Analyst Consensus ?
ConsensusBuy37 ratings
Bullish2978.4%
Neutral718.9%
Bearish12.7%
Ecolab Inc. · ECL · FY2024 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2024
Ecolab posts strong Q3 and raises full-year earnings outlook
The quarter strengthened the case that Ecolab can extend earnings growth through volume gains, pricing, productivity initiatives and demand for high-tech water solutions. The thesis remains dependent on sustaining margin execution while offsetting regional weakness, cost normalization and post-divestiture growth challenges.
Reported Before market openNYSEBasic Materials
$81.00B market cap
100quality score
Earnings scorecard
Reported versus consensus
Reported EPS
$1.83
Consensus $1.82
EPS surprise
+0.5%
Reported versus consensus
Reported revenue
$4.00B
Consensus $4.03B
Revenue surprise
-0.8%
Reported versus consensus
Market reaction
prior-close to event-session close
Stock move
-1.0%
Event window
SPY move
+0.2%
Same window
Abnormal move
-1.2%
Stock minus SPY
Volume
1.9×
Versus trailing sessions
Subsequent drift
-2.5%
Up to 20 sessions
ECLSPY benchmark
Ask FN2 about ECL FY2024 Q3
Transcript, numbers and history already loaded
Why did ECL fall 1.0% after beating EPS estimates in FY2024 Q3?What changed in ECL's guidance and outlook in FY2024 Q3?Give me the bull and bear case for ECL after FY2024 Q3 earnings.
Free account. Your question opens in FN2 with this report's transcript and numbers attached.
Transcript intelligence
What changed
Compared with the prior-quarter analysis, Ecolab reported another period of margin expansion and volume growth, raised the full-year earnings guidance midpoint, and placed greater emphasis on a record innovation pipeline, high-tech water-recycling demand and the One Ecolab rollout.
Guidance delta
Management raised the full-year earnings guidance midpoint, citing continued momentum.
Key takeaways
- Adjusted earnings grew 19% and operating margin expanded by 260 basis points to 17.9%.
- Volume grew 2% across most businesses, while value pricing supported organic revenue growth.
- Management highlighted One Ecolab, high-tech water-recycling solutions and a record innovation pipeline.
- The balance sheet remains flexible after the Surgical Drapes divestiture, supporting investment and selective M&A.
Management priorities
- Expand AI dish machines and circular water systems for quick-service restaurants, data centers and microelectronics.
- Broaden the One Ecolab program and use digital technologies to support cross-selling and productivity.
- Invest in frontline service capabilities and pursue selective M&A in water technology, digital/high-tech and life sciences.
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Try FN2 freeEarnings History
Estimate
Beat
Miss
Match
Analyst 52W Price Targets
$288.89Current
$164Low
$279.24Average
$426High
Latest persisted target per named analyst; persisted current price from FN2's market snapshot as of Oct 27, 2026. Not an FN2 forecast.
Firm-level rating actions
FMP grade actions identify the grading firm, not a named analyst.
| Firm | Rating | Prior rating | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UBS | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Oct 5, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Equal Weight | Equal Weight | Maintain | Jul 30, 2026 |
| Mizuho | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Jul 29, 2026 |
| JP Morgan | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Jul 29, 2026 |
| BMO Capital | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Jul 29, 2026 |
| Oppenheimer | Outperform | Perform | Upgrade | Jul 17, 2026 |
| Deutsche Bank | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Jul 9, 2026 |
| RBC Capital | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Jul 7, 2026 |
| Citigroup | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Jun 24, 2026 |
| Jefferies | Buy | Buy | Maintain | May 20, 2026 |
| B of A Securities | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Apr 21, 2026 |
| Baird | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Mar 24, 2026 |
| Evercore ISI Group | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Feb 18, 2026 |
| Exane BNP Paribas | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Feb 12, 2026 |
| BNP Paribas | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Feb 12, 2026 |
| Stifel | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Feb 11, 2026 |
| Barclays | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Oct 29, 2025 |
| Seaport Global | Buy | Neutral | Upgrade | Apr 21, 2025 |
| Redburn Atlantic | Neutral | Buy | Downgrade | Mar 24, 2025 |
| Piper Sandler | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Feb 24, 2025 |
| Morgan Stanley | Overweight | Equal Weight | Upgrade | Jan 28, 2025 |
| Raymond James | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Apr 3, 2024 |
| Northcoast Research | Neutral | Buy | Downgrade | Jul 5, 2023 |
| Credit Suisse | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Nov 7, 2022 |
| Argus Research | Buy | Buy | Maintain | May 31, 2022 |
| Edward Jones | Buy | Hold | Upgrade | Mar 17, 2022 |
| Gabelli & Co. | Buy | Hold | Upgrade | Jan 15, 2021 |
| CFRA | Hold | Hold | Maintain | Apr 30, 2020 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Hold | Hold | Maintain | Feb 19, 2020 |
| Nomura | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Aug 7, 2019 |
| Citi | Neutral | Neutral | Maintain | Aug 2, 2019 |
| Canaccord Genuity | Buy | Buy | Maintain | May 1, 2019 |
| Longbow Research | Neutral | Buy | Downgrade | Feb 22, 2017 |
| Macquarie | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Aug 25, 2016 |
| Goldman Sachs | Sell | Sell | Maintain | Aug 3, 2016 |
| Sterne Agee CRT | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Mar 22, 2016 |
| PiperJaffray | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Nov 3, 2015 |
Named analyst price targets
Upside is calculated against the persisted current price $288.89. FMP does not supply a rating on these named-analyst rows.
| Firm | Analyst | 52W target | Price when posted | Upside | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UBS | Joshua Spector | $344 | $273.7 | +19.1% | Oct 5, 2026 |
| UBS | Joshua Spector | $342 | $281.05 | +18.4% | Jul 29, 2026 |
| BMO Capital | John McNulty | $360 | $280.58 | +24.6% | Jul 29, 2026 |
| Mizuho Securities | Analyst unavailable | $327 | $282.9 | +13.2% | Jul 29, 2026 |
| Robert W. Baird | Andrew Wittmann | $305 | $282.9 | +5.6% | Jul 29, 2026 |
| Oppenheimer | Scott Schneeberger | $320 | $275.71 | +10.8% | Jul 17, 2026 |
| Deutsche Bank | Analyst unavailable | $335 | $272.13 | +16.0% | Jul 9, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Jason Hass | $275 | $264.44 | -4.8% | Jun 10, 2026 |
| UBS | Joshua Spector | $325 | $254.23 | +12.5% | May 27, 2026 |
| Jefferies | Analyst unavailable | $345 | $250.22 | +19.4% | May 20, 2026 |
| UBS | Analyst unavailable | $293 | $272.47 | +1.4% | Apr 9, 2026 |
| Evercore ISI | Analyst unavailable | $312 | $305 | +8.0% | Feb 18, 2026 |
| Deutsche Bank | David Begleiter | $325 | $300.28 | +12.5% | Feb 13, 2026 |
| BMO Capital | John McNulty | $345 | $300.69 | +19.4% | Feb 13, 2026 |
| Seaport Global | Analyst unavailable | $340 | $304.59 | +17.7% | Feb 12, 2026 |
| UBS | Analyst unavailable | $312 | $300.56 | +8.0% | Feb 11, 2026 |
| Morgan Stanley | Analyst unavailable | $330 | $300.64 | +14.2% | Feb 11, 2026 |
| Mizuho Securities | Analyst unavailable | $335 | $299.62 | +16.0% | Feb 11, 2026 |
| Robert W. Baird | Andrew Wittmann | $327 | $299.62 | +13.2% | Feb 11, 2026 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Analyst unavailable | $337 | $299.62 | +16.7% | Feb 11, 2026 |
| UBS | Analyst unavailable | $295 | $270.96 | +2.1% | Jan 7, 2026 |
| Evercore ISI | Eric Boyes | $300 | $256.4 | +3.8% | Nov 3, 2025 |
| UBS | Analyst unavailable | $291 | $256.18 | +0.7% | Oct 31, 2025 |
| BMO Capital | John McNulty | $307 | $260.56 | +6.3% | Oct 30, 2025 |
| Mizuho Securities | John Roberts | $315 | $268.28 | +9.0% | Oct 29, 2025 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Analyst unavailable | $300 | $265.41 | +3.8% | Oct 29, 2025 |
| Robert W. Baird | Analyst unavailable | $307 | $268.28 | +6.3% | Oct 29, 2025 |
| Barclays | Manav Patnaik | $300 | $268.28 | +3.8% | Oct 29, 2025 |
| UBS | Joshua Spector | $299 | $278.91 | +3.5% | Oct 6, 2025 |
| BMO Capital | John McNulty | $310 | $275.35 | +7.3% | Sep 8, 2025 |
| Jefferies | Andrew Andersen | $426 | $265.09 | +47.5% | Jul 30, 2025 |
| Wells Fargo | Jason Haas | $260 | $262.38 | -10.0% | May 20, 2025 |
| Robert W. Baird | Andrew Wittmann | $277 | $253.66 | -4.1% | Apr 2, 2025 |
| UBS | Joshua Spector | $276 | $244.5 | -4.5% | Nov 4, 2024 |
| BMO Capital | John McNulty | $279 | $254.46 | -3.4% | Oct 30, 2024 |
| Citigroup | Pat Cunningham | $292 | $253.76 | +1.1% | Oct 29, 2024 |
| Morgan Stanley | Vincent Andrews | $240 | $254.26 | -16.9% | Oct 29, 2024 |
| Jefferies | Laurence Alexander | $310 | $257.1 | +7.3% | Oct 18, 2024 |
| Wells Fargo | Jason Haas | $295 | $251.02 | +2.1% | Oct 7, 2024 |
| Piper Sandler | Charles Neivert | $305 | $254.82 | +5.6% | Sep 26, 2024 |
| RBC Capital | Ashish Sabadra | $306 | $250.54 | +5.9% | Sep 16, 2024 |
| Mizuho Securities | John Roberts | $291 | $250.87 | +0.7% | Sep 3, 2024 |
| Wells Fargo | Jason Haas | $270 | $237.24 | -6.5% | Aug 12, 2024 |
| Bank of America Securities | Steve Byrne | $272 | $228.86 | -5.8% | Jul 31, 2024 |
| Deutsche Bank | David Begleiter | $245 | $228.86 | -15.2% | Jul 31, 2024 |
| Citigroup | Pat Cunningham | $265 | $228.86 | -8.3% | Jul 31, 2024 |
| UBS | Joshua Spector | $282 | $242.84 | -2.4% | Jul 9, 2024 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Shlomo Rosenbaum | $283 | $238.19 | -2.0% | Jul 8, 2024 |
| RBC Capital | Ashish Sabadra | $260 | $234.69 | -10.0% | May 21, 2024 |
| UBS | Joshua Spector | $270 | $234.69 | -6.5% | May 21, 2024 |
| BMO Capital | John McNulty | $234 | $224.84 | -19.0% | May 1, 2024 |
| Mizuho Securities | John Roberts | $260 | $220.75 | -10.0% | Apr 12, 2024 |
| Piper Sandler | Charles Neivert | $260 | $227.45 | -10.0% | Apr 3, 2024 |
| Barclays | Manav Patnaik | $260 | $222.09 | -10.0% | Feb 28, 2024 |
| RBC Capital | Ashish Sabadra | $213 | $188.61 | -26.3% | Jul 18, 2023 |
| Mizuho Securities | Christopher Parkinson | $177 | $173.36 | -38.7% | May 3, 2023 |
| Wells Fargo | Analyst unavailable | $168 | $152.72 | -41.8% | Jan 13, 2023 |
| Citigroup | Analyst unavailable | $164 | $150.44 | -43.2% | Dec 15, 2022 |
| Deutsche Bank | David Begleiter | $135 | $142.98 | -53.3% | Nov 2, 2022 |
| RBC Capital | Ashish Sabadra | $190 | $162.77 | -34.2% | Jul 26, 2022 |
| Credit Suisse | John Roberts | $195 | $148.17 | -32.5% | Jun 20, 2022 |
| UBS | Joshua Spector | $205 | $145.63 | -29.0% | Jun 17, 2022 |
| Mizuho Securities | Christopher Parkinson | $198 | $169.34 | -31.5% | Apr 29, 2022 |
| J.P. Morgan | Analyst unavailable | $190 | $168.47 | -34.2% | Apr 27, 2022 |
| Atlantic Equities | Colin Isaac | $210 | $182.95 | -27.3% | Apr 10, 2022 |
| Bank of America Securities | Steve Byrne | $196 | $177.59 | -32.2% | Mar 25, 2022 |
| Deutsche Bank | David Begleiter | $210 | $178.64 | -27.3% | Feb 20, 2022 |
| RBC Capital | Ashish Sabadra | $225 | $182.22 | -22.1% | Feb 16, 2022 |
| Credit Suisse | Kevin Mcveigh | $215 | $182.22 | -25.6% | Feb 16, 2022 |
| Robert W. Baird | Andrew Wittmann | $198 | $182.66 | -31.5% | Feb 15, 2022 |
| Mizuho Securities | Chris Parkinson | $210 | $182.66 | -27.3% | Feb 15, 2022 |
| Goldman Sachs | Robert Koort | $194 | $194.46 | -32.8% | Jan 21, 2022 |
| Evercore ISI | Stephen Richardson | $235 | $219.64 | -18.7% | Dec 3, 2021 |
| Vertical Research | Kevin McCarthy | $189 | $217.1 | -34.6% | Sep 27, 2021 |
Track every rating change on ECL the moment it posts. Free to start.
Start freeCompany context
Snapshot as of publicationEcolab Inc. provides water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Global Water, Global Institutional & Specialty, Global Pest Elimination, and Global Life Sciences. The Global Water segment offers water treatment and process applications, and cleaning and sanitizing solutions to manufacturing, food and beverage processing, transportation, chemical, primary metals and mining, power generation, global refining, petrochemical, pulp and paper industries.…
Historical context
All ECL earningsBasic Materials peers this season
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| CX CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026 | — | +1.2% | CEMEX Q3: EBITDA Growth and Cash Conversion Hold Up |
| CRS Carpenter Technology Corporation | FY2027 Q1 · Calendar Q4 2026 | +6.9% | -20.6% | CRS: Aerospace Bookings Accelerate as Guidance Holds |
| DOW Dow Inc. | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026 | +11.3% | +4.7% | Dow’s Q3 growth and self-help gains support a steady Q4 outlook |
| NEM Newmont Corporation | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026 | +12.2% | -2.6% | Newmont Holds 2026 Guidance as Projects Set Up 2027 Growth |
Latest beats and misses
Who reports nextBeat on EPS
- CDNSFY2026 Q3 · October 26, 2026+2.9% EPS+1.8% move
- BAHFY2027 Q2 · October 23, 2026+18.9% EPS-0.3% move
- FCNCAFY2026 Q3 · October 23, 2026+19.9% EPS+8.2% move
- FCNCNFY2026 Q3 · October 23, 2026+19.9% EPS+0.2% move
- FCNCOFY2026 Q3 · October 23, 2026+19.9% EPS+1.0% move
- FCNCPFY2026 Q3 · October 23, 2026+19.9% EPS+1.0% move
Missed on EPS
- INFYFY2027 Q2 · October 23, 2026-4.8% EPS-6.6% move
- BBDFY2026 Q3 · October 22, 2026-7.7% EPS+3.0% move
- SNAFY2026 Q3 · October 22, 2026-5.9% EPS-3.4% move
- SPOTFY2026 Q3 · October 22, 2026-11.6% EPS+11.1% move
- VRSNFY2026 Q3 · October 22, 2026-2.0% EPS-0.9% move
- HBANMFY2026 Q3 · October 22, 2026-5.3% EPS+0.5% move
Get the ECL recap when the next report posts
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Sources
- Earnings call transcript and parsed analysis · 2026-05-11T10:29:34.698584+00:00
- FN2 earnings calendar · 2024-11-10T18:38:36.707185+00:00
- Polygon adjusted daily market bars · 2026-10-27T03:20:44.296300+00:00
- Financial Modeling Prep analyst price-target consensus and quote snapshot · 2026-10-27T03:20:44.293845+00:00
Methodology
Reported and consensus figures come from FN2's earnings event records. Market reaction and volume are calculated from daily adjusted bars around the event; abnormal move subtracts the SPY move over the same window.
Analyst target low, average, and high values are derived at request time from each named analyst's latest persisted FMP target. The current-price marker comes from FN2's persisted market snapshot. They are sell-side estimates, not an FN2 valuation or recommendation.
Transcript intelligence is a structured synthesis of the current and prior earnings-call analyses. Missing values stay missing and are never estimated.
By FN2 Research · Updated · As of 2026-10-27. For educational purposes only; not investment advice.