Ecolab Inc. (ECL), headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, offers water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services. With a market capitalization of $86 billion, the company’s services include food safety, sanitation, optimizing water and energy use, improving operational efficiency and sustainability.
Shares of this global leader in the cleaning and sanitation industry have outperformed the broader market over the past year. ECLs have gained 13.7% over this period, while the broader S&P 500 index ($SPX) has risen nearly 12.3%. In 2026, ECL stock is up 15.3%, outpacing the SPX’s marginal gain on a year-over-year basis.
To narrow the focus, ECL’s underperformance is evident in comparison to the Global X Clean Water ETF (AQWA). The exchange-traded fund has gained about 17.9% over the past year. However, the ECL’s double-digit returns on a year-over-year basis dwarf the ETF’s 9.9% gains over the same time period.
On February 10, ECL stock closed up 4% after reporting its fourth-quarter results. Its adjusted earnings per share of $2.08 beat Wall Street expectations of $2.06. The company’s revenue totaled $4.20 billion, beating Wall Street forecasts of $4.19 billion. ECL expects full-year adjusted earnings per share in the range of $8.43 to $8.63.
For fiscal 2026, which ends in December, analysts expect ECL’s EPS to grow 13.2% to $8.52 on a diluted basis. The company’s history of earnings surprises is mixed. It beat or met the consensus estimate in three of the last four quarters, but missed the forecast another time.
Among the 28 analysts covering ECL stock, the consensus is a “moderate buy.” This is based on 13 “Strong Buy” ratings, two “Moderate Buys” and 13 “Holds.”
The setup has remained relatively stable over the past three months.
On February 13, Berenberg Bank maintained a “Hold” rating on ECO with a price target of $299.
The average price target of $317.52 represents a 4.9% premium to ECL’s current price levels. The Street’s high price target of $352 suggests 16.3% upside potential.
On the date of publication, Neha Panjwani had no (directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article are for informational purposes only. This article was originally published on Barchart.com