Ecolab (ECL.US) Price Target 2026/2027: 20% Upside – Rating and Stock Analysis

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Ecolab Price Target 2026: Analysts See 20% Upside

The average price target for Ecolab is $324.95. This price target represents the analysts' view of the stock price over the next 12 months. The stock may be undervalued, because the price target is higher than the current price. The stock is 19.51% below the target, which can point to potential returns within the next 12 months if the analysts' view proves right. Also consider the stock's valuation ratios such as P/E, P/S and P/B, plus the technical analysis further down the page, for the full picture.

Is Ecolab overvalued or undervalued?

Ecolab is currently undervalued with a gap of 19.5% relative to the price target.


The current price is $271.90, which places Ecolab in the undervalued category. The stock is considered undervalued when the price is below $292.46, and overvalued when the price exceeds $357.45.


The fair value range is defined as ±10% of the price target, because price targets are estimates rather than exact values. For Ecolab, the fair value range lies between $292.46 and $357.45.


See the full price target analysis for Ecolab →

Analyst Ratings for Ecolab stock in 2026: Buy

27 analysts cover Ecolab. The majority is positive, with 70.3% recommending Buy, while 29.6% recommend Hold. The average price target is $324.95, which gives an upside of 19.5% from the current price.

Consensus: Buy (4.19/5)
Strong Buy
13 (48.1%)
Buy
6 (22.2%)
Hold
8 (29.6%)
Strong Sell Sell Hold Buy Strong Buy
4.19 out of 5 based on 27 analysts

About Ecolab – Specialty Chemicals

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. Read more about the company

Key Figures for Ecolab

$ 76.3B Market cap
$ 16.8B Revenue
Specialty Chemicals Industry
37.29 P/E
4.53 P/S
7.75 P/B
USA Listed on exchange
ecolab.com Website

What kind of stock is Ecolab?

Stable stock

Ecolab is classified as a stable stock.

Score Overview for Ecolab

💰 Value Score 27/100 (Low)
⭐ Quality Score 59/100 (Neutral)
🚀 Momentum Score 60/100 (High)
📊 Total Score 48/100

⚠️ 1 red flag identified

Our analysis has identified 1 potential risk factor in Ecolab that investors should be aware of.

⚠️ High debt: The debt-to-equity ratio is 155% – the company carries considerably more debt than equity, which raises the financial risk.

📈 Valuation

Ecolab trades at a P/E ratio of 37.3, which is above the market average. The forward P/E is 29.9 (20% lower), which suggests the market expects rising earnings. The P/S ratio is 4.5. The P/B ratio is 7.8. The PEG ratio is 2.51 — above 2.0 suggests the stock is expensive relative to its growth rate.

💵 Profitability & Growth

Ecolab has a profit margin of 12.6% (solid) and an operating margin of 18.5%. Return on equity (ROE) is 22.0% — excellent return on equity. Return on assets (ROA) is 7.2%. The latest quarterly earnings grew 3.3% year over year.

🏦 Financial Health

The Piotroski score is 6 out of 9 — good financial health. Altman Z2 is 3.73 (healthy balance sheet — low risk). The debt-to-equity ratio (D/E) is 155.3% — moderate debt.

🚀 Momentum & Short Interest

Short interest is 1.42% — low, the market does not expect a decline.

Ecolab Dividend 2026: 1.0% Dividend Yield

Dividend Key Figures for Ecolab in 2026

Dividend yield
1.02%
Payout ratio
36.8%
Healthy

When does Ecolab pay a dividend in 2026?

Next dividend payment
October 15, 2026

How much does Ecolab pay in dividends?

Ecolab does not currently pay a dividend. This may be because the company reinvests its profits in growth, or because there is not enough profit for dividend payments. You can find more information about the dividend policy on the company's website.

Historical Dividend Payments for Ecolab

No historical dividend payments are registered for this stock.

Ex-datePayment dateAmountCurrencyPeriod
No historical dividend payments available.

Insider Trading in Ecolab 2026: The Signal Is mostly negative

In 2026, insiders at Ecolab have made 20 transactions – split into 10 purchases and 10 sales. On a net basis, insiders took 13,575,926 $ out of the stock. Active insiders include MacLennan David, Green Eric Mark, Ballard Shari L and others. In the short term (last 3 months), the insider signal is mostly negative.

Short-Term Signal (3 months): Mostly negative

Insiders have sold more than they have bought over the last 3 months.

Over the last 3 months: 3 purchases and 4 sales. A net 9,097,682 $ out of the stock.

Long-Term Signal (all transactions): Mostly negative

Insiders have sold considerably more than they have bought. At large companies this can be due to planned sales (10b5-1 plans) and is not necessarily a negative signal.

Across the last 20 transactions: 10 purchases and 10 sales. A net 13,575,926 $ out of the stock.

Latest purchase: MacLennan David bought 130 shares at 278 $ each on 2026-06-30. The stock has since fallen 2.5%.

Latest sale: Beck Christophe sold 17,862 shares at 280 $ each on 2026-08-18.

Who is buying: MacLennan David, Green Eric Mark, Ballard Shari L, Clark Benjamin M., Doukeris Michel D.

Who is selling: Beck Christophe, Cook Gregory B, Bradway Jennifer J, Kirkland Scott D, Brown Darrell R and others.

Latest Insider Trades in Ecolab (2026)

The table shows the last 20 reported insider transactions in Ecolab. Green rows are purchases, red rows are sales. The data is based on official filings.

Transaction date Name Type Number of shares Price per share ($) Total amount ($)
2026-08-18 Beck Christophe Sell 17,862 280 5,003,861
2026-08-11 Cook Gregory B Sell 4,567 285 1,302,189
2026-08-03 Bradway Jennifer J Sell 6,457 279 1,800,147
2026-07-30 Kirkland Scott D Sell 3,972 277 1,100,085
2026-06-30 MacLennan David Buy 130 278 36,200
2026-06-30 Green Eric Mark Buy 130 278 36,200
2026-06-30 Ballard Shari L Buy 130 278 36,200
2026-06-11 Clark Benjamin M. Buy 1,000 264 263,830
2026-06-10 Doukeris Michel D Buy 7,750 258 1,999,500
2026-06-09 Brown Darrell R Sell 10,000 261 2,608,900

Who is buying and selling Ecolab shares in 2026?

The following insiders have bought shares in Ecolab: MacLennan David, Green Eric Mark, Ballard Shari L, Clark Benjamin M., Doukeris Michel D. In total, 2,936,213 $ was bought across 10 transactions. The following insiders have sold shares: Beck Christophe, Cook Gregory B, Bradway Jennifer J, Kirkland Scott D, Brown Darrell R and others. In total, 16,512,139 $ was sold across 10 transactions. Insider trades are legal transactions in which executives and board members buy or sell shares of their own company. These transactions are reported to the SEC and are publicly available.

Ecolab Short Selling 2026: 1.4% Sold Short

Low short interest: 1.4% of the free float
Short % of free float
1.4%
Assessment
Low short interest
Short squeeze risk
Low
Data source
SEC
Updated daily
The stock has a low share of short selling. Less than 2% of the freely traded shares are sold short, which points to limited bearish sentiment.

Data is updated daily based on official filings with the SEC.
Short Interest Scale
0% 2% 5% 10% 20%+
Low Moderate High Very High Extreme
1.4%

When Does Ecolab Report Earnings – Next Date: 10/27/2026

The next earnings report from Ecolab is scheduled for October 27, 2026, before the market opens. This report covers the third quarter (Q3), which ended on September 30, 2026.



Technical Analysis of Ecolab 2026 – Signal: Sell

Overall Technical Signal: Sell

Based on trend analysis (SMA50/SMA200) and MACD trend (positive/negative on a daily + weekly basis). Updated September 11, 2026.

Trend Analysis of Ecolab Inc

Ecolab Inc is in a short-term downtrend. The price of $271.60 is 3.3% below the 20-day average ($281.01). Medium term, the picture is negative: the price is 2.5% below the 50-day average ($278.43). Long term, the stock is 0.2% below the 200-day average ($272.22), which signals a long-term downtrend.

Golden Cross: The 50-day average (278.43) is above the 200-day average (272.22), which is a classic bullish signal for Ecolab Inc.

Is Ecolab Inc overbought or oversold?

Ecolab Inc has an RSI of 37.3. The stock sits in the lower part of the neutral zone, which points to weak momentum without being oversold. In the current downtrend, be careful about reading this as a buying opportunity.

MACD Analysis for Ecolab Inc

Daily MACD: MACD is negative (-0.898), which means the short-term trend is bearish (the 12-day EMA is below the 26-day EMA). MACD is below the signal line (0.841) by 1.739, which confirms growing negative momentum in the downtrend.

Weekly MACD: MACD5 is positive (3.382), which indicates a broader bullish long-term trend. MACD5 is above the signal line (1.977) by 1.405, which confirms rising long-term momentum.

Overall MACD assessment: The daily and weekly MACD give conflicting signals. The long-term trend is bullish, but the short-term trend is bearish. Short-term momentum is still falling – a deeper pullback is possible.

Risk Profile for Ecolab Inc

Ecolab Inc has an annual standard deviation of 21.9%, which classifies the stock as Conservative. Price swings are limited, and the stock suits conservative investors.

Overall Technical Conclusion for Ecolab Inc

Trend: Negative. The price trades below SMA50 and SMA200.

MACD trend (zero line): Daily bearish (-0.898). Weekly bullish (3.382).

MACD momentum (signal): Daily falling. Weekly rising.

RSI: 37.3 – neutral.

Technical signal: Sell

The trend is negative and MACD is below the zero line, which confirms the bearish momentum. Consider reducing the position or setting a stop-loss.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ecolab stock in 2026

Should you buy Ecolab stock now?
No, the technical signal for Ecolab is currently SELL. Ecolab trades at $271.90 as of 9/11/2026. The overall technical signal is: Sell. The technical analysis shows the following: MACD is negative (bearish trend) at -0.898 with falling momentum (signal: 0.841); RSI is at 37.3 (neutral zone); the stock is in a short-term downtrend (price below the 20-day average); the analyst price target of $324.95 points to 19.5% upside. The stock is in a broader downtrend (below SMA50/SMA200). Buying in a downtrend is generally not recommended. This is a technical observation based on current data, not investment advice.
What is the price target for Ecolab stock?
The average analyst price target for Ecolab is $324.95. The current price is $271.90, which gives an upside of 19.5%. Based on this, the stock is considered undervalued. The fair value range (±10% of the price target) is between $292.46 and $357.45.
Is Ecolab a dividend stock?
Yes, Ecolab is a dividend stock with a dividend yield of 1.02%. The payout ratio is 36.8%, which is considered sustainable. The next dividend payment is scheduled for 10/15/2026.
When does Ecolab pay a dividend in 2026?
Ecolab pays its next dividend on 10/15/2026. The dividend yield is 1.02%. The payout ratio of 36.8% points to a sustainable dividend with room to grow.
What is the risk of Ecolab stock?
Ecolab is rated as a stock in the risk category Conservative. the annual standard deviation is 21.9%, which classifies the stock as Conservative.
Is Ecolab overvalued?
No, Ecolab is considered undervalued based on the analyst price target (19.5% upside). Ecolab has the following valuation ratios: a P/E ratio of 37.3 (highly valued), a P/S ratio of 4.5, a P/B ratio of 7.8. The analyst price target suggests that the stock is undervalued by 19.5%.
Is Ecolab overbought?
No, Ecolab is not overbought. RSI is at 37.3 (neutral zone). The technical indicators show: RSI is at 37.3 (neutral zone between 30-70), which signals neither overbought nor oversold. In addition, the price is 3.2% below the 20-day average (short-term downtrend). In addition, MACD is negative with falling momentum (bearish).
When is the next Ecolab earnings report?
Ecolab reports its next earnings on October 27, 2026. The stock currently trades at $271.90. With a P/E ratio of 37.3, the market will be watching closely whether earnings meet expectations.
Is Ecolab shorted?
Yes, Ecolab is shorted with 1.4% of the free float sold short. This is a moderate level of short selling, within the normal range for most stocks. Data is updated daily based on official filings with the SEC.
Are insiders buying Ecolab stock?
No, insiders are not buying Ecolab shares – they are net sellers. Over the last 3 months, insiders have made 3 purchases and 4 sales. On a net basis, 9,097,682 $ worth of shares were sold. Across the last 20 reported transactions, the split is 10 purchases and 10 sales, with a net 13,575,926 $ sold. Active sellers include Beck Christophe, Cook Gregory B, Bradway Jennifer J and others. Insider selling can have several explanations (e.g. planned 10b5-1 sales, portfolio diversification or taxes), but sustained selling by several insiders is worth watching closely.
Is Ecolab a good stock?
Based on our total score, Ecolab is rated as a mediocre stock with a total score of 49 out of 100. The stock scores around average on value, quality and momentum – it sits near the median in our database. The score is made up of Value: 27/100, Quality: 59/100, Momentum: 60/100. In addition: analysts see 19.5% upside to the price target; a dividend of 1.02%; technical signal: Sell. Whether Ecolab is a good investment depends on your time horizon, risk profile and portfolio. This is a data-driven observation, not investment advice.
What is the outlook for Ecolab stock?
The outlook for Ecolab based on current data: the average analyst price target is $324.95 (+19.5%); the stock is in a downtrend (below SMA50 and SMA200); the next earnings report is due on 10/27/2026, which can move the price; the P/E ratio is 37.3 (high – the market expects growth). Keep in mind that stock prices are affected by many factors, including earnings reports, the economy and market sentiment. Past returns are no guarantee of future returns.
Why is Ecolab stock falling?
Ecolab is falling right now. The technical indicators show: the price is 3.2% below the 20-day average; MACD is negative with falling momentum (bearish signal); insiders have mostly been selling the stock recently. For the latest context, see our technical analysis, insider section and news overview above.
How high can Ecolab go?
The average analyst price target for Ecolab is $324.95, which corresponds to a potential gain of 19.5% from the current price of $271.90. Keep in mind that price targets are estimates, not guarantees. Actual price moves depend on earnings, market conditions and unexpected events.
How low can Ecolab fall?
We lack enough history to give a specific floor for Ecolab. Remember: past price swings are no guarantee for the future — a stock can fall further than the last 52 weeks suggest, especially on profit warnings, sector crises or a market crash. Use stop-loss orders and spread your portfolio to limit losses in single stocks.
What does Ecolab do?
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 Glo... The company belongs to the Basic Materials sector, more specifically the Specialty Chemicals industry, is headquartered in USA, and is traded on the USA Stocks. See the key figures, earnings history and price development above to evaluate Ecolab as an investment.
Did Ecolab raise or lower its guidance?
Over the last 60 days we have not registered a guidance raise or cut from Ecolab. The company can still adjust its guidance at quarterly reports or between reports — see the earnings history and the news overview above.
Is Ecolab making money or losing money?
Yes, Ecolab is making money, not losing it. The company has a profit margin (the share of revenue left over as profit) of 12.6% — which is solid. The operating margin (profit before interest and taxes) is 18.5%. At a P/E ratio of 37.3, you currently pay 37.3 dollars for every dollar of the company's annual earnings. A consistently profitable company is usually more resilient than growth stocks that are not yet making money.
Can Ecolab go bankrupt?
The bankruptcy risk of Ecolab is rated as low. Altman Z2 (a model for assessing financial distress) is 3.73 — that places the company in the healthy zone. The company has a healthy balance sheet with limited debt relative to earnings and assets. The Piotroski score (financial health 0-9, higher is better) is 6 — which is average. Debt relative to equity is 155% (high). Remember: models like Altman Z2 are statistical — unexpected shocks (fraud, a sector collapse, lawsuits) can always happen. Spread your portfolio.
Does Ecolab have a lot of debt?
Yes, Ecolab has elevated debt relative to equity. The debt-to-equity ratio (D/E — interest-bearing debt to equity) is 155%. For the basic materials sector, anything above 150% counts as elevated — that raises the financial risk, especially if interest rates rise or earnings fall. Commodity companies finance mines and plants with moderate debt — 70-150% is typical. Note: D/E levels are highly sector-specific — a bank at 300% debt is normal, a tech stock at 300% is extremely leveraged. Always compare with similar companies in the same sector.

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