Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) Price Target Raised to $310.00 at Piper Sandler

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) had its target price raised by Piper Sandler from $270.00 to $310.00 in a report published on Monday morning,Benzinga reports. Piper Sandler currently has an overweight rating on the basic materials company’s stock.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Ecolab from $290.00 to $305.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Ecolab from $295.00 to $313.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. BMO Capital Markets upgraded Ecolab from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $279.00 to $290.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. StockNews.com upgraded Ecolab from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Ecolab from $228.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $287.00.

Ecolab Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:ECL opened at $266.60 on Monday. Ecolab has a 1-year low of $217.05 and a 1-year high of $268.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 1.26 and a quick ratio of 0.95. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $246.01 and a 200-day moving average price of $248.29. The company has a market capitalization of $75.49 billion, a PE ratio of 36.12, a PEG ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.14.

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The basic materials company reported $1.81 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.81. Ecolab had a return on equity of 22.50% and a net margin of 13.42%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Ecolab will post 7.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ecolab Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 18th will be given a dividend of $0.65 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 18th. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.98%. Ecolab’s payout ratio is currently 35.23%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director David Maclennan acquired 400 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 13th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $264.51 per share, with a total value of $105,804.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 18,767 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,964,059.17. This represents a 2.18 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Machiel Duijser sold 5,721 shares of Ecolab stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 13th. The shares were 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 in the company, valued at approximately $996,486.96. The trade was a 60.25 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.50% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Ecolab

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Heck Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Ecolab during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $564,000. Shufro Rose & Co. LLC raised its stake in Ecolab by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. Shufro Rose & Co. LLC now owns 18,163 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $4,256,000 after purchasing an additional 484 shares during the period. Integrated Advisors Network LLC raised its stake in Ecolab by 11.2% during the 4th quarter. Integrated Advisors Network LLC now owns 4,353 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,020,000 after purchasing an additional 438 shares during the period. Putney Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in Ecolab during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $119,000. Finally, Vermillion Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in Ecolab during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $410,000. 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.