# Ecolab, Inc. (ECL) — Stock CV

Ecolab, Inc. is a $79.0B consumer staples company. Revenue grew 7.1% over the last year, it keeps 13¢ of every dollar of sales as profit, and its net debt equals ~4.0 years of free cash flow. It trades at 37.3× earnings — in the cheapest third of its own history.

> Ecolab produces and markets cleaning and sanitation products for the industrial manufacturing, data center, hospitality, healthcare, and life sciences markets.

## Identity

- **Ticker**: ECL
- **Sector**: Consumer Defensive
- **Industry**: Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics
- **Headquarters**: SAINT PAUL, MN
- **Employees**: 48 000
- **Website**: https://www.ecolab.com
- **Market cap**: $79.0B
- **Last price**: $281.83
- **Financial profile**: Strong

## Vitals (TTM)

- **Revenue**: $16.8B
- **Net income**: $2.12B
- **Free cash flow**: $1.87B
- **Net debt**: $7.59B
- **P/E**: 37.3
- **Revenue growth (YoY)**: 7.1%

## Skills (profile scores, 0–100)

| Pillar | Score |
|---|---|
| Valuation | 57 |
| Growth | 52 |
| Profitability | 72 |
| Health | 73 |
| Quality | 87 |
| Moat | 38 |

## Qualifications (beginner checklist) — 11 of 11 passed

- [x] Revenue growing — +7.1% YoY
- [x] Profitable — $2.12B TTM
- [x] Profit growing — +24.1% YoY
- [x] Generates cash — $1.87B TTM
- [x] Debt under control — ~4.0y of cash flow to repay
- [x] Established company — $79.0B market cap
- [x] Not printing shares — -1.8% shares over ~5y
- [x] Proven track record — 9/10 profitable years
- [x] Financially stable — Altman Z 3.7 — safe
- [x] Pays a dividend — yield 1.01%
- [x] Valuation not extreme — P/E 37.3

## Experience (career milestones)

- **2026** — Ecolab announced the acquisition of CoolIT Systems, a direct-to-chip liquid cooling technology…
- **FY2024** — Best year on record: $2.11B net income
- **2021** — Ecolab acquired Purolite, a provider of ion-exchange resins for biopharmaceutical purification for…
- **FY2016** — First recorded profitable year: $1.23B net income
- **FY2016** — Revenue already above $10B: $13.2B in first reported year
- **FY2016** — Positive free cash flow every year since: 10-year streak
- **2016** — Ecolab acquired the assets of UltraClenz, a developer of electronic hand hygiene compliance…
- **2014** — Ecolab, working with Trucost, launched the Water Risk Monetizer, an algorithm to help companies…
- **2013** — Ecolab acquired Champion Technologies and its related company Corsicana Technologies for $2.3 billion
- **2011** — Ecolab acquired Nalco Water for $8.3 billion
- **1996** — Ecolab acquired Huntington Laboratories, Incorporated
- **1986** — The company changed its name from Economics Laboratory to Ecolab Inc
- **1984** — Ecolab acquired Lystads, thereby launching its pest elimination division
- **1956** — Its first overseas subsidiary, Soilax AB, was established in Sweden in 1956

## Strengths

- High gross margin (44.2%)
- Interest covered 11.6× by operating earnings
- Altman Z-Score 3.67 — low bankruptcy-risk zone

## Watch-outs

- Loss-making in 1 of the recent years

## Track record

| Year | Revenue | Net income | Free cash flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2021 | $12.7B | $1.13B | $1.42B |
| FY2022 | $14.2B | $1.09B | $1.08B |
| FY2023 | $15.3B | $1.37B | $1.64B |
| FY2024 | $15.7B | $2.11B | $1.82B |
| FY2025 | $16.1B | $2.08B | $1.90B |

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Source: https://stockcv.com/ECL — derived from company filings; may be delayed or incomplete. Information, not investment advice.