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Description
Ecolab Inc. (Ecolab) provides water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services in the United States and internationally.
The company has advanced innovation by integrating science-based solutions, data-driven insights, AI-technology a…
Analysis
Hope premium
Ecolab Inc. is priced well ahead of what the underlying numbers justify, a pattern we describe as a hope premium. Worth noting: the cash the business generates has lagged behind what the income statement shows.
On valuation, the picture is expensive. The owner-earnings multiple stands at 37.9×; owner earnings: the cash an owner could take out each year. The implied growth embedded in that price is around 15% a year, against analyst forecasts of 14%. The price, in other words, assumes less than the experts do.
Growth is moderate; the safety picture is adequate. The company scores 12/20 on our value-creation score: creating some value.
Flags to be aware of: The financial cushion is thinner than comfortable. Some accounting patterns deserve a closer look. Reported profits have run ahead of actual cash for several periods. As always: this describes the company's numbers; it is not a recommendation.
360° rank · history
1007550250
Jan 202317
54
2023202420252026
All-time high
63
Oct 2025
All-time low
17
Jan 2023
Average rank
44
across all years
Detailed & Historical Ranks
Deep dive into 15 detailed ranks and 3 years of history.
Current202520242023
Price/Sales
11
6
9
15
Price/Earnings
11
7
3
10
Price/Book
13
8
6
11
Dividend Yield
49
28
27
37
Value (overall)
5
4
6
6
Cells are coloured by rank band (red weak → green strong). Sentiment & 360° history begins 2023.