--- canonical_url: https://www.stockexpertai.com/earnings/ecl last_updated: 2026-05-05T20:00:14.389Z --- # Ecolab Inc. (ECL) Q1 FY2027 Earnings Preview > This content was automatically generated with FMP live data + Q1 FY2026 earnings call transcript. Generated: 2026-05-05T20:00:14.051Z. Educational tool, not investment advice. --- ## Quick Summary | Field | Value | Source | |---|---|---| | Price | $257.73 (▲ 0.84%) | fmp:quote | | Market Cap | $72.8B | fmp:profile | | 52w range | $249.04 – $309.27 | fmp:quote | | Earnings | Tue 4 Aug | fmp:earnings-history | | EPS estimate | $2.11 (+12% YoY) | fmp:earnings-estimate | | Revenue estimate | $4.4B | fmp:earnings-estimate | | Beat streak | 0/4 | fmp:earnings-history | | Rating | B (overall 3/5) | fmp:ratings | | Analyst median target | $330 (+28.0% upside) | fmp:price-target-consensus | | MoonshotScore | 44/100 | derived | | Council | 4/6 bullish | derived | | Munger verdict | Undervalued | derived | ## Ecolab Inc. — Q1 FY2027 Expectations Q1 consensus: revenue $4.4B^{[FMP est]}, EPS $2.11^{[FMP est]}. 0 consecutive quarters of beat^{[FMP earnings]}. ## Quick Take **Score:** B · **Stance:** BUY · **Council:** 4/6 · **Moonshot:** 44 = MoonshotScore 44^{[9-pillar formula]} + Council 4/6^{[6-lens rule]}. Form 4: 0 transactions^{[FMP Form 4]}. ## Watchlist (6 metrics) ### 1. Oi Margin Expansion Ecolab expanded organic operating income margin by 70 basis points to 16.8%, driven by strong value pricing and improved SG&A productivity, and expects OI margin expansion to improve in the second half of the year. > "As a result, organic operating income margin expanded by 70 basis points to 16.8%. We expect OI margin expansion to improve in the second half of the year as pricing accelerates, and we remain very confident in delivering on our 20% OI margin target by '27." > — Christophe Beck, Risk Indicator · Q1 FY2026 ### 2. Life Sciences Growth Ecolab's Life Sciences division grew 11%, led by bioprocessing where sales more than doubled, and expects operating income margins to expand toward its 30% target over the next few years. > "Life Sciences accelerated to 11% growth, led by bioprocessing where sales more than doubled. We expect Life Sciences growth to continue its double-digit momentum and operating income margins to expand toward our 30% target over the next few years." > — Christophe Beck, Investor Focus · Q1 FY2026 ### 3. Pest Elimination Growth Ecolab's Pest Elimination delivered a strong quarter with 7% growth, reflecting strong share gains from our One Ecolab growth initiative and our new Pest Intelligence offering. > "Pest Elimination delivered a strong quarter with 7% growth, reflecting strong share gains from our One Ecolab growth initiative and naturally, our new Pest Intelligence offering." > — Christophe Beck, Investor Focus · Q1 FY2026 ### 4. High Tech Growth Ecolab's Global High-Tech and digital segments grew more than 20%, driven by strong demand tied to digital adoption and the ongoing AI build-out. > "Global High-Tech and digital both grew more than 20%, driven by strong demand tied to digital adoption and the ongoing AI build-out." > — Christophe Beck, Investor Focus · Q1 FY2026 ### 5. Coolit Acquisition Impact The acquisition of CoolIT is expected to accelerate Ecolab's earnings per share (EPS) growth back into the 12% to 15% range, after short-term impacts, as amortization from the Nalco acquisition rolls off. > "Beyond the short-term impact this year, we expect EPS growth, including CoolIT to accelerate back into the 12% to 15% range as contributions from this high-growth, high-margin acquisition accelerate and amortization from the Nalco acquisition rolls up." > — Christophe Beck, Investor Focus · Q1 FY2026 ### 6. Commodity Cost Impact Ecolab is implementing an energy surcharge to offset rising commodity costs, aiming to fully offset the impact on second-quarter EPS growth. > "However, the magnitude of energy cost increases requires additional action to ensure reliable supply, which is why we quickly implemented an energy surcharge. This is an approach we've used successfully before, focused on delivering incremental total value for customers that exceeds the total price increase." > — Christophe Beck, Investor Focus · Q1 FY2026 ## MoonshotScore Pillars | Pillar | Score | Level | Evidence | |---|---|---|---| | Revenue Growth | 1.0 | weak | Q1 vs Q2: growth slowing (+1.0%, below threshold) | | Gross Margin | 4.0 | medium | Q1: average margin (43.6%) | | Operating Leverage | 2.0 | weak | op margin healthy (15.3%) | | Cash Runway | 10.0 | strong | FCF very strong ($0.8B, 2.3× CapEx) | | R&D Intensity | 3.0 | weak | low R&D investment (0.0%, weak innovation) | | Price Momentum | 4.0 | medium | RSI 38.9 weak momentum, 50d below | | News Sentiment | 7.0 | strong | strong buy consensus (70%) | **Formula:** sum(pillar.score) / (count * 10) * 100. Each pillar deterministic from FMP. Source maps in pillar.formula. ## Council (7-Lens) | Name | Stance | Context | |---|---|---| | Ray Dalio | bull | macro · target upside +28.0% | | Ken Griffin | bear | flow · 50d MA below | | Jim Simons | neutral | quant · RSI 39 | | Klarman | bull | value · target upside +28.0% | | Buffett | bull | quality · ROE score 5/5 | | Munger | bull | valuation · target upside +28.0% | **Formula:** Each lens uses deterministic rule on bundle data. Logged in member.contextTr. ## Munger Lens - **Verdict:** Undervalued - **Financial Health:** Moderate - **Margin of Safety:** Strong - **Interest Coverage:** Adequate - **ROIC vs WACC:** Healthy **Formula:** verdict=upside>25?Undervalued:>0?Fairly Valued:Overvalued. Each lens deterministic from FMP ratings + priceTarget. ## Technical Levels - **RSI(14):** 38.9 — momentum zayıf — oversold yakınında değil ama alıcı baskısı az - **50d MA:** $274 — hisse %5.8 altında — kısa vadeli direnç - **200d MA:** $273 — hisse %5.5 altında — uzun vadeli baskı - **Volume (10d):** -88% ## Past Performance (4 Quarters) | Quarter | EPS Actual | EPS Estimate | Result | Reaction | |---|---|---|---|---| | Q2 FY25 | $1.89 | $1.90 | MISS | +1.4% | | Q3 FY25 | $2.07 | $2.07 | MISS | -4.0% | | Q4 FY25 | $2.08 | $2.07 | BEAT | +1.3% | | Q1 FY26 | $1.70 | $1.70 | +0.0% EPS | -3.9% | Q1 (April 28, 2026): EPS $1.70 vs $1.70 est^[FMP], +0.0% beat. D+1 movement: -3.9%^{[FMP D+1]}. Decline despite beat — market reacted to guidance, not numbers. ## 3 Scenarios ### Scenario A · Beat **Q1 EPS > $2.11 + CapEx discipline** Threshold: EPS > $2.11^{[FMP est]}. Target: Break above median target $330^{[FMP target]}; high target $345^[FMP] upper bound. ### Scenario B · In-Line **EPS ≈ $2.11 + CapEx < $332.1M** Threshold: EPS ≈ $2.11^{[FMP est]}, Q1 CapEx < $332.1M^[FMP]. Target: Consolidation in the band between current $258^[FMP] and median $330^[FMP]. ### Scenario C · Miss **EPS < $2.05 or CapEx ≥ $332.1M** Threshold: EPS < $2.05^{[FMP est×0.97]}. Target: Current $258 below SMA200 $273^[FMP], if rejection continues, $232^[derived] support activates. ## Risk Notes ### Primary segment below threshold Q1: EPS $1.70 vs $1.70 beat^[FMP], stock -3.9% D+1^[FMP]. ### Backlog concentration No RPO/backlog concentration disclosed in Q1 earnings call. ### Insider trading Form 4 data is marked in the table — this page does not generate assumptions for this stock. | Executive | Action | Amount | Date | |---|---|---|---| **Net:** — (0 transactions · 0 sells · 0 buys) · Q1 FY26 ### CapEx shock Q1 CapEx $332.1M^{[FMP cashflow]}. Q1 op margin 15.3%^{[FMP op margin]} — this level in Q1 is sensitive to CapEx revision risk. ## Wall Street Consensus - **Median target:** $330 (+28.0% upside vs current $258) - **High / Low:** $345 / $293 - **Buy / Hold / Sell:** 19 / 8 / 0 - **Analyst count:** 10 (last quarter), 65 all-time ## Additional Transcript Insights ### 1. commodity_cost_impact **Claim:** Ecolab is implementing an energy surcharge to offset rising commodity costs, aiming to fully offset the impact on second-quarter EPS growth. **Evidence (transcript):** "However, the magnitude of energy cost increases requires additional action to ensure reliable supply, which is why we quickly implemented an energy surcharge. This is an approach we've used successfully before, focused on delivering incremental total value for customers that exceeds the total price increase." **Numbers:** April 1 ### 2. high_tech_growth **Claim:** Ecolab's Global High-Tech and digital segments grew more than 20%, driven by strong demand tied to digital adoption and the ongoing AI build-out. **Evidence (transcript):** "Global High-Tech and digital both grew more than 20%, driven by strong demand tied to digital adoption and the ongoing AI build-out." **Numbers:** 20% ### 3. life_sciences_growth **Claim:** Ecolab's Life Sciences division grew 11%, led by bioprocessing where sales more than doubled, and expects operating income margins to expand toward its 30% target over the next few years. **Evidence (transcript):** "Life Sciences accelerated to 11% growth, led by bioprocessing where sales more than doubled. We expect Life Sciences growth to continue its double-digit momentum and operating income margins to expand toward our 30% target over the next few years." **Numbers:** 11%, 30% ### 4. pest_elimination_growth **Claim:** Ecolab's Pest Elimination delivered a strong quarter with 7% growth, reflecting strong share gains from our One Ecolab growth initiative and our new Pest Intelligence offering. **Evidence (transcript):** "Pest Elimination delivered a strong quarter with 7% growth, reflecting strong share gains from our One Ecolab growth initiative and naturally, our new Pest Intelligence offering." **Numbers:** 7% ### 5. oi_margin_expansion **Claim:** Ecolab expanded organic operating income margin by 70 basis points to 16.8%, driven by strong value pricing and improved SG&A productivity, and expects OI margin expansion to improve in the second half of the year. **Evidence (transcript):** "As a result, organic operating income margin expanded by 70 basis points to 16.8%. We expect OI margin expansion to improve in the second half of the year as pricing accelerates, and we remain very confident in delivering on our 20% OI margin target by '27." **Numbers:** 70, 16.8%, 20%, 27 ### 6. coolit_acquisition_impact **Claim:** The acquisition of CoolIT is expected to accelerate Ecolab's earnings per share (EPS) growth back into the 12% to 15% range, after short-term impacts, as amortization from the Nalco acquisition rolls off. **Evidence (transcript):** "Beyond the short-term impact this year, we expect EPS growth, including CoolIT to accelerate back into the 12% to 15% range as contributions from this high-growth, high-margin acquisition accelerate and amortization from the Nalco acquisition rolls up." **Numbers:** 12%, 15% --- *Data source: FMP (live query, 2026-05-05), Q1 FY2026 earnings call transcript (Translated to EN with Gemini 2.0 Flash). Educational tool, not investment advice.*