Gross margin
44.5% Fiscal year 2025
Rank 39 of 100: higher than 39% of 153 peers (All). medium.
Rank 30 of 100: higher than 30% of 5 peers (Sector). weak.
Median Materials: 48.8%
Share of revenue left after the direct cost of the products sold.
Ecolab offers products and services for hygiene, cleaning and water treatment. Customers are hotels, restaurants, hospitals, food plants, data centers and industrial facilities worldwide. It also provides pest control and water treatment for cooling systems. As of Oct 11, 2026
Ecolab offers solutions and services around water, hygiene and infection prevention. The Global Water segment supplies water treatment as well as cleaning and sanitizing products mainly to large industrial customers. These include food processors, mining, refineries, power generators and the paper industry. The Global Institutional & Specialty segment supplies food service, hospitality, government agencies, education and retail with specialized cleaning and sanitizing products. Other segments are Global Pest Elimination for pest control and Global Life Sciences. In the food sector, its own field sales force mainly serves the processing plants, and products for farms are sold through dealers and independent distributors.
Automatically summarized from SEC annual report (10-K, filed Feb 23, 2026) (website of the US Securities and Exchange Commission) · reviewed Oct 14, 2026
Calculated automatically by fixed rules – not investment advice, check for yourself. How we analyze
Our own calculation from the exchange’s daily candles, as of Oct 27, 2026. “All-time” applies since the start of this series, not to the whole market. Changes in percent; the TradingView chart shows prices. “Today” = change of the last trading day versus the previous day. Not investment advice.
Ecolab · Sector Materials · amounts in USD
Information only – does not affect the other analysis methods, not investment advice. Source: SEC filings, As of Feb 23, 2026.
Four angles on the annual figures. Each check counts how many disclosed criteria are met – criteria without data do not count. The bars show where the company ranks on each figure among the stocks we cover and within its sector.
Fiscal year to Dec 31, 2025
44.5% Fiscal year 2025
Rank 39 of 100: higher than 39% of 153 peers (All). medium.
Rank 30 of 100: higher than 30% of 5 peers (Sector). weak.
Median Materials: 48.8%
Share of revenue left after the direct cost of the products sold.
17.0% Fiscal year 2025
Rank 51 of 100: higher than 51% of 192 peers (All). medium.
Sector: too few peers
Operating income divided by revenue: what the core business earns before interest and taxes.
12.9% Fiscal year 2025
Rank 48 of 100: higher than 48% of 237 peers (All). medium.
Rank 50 of 100: higher than 50% of 5 peers (Sector). medium.
Median Materials: 12.9%
Profit after all costs, interest and taxes divided by revenue.
21.2% Fiscal year 2025
Rank 59 of 100: higher than 59% of 218 peers (All). medium.
Rank 70 of 100: higher than 70% of 5 peers (Sector). strong.
Median Materials: 20.9%
Net income divided by equity at fiscal year end.
8.4% Fiscal year 2025 (total assets at year end)
Rank 64 of 100: higher than 64% of 238 peers (All). medium.
Rank 50 of 100: higher than 50% of 5 peers (Sector). medium.
Median Materials: 8.4%
Net income divided by total assets at fiscal year end.
39.6% Fiscal year 2025
Rank 58 of 100: higher than 58% of 239 peers (All). medium.
Rank 50 of 100: higher than 50% of 5 peers (Sector). medium.
Median Materials: 39.6%
Equity as a share of total assets. Usually low for banks.
11.8% Fiscal year 2025
Rank 45 of 100: higher than 45% of 213 peers (All). medium.
Rank 50 of 100: higher than 50% of 5 peers (Sector). medium.
Median Materials: 11.8%
Free cash flow divided by revenue.
1.9B USD Fiscal year 2025
Operating cash flow minus capital expenditure on property and equipment.
+4.3% per year
Rank 32 of 100: higher than 32% of 230 peers (All). weak.
Rank 50 of 100: higher than 50% of 5 peers (Sector). medium.
Median Materials: +4.3%
Average growth per year over 3 fiscal years.
+6.4% per year
Rank 26 of 100: higher than 26% of 217 peers (All). weak.
Rank 50 of 100: higher than 50% of 5 peers (Sector). medium.
Median Materials: +6.4%
Average growth per year over 5 fiscal years.
+1.7% per year
Rank 14 of 100: higher than 14% of 157 peers (All). weak.
Sector: too few peers
Average growth per year over 10 fiscal years.
+24.1% per year
Rank 75 of 100: higher than 75% of 157 peers (All). strong.
Sector: too few peers
Growth of earnings per share per year, adjusted for stock splits.
+8.2% per year
Rank 42 of 100: higher than 42% of 140 peers (All). medium.
Sector: too few peers
Growth of earnings per share per year, adjusted for stock splits.
37% Fiscal year 2025
Dividend per share divided by earnings per share.
+7.2% per year
Rank 37 of 100: higher than 37% of 118 peers (All). medium.
Sector: too few peers
Growth of the dividend per share per year.
2.5x Fiscal year 2025
Free cash flow per share divided by dividend per share. From 1x the dividend is covered.
6 of 9 Fiscal year 2025
Rank 45 of 100: higher than 45% of 134 peers (All). medium.
Rank 30 of 100: higher than 30% of 5 peers (Sector). weak.
Median Materials: 6.0 of 9
Nine yes/no tests on profit, cash flow, debt, liquidity and efficiency compared with the prior year.
0.75 at fiscal year end
Rank 41 of 100: lower than 41% of 199 peers (All). medium.
Rank 30 of 100: lower than 30% of 5 peers (Sector). weak.
Median Materials: 0.59
Long-term financial debt divided by equity.
1.08 at fiscal year end
Rank 31 of 100: higher than 31% of 215 peers (All). weak.
Rank 50 of 100: higher than 50% of 5 peers (Sector). medium.
Median Materials: 1.08
Current assets divided by current liabilities.
−1.8% in 5 years
Rank 49 of 100: lower than 49% of 199 peers (All). medium.
Rank 50 of 100: lower than 50% of 5 peers (Sector). medium.
Median Materials: −1.8%
Change in diluted share count. Negative = share buybacks, positive = new shares.
Last fiscal year compared with the one before. Returns and revenue per total assets use total assets at the start of the year; leverage = long-term financial debt divided by total assets at year end; new shares via the average diluted share count.
Price-based criteria (P/E, dividend yield) are shown to signed-in users.
Computed automatically from SEC annual reports – not investment advice. Describes the reported figures; points are not a rating of the stock. Rank 0–100 against the 239 stocks we cover and against the sector (from 5 peers); the stronger side is always on the right.
Summarized from the lights below. Describes the reported figures – not a recommendation to buy or sell.
Fiscal year 2025 (Jan 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025): Revenue 16.1B USD · Net income 2.1B USD · Net margin 12.9%
Where the money of a fiscal year goes and how margins, returns, balance sheet, cash flow and share count developed over up to 10 years. Each chart has one sentence saying what the trend shows.
Of 100 USD of revenue, 44.5 USD gross profit, 17.0 USD operating income and 12.9 USD net income remained.
| Item | Amount | of revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 16.1B USD | 100.0% |
| Gross profit | 7.2B USD | 44.5% |
| Cost of revenue | 8.9B USD | 55.5% |
| Operating income | 2.7B USD | 17.0% |
| Research & development | 202.0M USD | 1.3% |
| Other operating expenses | 4.2B USD | 26.2% |
| Net income | 2.1B USD | 12.9% |
| Interest expense | 306.2M USD | 1.9% |
| Taxes & other (net) | 355.8M USD | 2.2% |
Taxes, interest and other items are not available separately in the SEC data; they are combined as the difference.
The operating margin rose in 5 years from 11.8% to 17.0%.
Gross marginOperating marginNet marginReturn on equity rose in 5 years from −19.2% to 21.2%.
Return on equityReturn on assetsThe equity ratio rose in 5 years from 34.0% to 39.6%.
EquityLong-term debt in USD Long-term debt, depending on the filing, includes the current portion or leases.The current ratio fell in 5 years from 1.75 to 1.08.
Current ratioFree cash flow rose in 5 years from 1.4B USD to 1.9B USD.
Operating cash flowCapital expenditureFree cash flow in USDThe share count fell in 5 years by 1.8% (mostly through share repurchases).
Diluted share countFrom annual reports filed with the SEC (10-K, 20-F, 40-F) as first reported, share count adjusted for splits; obvious filing errors (e.g. wrong unit, outliers against both neighbouring years) are hidden. Describes the reported figures – not investment advice.
How much the company returns to its shareholders – as dividends or by repurchasing its own shares – and whether free cash flow supports it.
The dividend per share rose in 5 years from 1.89 USD to 2.68 USD.
Dividend per share USD per share Per share as filed with the SEC, including special dividends; obvious filing errors are hidden.The payout ratio fell in 4 years from 49.9% to 36.8%.
Payout ratio (earnings)Payout ratio (free cash flow)Over 5 years, 5.6B USD went back to shareholders, 43% of it through share repurchases. That is 71% of the free cash flow of those years.
Dividends paidShare repurchasesNew shares issued (including employee plans)Free cash flow in USDDividends paid, repurchases and new shares issued from the cash flow statement of annual reports filed with the SEC (as first reported). Describes the reported figures – not investment advice.
Price-based valuation (P/E, P/S, price/free cash flow and dividend yield per fiscal year, compared with its own average) for signed-in users. Log in
Ecolab next to 4 stocks of the sector Materials we cover that are closest in revenue. Click a column header to sort the table.
| Symbol | Revenue (FY) | Growth 5 yrs | Gross margin | Op. margin | Net margin | ROE | Equity ratio | FCF margin | Piotroski |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIN Linde plc | 34.0B USD | +4.5% | 48.8% | 26.3% | 20.3% | 18.0% | 44.1% | 15.0% | 7/9 |
| FCX Freeport-McMoRan | 25.9B USD | +12.8% | 28.2% | 25.2% | 8.5% | 11.7% | 32.5% | 4.3% | 6/9 |
| SHW Sherwin-Williams | 23.6B USD | +5.1% | 48.8% | – | 10.9% | 55.9% | 17.8% | 11.3% | 6/9 |
| NEM Newmont | 22.7B USD | +14.5% | 64.3% | – | 31.3% | 20.9% | 59.3% | 32.2% | 9/9 |
| ECL Ecolab this stock | 16.1B USD | +6.4% | 44.5% | 17.0% | 12.9% | 21.2% | 39.6% | 11.8% | 6/9 |
| Median of the sector 5 symbols | 23.6B USD | +6.4% | 48.8% | – | 12.9% | 20.9% | 39.6% | 11.8% | 6/9 |
Growth 5 yrs = revenue growth per year over 5 fiscal years · Op. margin = operating margin · ROE = return on equity · FCF = free cash flow · Piotroski = F-Score (only with all 9 criteria).
Figures of the last fiscal year from SEC annual reports (peers as of Oct 28, 2026). Median across all companies of the sector we cover (from 5 stocks; several share classes of one company count once). Signed-in users also see P/E, P/S and dividend yield in the comparison. Describes the reported figures – not investment advice.
Each light follows a simple, disclosed rule. The comparison is with the sector median Sector medianThe middle value of all companies in a sector: half are above it, half below. Unlike the average, single outliers hardly distort it.Example: Margins 4%, 8%, 10%, 12%, 60% → median 10%, average 18.8%.More in the Academy: Lesson putting the P/E in context of all 24 symbols in the Materials sector on our list (current members of the S&P 500 and other lists).
+6.4% per year, last 5 years
Sector Materials: median +6.3% (23 symbols)
What does this mean? Revenue: over 5 years it grew by 6.4% per year on average – at least as fast as the median company in the sector (+6.3%).
Light rule: Green: grows at least as fast as the sector median (without a sector comparison: grows) · Yellow: grows more slowly · Red: shrinks.
– per year, last 5 years
Sector Materials: median +12.0% (16 symbols)
per share: not computable (loss in the first or last year)
What does this mean? There was a loss in the first or last year. An annual growth rate cannot be calculated meaningfully then.
Light rule: Green: grows at least as fast as the sector median (without a sector comparison: grows) · Yellow: grows more slowly · Red: shrinks.
12.9% last fiscal year
Sector Materials: median 7.4% (24 symbols)
What does this mean? Of every 100 USD in revenue, 12.91 USD remained as profit – at least as much as the median company in the sector (7.4%). Five years ago the margin was −10.1%.
Light rule: Green: at least the sector median (without a sector comparison: profit) · Yellow: profit, but below the median · Red: loss.
1.18 latest balance sheet
Sector Materials: median 0.66 (24 symbols)
What does this mean? For every 1 USD of equity there is 1.18 USD of financial debt – more than the median company in the sector (0.66). More debt amplifies good and bad years alike.
Light rule: Green: at most the sector median · Yellow: up to twice the median · Red: more than twice · Gray: without a sector comparison.
37% Dividend / earnings per share
Sector Materials: median 34% (18 symbols)
What does this mean? Of every 1 USD of earnings per share, 0.37 USD went to shareholders as a dividend. The rest stays in the company. Median company in the sector: 34%.
Light rule: Green: up to 60% of earnings · Yellow: up to 100% · Red: more than earnings or a dividend despite a loss · Gray for real estate (REITs). The sector median is for comparison only.
9 of 10 fiscal years with a profit
What does this mean? In 9 of the last 10 fiscal years the bottom line showed a profit. One year ended with a loss.
Light rule: Green: profit in every year · Yellow: one loss year · Red: several loss years (at least 3 years needed).
| Year | End | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Earnings per share | Dividend per share | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Dec 31, 2025 | 16.1B | 2.1B | 12.9% | 7.28 | 2.68 | 37% |
| 2024 | Dec 31, 2024 | 15.7B | 2.1B | 13.4% | 7.37 | 2.36 | 32% |
| 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 | 15.3B | 1.4B | 9.0% | 4.79 | 2.16 | 45% |
| 2022 | Dec 31, 2022 | 14.2B | 1.1B | 7.7% | 3.81 | 2.06 | 54% |
| 2021 | Dec 31, 2021 | 12.7B | 1.1B | 8.9% | 3.91 | 1.95 | 50% |
| 2020 | Dec 31, 2020 | 11.8B | −1.2B | −10.1% | −4.15 | 1.89 | – |
| 2019 | Dec 31, 2019 | 14.9B | 1.6B | 10.6% | 5.33 | 1.85 | 35% |
| 2018 | Dec 31, 2018 | 14.7B | 1.4B | 9.8% | 4.88 | 1.69 | 35% |
| 2017 | Dec 31, 2017 | 13.8B | 1.5B | 11.0% | 5.13 | 1.52 | 30% |
| 2016 | Dec 31, 2016 | 13.2B | 1.2B | 9.5% | 4.14 | 1.42 | 34% |
| Quarter | End | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Earnings per share | Dividend per share | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q2/26 | Jun 30, 2026 | 4.4B | 534.9M | 12.1% | 1.90 | 0.73 | 38% |
| Q1/26 | Mar 31, 2026 | 4.1B | 432.6M | 10.6% | 1.52 | 0.73 | 48% |
| Q4/25* | Dec 31, 2025 | 4.2B | 563.9M | 13.4% | – | 0.73 | – |
| Q3/25 | Sep 30, 2025 | 4.2B | 585.0M | 14.0% | 2.05 | 0.65 | 32% |
| Q2/25 | Jun 30, 2025 | 4.0B | 524.2M | 13.0% | 1.84 | 0.65 | 35% |
| Q1/25 | Mar 31, 2025 | 3.7B | 402.5M | 10.9% | 1.41 | 0.65 | 46% |
| Q4/24* | Dec 31, 2024 | 4.0B | 472.9M | 11.8% | 1.66 | 0.65 | 39% |
| Q3/24 | Sep 30, 2024 | 4.0B | 736.5M | 18.4% | 2.58 | 0.57 | 22% |
| Q2/24 | Jun 30, 2024 | 4.0B | 490.9M | 12.3% | 1.71 | 0.57 | 33% |
| Q1/24 | Mar 31, 2024 | 3.8B | 412.1M | 11.0% | 1.43 | 0.57 | 40% |
| Q4/23* | Dec 31, 2023 | 3.9B | 405.2M | 10.3% | 1.41 | 0.57 | 40% |
| Q3/23 | Sep 30, 2023 | 4.0B | 404.0M | 10.2% | 1.41 | 0.53 | 38% |
* Q4 derived: fiscal year minus the 9-month value (EPS cannot be derived this way); may be distorted by restatements.
How we calculate: values as first reported to the SEC (later corrections are left out), a fixed order of reporting tags per figure, partial sums are never added up. Growth per year Growth per year (CAGR)The average annual growth rate over several years, as if the value had grown equally strongly every year. Individual good or bad years even out in it.Example: Revenue €100m → €161m in 5 years → (161 ÷ 100) to the power of 1/5 − 1 = 10% per year.More in the Academy: Lesson debt, dividends and growth over 5 years (otherwise 3 years). Quarters are labeled by the calendar quarter in which they end.
| Period | Purchases | Sales | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months | $1.0M1 person | $7.2M3 people | −$6.2M |
| 6 months | $3.7M4 people | $10.1M5 people | −$6.4M |
| 12 months | $3.9M4 people | $27.1M10 people | −$23.2M |
Source: mandatory filings with the SEC (Form 4), open-market purchases and sales only. General information, not investment advice.
ATR ATR (Average True Range)The average range per trading day over the last 14 days. It makes distances comparable, whether a stock costs 10 or 1,000.Example: ATR 2.50 at a price of 100: 0.4 ATR is 1.00, i.e. 1%.More in the Academy: Lesson ATR and moving averages as price values only when logged in.
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