Margin Expansion Test | Company pursues 100-150 basis point annual margin improvements through strategic mix shift toward higher-value offerings despite third-quarter operating income shortfalls |
Hi-Tech Water Catalyst | The Global Hi-Tech water segment, currently 5.5% of revenues, emerges as critical growth engine targeting specialized semiconductor and pharmaceutical manufacturing markets |
Analyst Outlook | Price targets range to $300, with recent downgrade to Hold reflecting concerns over execution challenges and market penetration limits in mature segments |
Growth at Crossroads | Ecolab navigates market saturation and competitive pressures while pursuing 12-15% EPS growth for 2026, with ambitious 20% operating income targets for 2027 |

Metrics to compare | ECL | Sector Sector - Average of metrics from a broad group of related Basic Materials sector companies | Relationship RelationshipECLPeersSector | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
P/E Ratio | 37.3x | 18.7x | 4.3x | |
PEG Ratio | −91.53 | 7.02 | 0.00 | |
Price / Book | 7.8x | 4.7x | 1.6x | |
Price / LTM Sales | 4.7x | 2.1x | 1.3x | |
Upside (Analyst Target) | 15.5% | 0.0% | 36.5% | |
Fair Value Upside | Unlock | 1.9% | 2.5% | Unlock |
Ecolab 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. The Global Institutional & Specialty segment provides cleaning and sanitizing products to the foodservice, healthcare, hospitality, lodging, government, education and retail industries. The Global Pest Elimination segment provides pest elimination services to detect, prevent, and eliminate pests comprising rodents and insects in full-service and quick-service restaurants, food and beverage processors, hotels, grocery operations, and other commercial segments, including education, life sciences, and healthcare. The Global Life Sciences segment provides cleaning and contamination control solutions to pharmaceutical and personal care manufacturers. It offers its products under the Ecolab, Kay, Purolite, and Bioquell brand names. The company sells its products through field sales and corporate account personnel, distributors, and dealers. Ecolab Inc. was founded in 1923 and is headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota.