| Factor | Score | Distribution | Value | Avg | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Valuation | 24 | 37.0x | 17.7x | Bottom tier | |
Growth | 60 | 7.1% | 7.1% | Around median | |
Quality | 74 | 11.5% | 4.5% | Top tier | |
Safety | 66 | 2.1x | 2.6x | Around median | |
Capital Return | 35 | 1.03% | 2.16% | Bottom tier | |
Momentum | 62 | 7.6% | 2.1% | Around median | |
Sentiment | 83 | 17 | 3 | Top tier |
Estimates — analyst targets and a simplified DCF, not investment advice.
Ten ratios that matter, each compared against its sector median and average — so you can see whether a number is rich or cheap relative to peers in the same sector.
Ecolab provides solutions, technologies, and services related to water, hygiene, food safety, infection prevention, and operational improvement, and generates revenue from core businesses such as Food & Beverage and Institutional & Specialty, as well as from growth engines including Global High-Tech, Life Sciences, Ecolab Digital, and Pest Elimination. In Q2 fiscal 2026, Food & Beverage grew 7% and Institutional & Specialty grew 4%, while Life Sciences delivered growth of 15%, Ecolab Digital 27%, Pest Elimination 7%, and Global High-Tech 29%.
In Q2 fiscal 2026, revenue reached $4.4 billion, up 10% on a reported basis, with organic growth of 5%, pricing of 4%, and volume growth of 1%. Gross profit was $1.9 billion, and the reported gross margin was 44.1%, while net income reached $534.9 million and EPS per EDGAR was $1.90; adjusted diluted EPS was $2.09, up 11% year over year.
Revenue for the twelve months ended in fiscal 2026 was approximately $16.5 billion, compared with $16.1 billion in fiscal 2025, and net income in both periods was approximately $2.1 billion. The mix is gradually shifting toward faster-growing activities: core businesses represented approximately 70% of 2025 sales, growth engines approximately 15%, and underperforming businesses approximately 15%; management expects growth engines to approach 25% of sales in 2027.
The average analyst price target is $326.13, with a wide range between $275 and $360 and a consensus rating of “Buy”; the average is approximately 5.5% above the 52-week range high of $309.27, while the lowest target falls within the annual range of $243.15–$309.27. The breadth of the targets reflects meaningful disagreement over how much value CoolIT and the growth engines may generate, weighed against financing, amortization, and capital expenditure risks, and the data does not provide a valid earnings multiple for an additional comparison.
Figures in the text are as of 2026-08-27; the live price is shown at the top of the page.
Revenue reached $4.4 billion, with total growth of 10% and organic growth of 5%, while adjusted diluted EPS increased 11% to $2.09. Pricing of 4% and volume growth of 1% helped stabilize the organic gross margin despite higher commodity costs. At the business level, Food & Beverage grew 7%, Life Sciences 15%, Ecolab Digital 27%, and Global High-Tech 29%.
Ecolab closed the acquisition of CoolIT on 2026-07-02, and the announced transaction value was $4.75 billion. CoolIT adds direct-to-chip liquid-cooling technologies to Ecolab's water solutions and 3D TRASAR, and the company says this increases the data-center sales opportunity to between three and five times the previous opportunity. With Ovivo and the existing business, Global High-Tech's annualized sales run rate is approaching $1.5 billion, and the company targets $4 billion and a 25% operating income margin by 2030. In contrast, the transaction's financing costs and non-cash amortization will pressure EPS in fiscal 2026.
On 2026-07-28, the company raised its adjusted EPS range to $8.05–$8.25, representing annual growth of 7%–10%. It expects organic sales growth of between 6% and 7% and an adjusted operating income margin of 19% in the second half of fiscal 2026. It also targets pricing of between 5% and 6% to offset high-single-digit commodity inflation, while volume growth is expected to remain close to 1% during the following quarters.
Automated analysis for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
Global High-Tech grew 29% in Q2 fiscal 2026, driven by demand for microelectronics and data centers associated with the buildout of artificial intelligence infrastructure. Its annualized sales run rate of approximately $1.5 billion consists of three parts of approximately $500 million each from Ecolab's existing business, Ovivo, and CoolIT. Management targets annual growth exceeding 25% until the business reaches $4 billion in sales in 2030. Technologies in demand include CoolIT 50-kilowatt cold plates, coolant distribution units, and the 3D TRASAR platform.
Management confirmed during the 2026-07-28 call that the 20% operating income margin target for 2027 remains unchanged. It expects the adjusted margin to reach 19% in the second half of fiscal 2026, benefiting from pricing, productivity, and a mix shift toward higher-growth businesses. The end of Nalco amortization will help offset part of the CoolIT amortization, but the first and second halves of 2027 may differ because of the timing of recognizing a full year of the acquisition. Therefore, achieving the target depends on continued growth in the core businesses and growth engines while absorbing CoolIT and Ovivo costs.
The most important financial risks are the execution of the $4.75 billion CoolIT acquisition, financing and amortization pressure, and the expectation that the previous organic return on invested capital level will not be restored before 2028. Operationally, the company expects high-single-digit commodity inflation, while volume growth was only 1% in Q2 fiscal 2026 and was affected by approximately one percentage point from Middle East disruptions. It also intends to keep capital expenditures near 7% of sales during the next two years, and the reported Life Sciences margin in Q3 fiscal 2026 may decline to the high teens after the exceptional bioprocessing surge in the previous quarter. The wide analyst target range between $275 and $360 adds evidence of differing expectations regarding the balance of these risks against Global High-Tech growth.
