Thematics Asset Management Sells 35,000 Shares of Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL)

Thematics Asset Management trimmed its holdings in shares of Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL - Free Report) by 18.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 151,237 shares of the basic materials company's stock after selling 35,000 shares during the quarter. Ecolab comprises about 1.5% of Thematics Asset Management's holdings, making the stock its 16th largest position. Thematics Asset Management owned 0.05% of Ecolab worth $35,438,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV grew its position in Ecolab by 134.8% during 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 during the last quarter. Graney & King LLC bought a new position in shares of Ecolab during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Midwest Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Ecolab in the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Millstone Evans Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Ecolab in the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Kestra Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Ecolab during the 4th quarter valued at about $39,000. 74.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Ecolab news, EVP Machiel Duijser sold 5,721 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $264.04, for a total value of $1,510,572.84. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 3,774 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $996,486.96. This trade represents a 60.25 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Jennifer J. Bradway sold 856 shares of the 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 trade represents a 17.13 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 17,435 shares of company stock valued at $4,637,985. 0.04% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Seaport Res Ptn upgraded Ecolab from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Ecolab from $257.00 to $280.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Mizuho cut their price target on shares of Ecolab from $302.00 to $285.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Ecolab from $285.00 to $307.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company restated an "equal weight" rating and set a $240.00 price target (down previously from $265.00) on shares of Ecolab in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $282.33.

Ecolab Stock Down 0.9 %

NYSE:ECL traded down $2.10 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $237.57. 484,532 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,148,814. Ecolab Inc. has a 1 year low of $218.19 and a 1 year high of $273.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $67.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.20, a P/E/G ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.14. The business's 50-day moving average price is $251.01 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $248.21. The company has a current ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79.

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The basic materials company reported $1.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts' consensus estimates of $1.81. Ecolab had a net margin of 13.42% and a return on equity of 22.50%. Analysts predict that Ecolab Inc. will post 7.54 earnings per share for the current year.

Ecolab Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 18th were issued a $0.65 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 18th. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.09%. Ecolab's payout ratio is 35.23%.

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.