Ecolab (ECL) stock
Materials · Specialty Chemicals
Ecolab (ECL) is a Specialty Chemicals company in the Materials sector, headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota. As of October 23, 2026, ECL closed at $288.53, a market capitalization of $80.88 billion, the 157th largest company in the S&P 500. Over the last twelve months it generated $16.84 billion in revenue (+10% year over year) and $1.87 billion in free cash flow. The stock trades at 38.7x trailing earnings and 30.8x forward earnings.
- 1-year total return: +6.1% (dividends reinvested)
- 5-year return: +6.6% a year
- 52-week range: $243.15 – $309.27
- Gross margin 44.2%, operating margin 18.5%
- Dividend yield: 1.01%, 39 straight years of increases
- FI Handbook report card: C across 10 metrics
- 5th largest of 24 Materials stocks in the S&P 500
ECL price chart
1Y price change: +4.9% (price only; total returns below include dividends)
| Total return | 1M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | MAX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECL | +4.3% | +10.8% | +6.1% | +23.2% | +6.6% | +10.7% | +10.4% |
Dividends reinvested. 3Y and longer are annualized; MAX is annualized since 1973.
ECL key statistics
- Market cap
- $80.9B
- #157 in S&P 500
- P/E (TTM)
- 38.7x
- Forward P/E
- 30.8x
- EPS (TTM)
- $7.45
- Revenue (TTM)
- $16.8B
- +10%
- Free cash flow
- $1.9B
- Gross margin
- 44.2%
- Operating margin
- 18.5%
- Return on equity
- 22.0%
- Dividend yield
- 1.01%
- 52-week range
- $243.15 – $309.27
- Beta
- 0.88
- Price / sales
- 4.8x
- EV / EBITDA
- 21.7x
- Debt / equity
- 1.38x
- Employees
- 48,000
ECL report card
CTen fundamentals graded A to F against fixed thresholds. Not a buy or sell rating.
- Revenue growth9.7%C
- Gross margin44.2%B
- Operating margin18.5%C
- FCF margin11.1%C
- Return on equity22.0%B
- Net debt / EBITDA2.1xD
- Forward P/E30.8xD
- PEG ratio2.4xD
- Shareholder yield2.0%C
- Share count change / yr-0.4%C
Ecolab financials
Revenue went from $13.2B in fiscal 2016 to $16.1B in fiscal 2025, growing 2.3% a year.
| Fiscal year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $13.2B | $13.8B | $12.2B | $12.6B | $11.8B | $12.7B | $14.2B | $15.3B | $15.7B | $16.1B |
| Gross profit | $5.6B | $5.8B | $5.3B | $5.5B | $4.9B | $5.1B | $5.4B | $6.2B | $6.8B | $7.2B |
| Operating income | $1.9B | $2.0B | $1.7B | $1.8B | $1.4B | $1.6B | $1.6B | $2.0B | $2.8B | $2.7B |
| Net income | $1.2B | $1.5B | $1.4B | $1.6B | -$1.2B | $1.1B | $1.1B | $1.4B | $2.1B | $2.1B |
| EPS (diluted) | $4.14 | $5.12 | $4.88 | $5.33 | $-4.15 | $3.91 | $3.81 | $4.79 | $7.37 | $7.28 |
| Free cash flow | $1.2B | $1.2B | $1.5B | $1.7B | $1.4B | $1.4B | $1.1B | $1.6B | $1.8B | $1.9B |
| Buybacks | $739.6M | $600.3M | $562.4M | $353.7M | $146.2M | $106.6M | $518.2M | $13.7M | $986.5M | $783.8M |
| Dividends paid | $427.5M | $448.7M | $494.8M | $552.9M | $560.8M | $566.4M | $602.8M | $617.3M | $664.3M | $753.6M |
| Diluted shares | 296.7M | 294.0M | 292.8M | 292.5M | 290.3M | 289.1M | 286.6M | 286.5M | 286.6M | 285.2M |
Source: SEC filings (10-K XBRL). EPS and share counts are split-adjusted.
What's priced into ECL?
A reverse DCF asks what growth the current price requires. With an enterprise value of $89.7B and $1.9B of trailing free cash flow, Ecolab needs to grow free cash flow about 33.3% a year for ten years (fading to 3.0% terminal growth) to earn a 10% annual return. For context, free cash flow grew 6.8% a year over the last five years.
P/E ratio history
Current 39.6x vs. median 34.8x (10th–90th percentile 24.8x–45.1x).
A model, not a forecast or advice. Small changes in assumptions move the answer a lot.
ECL dividend
- Dividend yield
- 1.01%
- Annual dividend
- $2.92
- Years of increases
- 39
- 5-yr dividend growth
- 7.2%
- per year
- Payout ratio
- 38%
- Payments per year
- 4
Regular dividends per share by calendar year; special dividends excluded. Current year omitted until complete.
ECL analyst price targets
21 analysts' average 12-month target is $325.05 (+13% vs. $288.53). Targets range from $295.00 to $360.00. 83% rate it a buy.
ECL earnings
Next report: October 27, 2026. Ecolab has beaten EPS estimates 3 quarters in a row. Last quarter's revenue was $4.4B (+10% year over year).
| Report date | EPS estimate | EPS actual | Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 28, 2026 | $2.08 | $2.09 | +0.5% |
| Apr 28, 2026 | $1.70 | $1.70 | +0.2% |
| Feb 10, 2026 | $2.07 | $2.08 | +0.7% |
| Oct 28, 2025 | $2.07 | $2.07 | -0.1% |
| Jul 29, 2025 | $1.90 | $1.89 | -0.3% |
| Apr 29, 2025 | $1.50 | $1.50 | +0.1% |
| Feb 11, 2025 | $1.80 | $1.81 | +0.7% |
| Oct 29, 2024 | $1.82 | $1.83 | +0.3% |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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ECL news
- Is Ecolab Still The Business You Bought? · Oct 23, 2026
- Ecolab (ECL) Backs Water Reuse Push With Membrane Technology Investment · Oct 23, 2026
- ZwitterCo Announces Strategic Investment from Ecolab to Drive Water Circularity · Oct 22, 2026
- Ecolab Gears Up to Report Q3 Results: How to Play the Stock? · Oct 21, 2026
- Ecolab (ECL) Earnings Expected to Grow: What to Know Ahead of Next Week's Release · Oct 20, 2026
ECL stock FAQ
What is ECL's market cap?
Ecolab's market capitalization is $80.88 billion as of October 23, 2026, ranking 157th in the S&P 500.
What is ECL's P/E ratio?
ECL trades at a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 38.7x and a forward P/E of 30.8x. Its median P/E over the period we track is 34.8x.
Does ECL pay a dividend?
Yes. Ecolab pays $2.92 per share a year, a 1.01% yield. It has raised its dividend 39 years in a row. Dividends grew 7.2% a year over the last five years.
How much has ECL stock returned?
Including reinvested dividends, ECL returned +6.1% over one year, +6.6% a year over five years, +10.7% a year over ten years through October 23, 2026.
Is ECL stock overvalued?
At today's price, a reverse discounted cash flow model (10% discount rate, 3% terminal growth) implies Ecolab must grow free cash flow about 33% a year for the next decade. Its free cash flow grew 7% a year over the last five years. Whether that is achievable decides if the stock is cheap or expensive. This is a model, not advice.
What is the ECL price target?
21 analysts cover ECL with an average 12-month price target of $325.05, +13% from the current price. 83% of them rate it a buy.
When does ECL report earnings?
Ecolab is expected to report earnings on October 27, 2026. It has beaten EPS estimates 3 quarters in a row.
How many employees does Ecolab have?
Ecolab has about 48,000 full-time employees, or $350,885 of revenue per employee.
Sources: SEC EDGAR filings, Yahoo Finance market data (delayed), FI Handbook calculations. Last close October 23, 2026. Methodology