Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) Price Target Raised to $267.00

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) had its price objective lifted by Citigroup from $257.00 to $267.00 in a report released on Friday morning, Benzinga reports. They currently have a neutral rating on the basic materials company’s stock.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on ECL. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on Ecolab from $232.00 to $243.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 1st. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Ecolab from $230.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 27th. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Ecolab from $270.00 to $282.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 9th. Stifel Nicolaus upgraded Ecolab from a hold rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the company from $233.00 to $283.00 in a report on Monday, July 8th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on Ecolab from $227.00 to $234.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 1st. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Ecolab presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $244.06.

Ecolab Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of NYSE:ECL opened at $246.12 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92. The firm has a market cap of $70.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.58, a PEG ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 1.11. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $237.16 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $222.61. Ecolab has a 12-month low of $156.72 and a 12-month high of $246.49.

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 30th. The basic materials company reported $1.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.33 by $0.01. Ecolab had a net margin of 10.01% and a return on equity of 20.56%. The business had revenue of $3.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.74 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.88 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts forecast that Ecolab will post 6.58 EPS for the current year.

Ecolab Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, June 18th will be issued a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.93%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 18th. Ecolab’s dividend payout ratio is currently 42.22%.

Insider Transactions at Ecolab

In other news, Director Arthur J. Higgins sold 4,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the director now owns 25,548 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,812,680.96. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Ecolab news, Director David Maclennan bought 650 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, May 3rd. The stock was purchased at an average price of $227.37 per share, for a total transaction of $147,790.50. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 17,111 shares in the company, valued at $3,890,528.07. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Arthur J. Higgins sold 4,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $227.52, for a total transaction of $1,023,840.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 25,548 shares in the company, valued at $5,812,680.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.04% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ecolab

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ECL. First Personal Financial Services bought a new position in shares of Ecolab during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC grew its stake in Ecolab by 150.0% during the 4th quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 135 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. Motco acquired a new stake in Ecolab in the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC bought a new stake in Ecolab in the fourth quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, LRI Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Ecolab during the first quarter worth about $31,000. 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.