares Bought by Jump Financial LLC

Jump Financial LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL - Free Report) by 119.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 44,997 shares of the basic materials company's stock after acquiring an additional 24,453 shares during the period. Jump Financial LLC's holdings in Ecolab were worth $8,925,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Riverwater Partners LLC grew its stake in Ecolab by 3.3% in the fourth quarter. Riverwater Partners LLC now owns 1,654 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $328,000 after acquiring an additional 53 shares during the period. St. Johns Investment Management Company LLC lifted its stake in Ecolab by 2.0% in the fourth quarter. St. Johns Investment Management Company LLC now owns 2,810 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $557,000 after buying an additional 54 shares in the last quarter. Woodmont Investment Counsel LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Ecolab by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Woodmont Investment Counsel LLC now owns 3,549 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $704,000 after buying an additional 56 shares during the period. Eagle Bluffs Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of Ecolab by 1.3% during the fourth quarter. Eagle Bluffs Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,605 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $916,000 after acquiring an additional 57 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Headlands Technologies LLC raised its holdings in shares of Ecolab by 0.8% during the fourth quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC now owns 6,805 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $1,350,000 after acquiring an additional 57 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 74.91% of the company's stock.

Ecolab Stock Performance

Shares of Ecolab stock traded down $0.06 on Friday, hitting $233.52. The stock had a trading volume of 683,476 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,195,889. The stock has a market cap of $66.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 1.09. The business's 50 day moving average is $225.51 and its two-hundred day moving average is $205.74. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92. Ecolab Inc. has a twelve month low of $156.72 and a twelve month high of $234.68.

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 30th. The basic materials company reported $1.34 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.33 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $3.75 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.74 billion. Ecolab had a return on equity of 20.56% and a net margin of 10.01%. The company's revenue was up 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.88 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that Ecolab Inc. will post 6.59 EPS for the current year.

Ecolab Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 18th will be issued a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 18th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.98%. Ecolab's dividend payout ratio is presently 42.22%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director David Maclennan purchased 650 shares of Ecolab stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 3rd. The shares were acquired at an average price of $227.37 per share, with a total value of $147,790.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 17,111 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,890,528.07. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, Director Arthur J. Higgins sold 4,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $227.52, for a total transaction of $1,023,840.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 25,548 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,812,680.96. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director David Maclennan acquired 650 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, May 3rd. The shares were purchased at an average price of $227.37 per share, with a total value of $147,790.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 17,111 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,890,528.07. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.04% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have issued reports on ECL. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Ecolab from $220.00 to $225.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 1st. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on Ecolab from $225.00 to $233.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 1st. Wolfe Research began coverage on shares of Ecolab in a report on Friday, March 1st. They issued a "peer perform" rating on the stock. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on shares of Ecolab from $232.00 to $243.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 1st. Finally, Raymond James lifted their price target on shares of Ecolab from $230.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 3rd. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $236.88.

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.