Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) Shares Acquired by Nicholson Wealth Management Group LLC

Nicholson Wealth Management Group LLC increased its stake in Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) by 154.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 6,515 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,952 shares during the period. Nicholson Wealth Management Group LLC’s holdings in Ecolab were worth $1,527,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Handelsbanken Fonder AB raised its stake in shares of Ecolab by 4.5% in the fourth quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 127,472 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $29,869,000 after acquiring an additional 5,506 shares in the last quarter. Mcdaniel Terry & Co. increased its holdings in Ecolab by 4.2% in the fourth quarter. Mcdaniel Terry & Co. now owns 169,602 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $39,741,000 after buying an additional 6,870 shares during the last quarter. Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Ecolab by 112.3% in the fourth quarter. Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC now owns 31,634 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $7,412,000 after buying an additional 16,734 shares during the last quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund increased its holdings in Ecolab by 28.1% in the fourth quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund now owns 9,603 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $2,250,000 after buying an additional 2,105 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cardinal Capital Management increased its holdings in Ecolab by 1.2% in the fourth quarter. Cardinal Capital Management now owns 41,799 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $9,821,000 after buying an additional 506 shares during the last quarter. 74.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Machiel Duijser sold 5,721 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $264.04, for a total value of $1,510,572.84. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 3,774 shares in the company, valued at $996,486.96. This trade represents a 60.25 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director David Maclennan acquired 400 shares of Ecolab stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 13th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $264.51 per share, with a total value of $105,804.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 18,767 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,964,059.17. This trade represents a 2.18 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.04% of the company’s stock.

Ecolab Stock Performance

NYSE ECL opened at $267.43 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79. Ecolab Inc. has a 52-week low of $215.41 and a 52-week high of $268.00. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $244.45 and its 200 day moving average price is $247.34. The firm has a market cap of $75.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.24, a P/E/G ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 1.14.

Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The basic materials company reported $1.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.81. Ecolab had a return on equity of 22.50% and a net margin of 13.42%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Ecolab Inc. will post 7.54 earnings per share for the current year.

Ecolab Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 18th will be issued a dividend of $0.65 per share. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.97%. Ecolab’s dividend payout ratio is currently 35.23%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently commented on the company. Morgan Stanley raised Ecolab from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their target price for the company from $263.00 to $280.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on Ecolab from $306.00 to $294.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 10th. UBS Group increased their target price on Ecolab from $257.00 to $280.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. BMO Capital Markets raised Ecolab from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and increased their target price for the company from $279.00 to $290.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. Finally, Citigroup increased their target price on Ecolab from $290.00 to $305.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $284.33.

Ecolab Profile

Ecolab Inc provides water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Global Industrial; Global Institutional & Specialty; and Global Healthcare & Life Sciences. The Global Industrial segment offers water treatment and process applications, and cleaning and sanitizing solutions to manufacturing, food and beverage processing, transportation, chemical, metals and mining, power generation, pulp and paper, commercial laundry, petroleum, refining, and petrochemical industries.