Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL – Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday following insider buying activity. The company traded as high as $268.00 and last traded at $264.84, with a volume of 991753 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $265.47.
Specifically, Director David Maclennan purchased 400 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 13th. The shares were bought at an average price of $264.51 per share, for a total transaction of $105,804.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 18,767 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,964,059.17. This represents a 2.18 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link.
Analyst Ratings Changes
A number of research firms have weighed in on ECL. UBS Group boosted their price objective 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. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on shares of Ecolab from $306.00 to $294.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 10th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Ecolab from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $263.00 to $280.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Ecolab from $228.00 to $255.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their price target on Ecolab from $271.00 to $279.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $284.33.
Ecolab Trading Up 0.4 %
The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $243.29 and its two-hundred day moving average is $246.86. The company has a market capitalization of $75.30 billion, a PE ratio of 37.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 1.14.
Ecolab (NYSE:ECL – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The basic materials company reported $1.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.81. Ecolab had a net margin of 13.05% and a return on equity of 22.12%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Ecolab Inc. will post 6.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Ecolab Increases Dividend
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 17th were given a $0.65 dividend. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.98%. This is a positive change from Ecolab’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 17th. Ecolab’s payout ratio is presently 36.47%.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ecolab
A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ECL. Sunbelt Securities Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Ecolab by 43.6% in the 4th quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 448 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $105,000 after buying an additional 136 shares in the last quarter. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Ecolab in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $123,000. Breed s Hill Capital LLC grew its holdings in Ecolab by 8.4% in the fourth quarter. Breed s Hill Capital LLC now owns 1,387 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $325,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the last quarter. Vise Technologies Inc. increased its position in shares of Ecolab by 39.2% during the fourth quarter. Vise Technologies Inc. now owns 4,921 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,153,000 after purchasing an additional 1,386 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Connecticut Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Ecolab by 11.5% during the 4th quarter. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,984 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $465,000 after purchasing an additional 205 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.91% of the company’s stock.
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.
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