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ECL · NYSE · STOCK

Ecolab (ECL) Stock Analysis

Basic Materials Updated August 19, 2026
$285.60
52W $243.15 – $309.27
64/100
$78.80B
37.3
0.89
AI Committee Verdict
Buy
64/100
Conviction: High · 75% agreement · 4 analysts
+0.8%
-5.8%
0.13:1
High
Buy rating, but near-term risk/reward is unfavorable
The long-term recommendation is based on the composite investment score. The near-term risk/reward is based on nearby support and resistance levels. These can differ when a strong company trades close to resistance with support further below.

Is ECL Bullish or Bearish?

Bullish. Innellis AI committee rates Ecolab (ECL) Buy with a composite score of 64/100 , based on 4 analysts with 75% agreement. Last updated August 19, 2026.

What Would Change This View

Upgrade to Strong Buy
Requires a committee score of 75.0 — +11.17 from today. Applies on the first day at or above the line; upgrades are never dampened.
Downgrade to Watch
Requires the score to fall below 55.0 — -8.83 from today. The band boundary is 60.0, but a one-step downgrade must clear a further margin first. A score oscillating around the line should not change the rating every night.

Executive Summary

The primary driver is vix regime is low -- calm backdrop supports risk-taking. The main limiting factor is 5 consecutive earnings misses -- execution concerns. The committee is constructive but not yet at full conviction.

Bull & Bear Case

Bull Case
  • Quarter-over-quarter growth rate is ACCELERATING, not just positive — Growth
  • Price structure making higher highs and higher lows — Technical
  • Trend and market structure agree -- coherent bullish picture — Technical
  • Weekly trend (uptrend) confirms the daily trend -- multi-timeframe agreement — Technical
  • VIX regime is low -- calm backdrop supports risk-taking — Macro
Bear Case
  • 5 consecutive earnings misses -- execution concerns — Growth
  • MACD histogram negative -- bearish momentum — Technical
Both cases are generated from quantitative data signals, not qualitative or forward-looking judgement. They summarise what the numbers say today.
Price History (6M)

AI Investment Committee

Committee Consensus As of August 19, 2026
Overall Committee Score
64/100
Agreement
75%
Analysts
4
Conviction
High
Sector Rank
Top 29%
of 99 Basic Materials peers
Growth Analyst neutral
52 / 100 · Moderate confidence
Moderate growth -- present but not remarkable
+ Quarter-over-quarter growth rate is ACCELERATING, not just positive
− 5 consecutive earnings misses -- execution concerns
Technical Analyst bullish
61 / 100 · High confidence
Price action is constructive -- trend and momentum agree
+ Price structure making higher highs and higher lows
− MACD histogram negative -- bearish momentum
Macro Analyst bullish
80 / 100 · Low confidence
Macro backdrop is supportive of risk assets generally, and this name's beta works in its favor
+ VIX regime is low -- calm backdrop supports risk-taking
News Analyst bullish
62 / 100 · Low confidence
News flow and recent filings/analyst actions are net positive
Portfolio Manager neutral
45 / 100 · High confidence
Portfolio-level factors are mixed -- worth a deliberate sizing decision, not a default-size position
+ Portfolio position concentration is currently healthy
− Sector concentration is already high (HHI 2974.99)
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Investment Thesis Evolution

Committee score strengthened from 58.5 to 63.8.

Analyst-level changes:
  • Growth Analyst: score 41->52 (+11).
  • Value Analyst abstained (was neutral at 48).

Comparing 2026-08-18 to 2026-08-19 (1 day apart).

Technical Analysis

RSI (14)
53.4
Neutral
MACD Histogram
-0.727
Bearish Momentum
Trend Direction
Uptrend
Weekly: Uptrend
Market Structure
Hh Hl
Support
$263.79
Resistance
$282.19
Bollinger %B
0.57
Inside Bands
Price vs Moving Averages
EMA 9
$279.12 Above
EMA 21
$278.22 Above
EMA 50
$274.59 Above
EMA 200
$270.42 Above

Fundamental Analysis

Valuation
38
Growth
53
Profitability
77
Financial Health
72
Cash Flow
70
Valuation
P/E Ratio 37.3×
P/B Ratio 7.83×
PEG Ratio -70.37
Dividend Yield 1.01%
52W High $309.27
52W Low $243.15
Quality & Growth
ROE 2124.3%
ROA 840.5%
Gross Margin 4411.5%
Operating Margin 1737.3%
Revenue Growth YoY
Debt / Equity 1.37
AI Fundamental Assessment
P/E ratio of 37.3 (rich relative to a 15-40x range); Price-to-book of 7.8x; PEG ratio of -70.4 (under 1.0 suggests growth is undervalued relative to price); Return on equity of 21.2%; Return on assets of 8.4%; Net margin of 12.6%; Gross margin of 44.1%; Current ratio of 1.84 (healthy short-term liquidity); Debt-to-equity of 1.37; Free cash flow per share is positive (6.66); Most recent quarter missed estimates by 0.6%; 5 consecutive earnings misses; EPS growth accelerating (-18.3% -> +22.9% QoQ); Average YoY EPS growth of 10.6%; Analyst estimates flat over recent quarters
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