Stifel Nicolaus Raises Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) Price Target to $233.00

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) had its price objective lifted by investment analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from $225.00 to $233.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a “hold” rating on the basic materials company’s stock. Stifel Nicolaus’ price target indicates a potential upside of 3.03% from the company’s previous close.

A number of other research analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. Seaport Res Ptn cut shares of Ecolab from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, January 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of Ecolab from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $200.00 to $220.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Ecolab from $237.00 to $256.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 10th. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on shares of Ecolab in a report on Friday, March 1st. They set a “peer perform” rating on the stock. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on shares of Ecolab from $232.00 to $243.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $231.59.

Ecolab Stock Up 2.0 %

Shares of NYSE ECL opened at $226.15 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $64.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 47.21, a P/E/G ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $224.21 and a 200-day moving average price of $202.21. Ecolab has a 1 year low of $156.72 and a 1 year high of $231.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 1.30 and a quick ratio of 0.95.

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 30th. The basic materials company reported $1.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.33 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $3.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.74 billion. Ecolab had a net margin of 8.96% and a return on equity of 19.36%. The business’s revenue was up 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.88 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Ecolab will post 6.42 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Ecolab

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in Ecolab by 5.1% in the 3rd quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,473 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $249,000 after buying an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Ecolab by 18.6% in the 3rd quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 38,730 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $6,561,000 after purchasing an additional 6,078 shares in the last quarter. Kingswood Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Ecolab in the 3rd quarter valued at $281,000. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. boosted its stake in shares of Ecolab by 63.7% in the 3rd quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 168,979 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $28,625,000 after purchasing an additional 65,757 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mission Wealth Management LP boosted its stake in shares of Ecolab by 1.9% in the 3rd quarter. Mission Wealth Management LP now owns 5,158 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $874,000 after purchasing an additional 95 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.91% of the company’s stock.

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.