NYSE$ECL

Ecolab Inc · Q1 2020 earnings

Q1 2020 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Ecolab's first quarter results reflected solid business trends and COVID-19 impacts, with a 10% increase in adjusted diluted earnings per share.

Ecolab's first quarter reported diluted EPS was $0.97, a decrease of 4%, while adjusted diluted EPS was $1.13, a 10% increase. Reported sales increased by 2%. The company is not providing earnings forecasts due to the fluid nature of COVID-19 impacts.

  • Reported diluted EPS decreased by 4% to $0.97.
  • Adjusted diluted EPS increased by 10% to $1.13, excluding special gains and charges and discrete tax items.
  • Reported sales increased by 2%.
  • Acquisition adjusted fixed currency sales also increased by 2%, with growth in Institutional and Healthcare & Life Sciences segments offsetting a 3% decline in Upstream Energy.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$3.58B

Previous: $3.51B+2.2%
EPS (adj)

$1.13

Previous: $1.03+9.7%
Reported GAAP operating income margin

11.1%

No prior period
Capital Expenditures

-$161M

Previous: -$187M+14.1%
Free Cash Flow

$130M

Previous: $113M+14.2%
Net Income

$290M

Previous: $300M-3.4%
Operating Income

$397M

Previous: $367M+8.2%
Gross Profit

$1.46B

Previous: $1.41B+4.0%
Cash & Equivalents

$1.66B

Previous: $79M+2003.7%
Total Assets

$22.3B

Previous: $20.9B+6.7%
Stock-Based Comp

$27.4M

Previous: $32.2M-14.9%

Revenue & EPS history

Ecolab · Revenue · Quarterly

$3.58B

Q1 2020+2.2%vs Q1 2019
Beat estimate in 11 of 16 quarters(69%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Ecolab · $1.63B total across 2 segments · Q1 2020

  • Global Institutional & Specialty
    $1.07B
  • Global Pest Elimination
    $560M

Forward guidance

The company expects the major COVID-19 impacts will be felt over the next few quarters and will be net unfavorable on both our top and bottom lines for the year. Our second quarter will likely see the largest sales impact as we realize both lower consumption, particularly in our restaurant and hotel segments, and channel destocking. These factors remain very fluid, and as a consequence, we are unable to reliably model our sales and therefore we will not be providing earnings forecasts.

Tailwinds

  • Expect to generate positive cash flow throughout the year.
  • Company has a large cash reserve and strong balance sheet as additional backstops.
  • Accelerating investments in digital connectivity and artificial intelligence capabilities.
  • Accelerating investments in new hygiene technologies.
  • Expect 2020 Healthcare & Life Sciences segment sales to improve over the prior year.

Headwinds

  • Major COVID-19 impacts will be felt over the next few quarters and will be net unfavorable on both our top and bottom lines for the year.
  • Second quarter will likely see the largest sales impact as we realize both lower consumption, particularly in our restaurant and hotel segments, and channel destocking.
  • Expect modest pressure on our Industrial segment businesses.
  • Expect more significant pressure on sales of our Institutional and Other segments.
  • Pandemic’s impact on restaurant, hospitality and entertainment to result in a significant decline for the Institutional division within the Institutional segment and Pest Elimination for the year, and more significantly in the second quarter.

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 20 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q1 2020

Historical avgQ1 2020

+0.1%

Avg return

Earnings day

-0.0%

Avg return

5 days after

+1.3%

Avg return

30 days after

58%

42 / 73 earnings

Positive

+10.9%

Q4 2022

Best reaction

-12.6%

Q3 2022

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q1 2026+0.8%-3.1%-3.1%
Q4 2025+4.0%+3.8%-4.3%
Q3 2025-4.1%-8.3%-1.7%
Q2 2025+0.4%+2.9%+1.8%
Q1 2025+3.3%+6.8%+10.6%
Q4 2024+6.2%+7.6%+2.1%
Q3 2024-1.5%-4.6%-3.4%
Q2 2024-6.9%-4.3%+0.9%
Q1 2024+1.5%+2.6%+3.2%
Q4 2023+6.9%+1.7%-1.4%
Q3 2023+5.1%+9.8%+20.5%
Q2 2023+1.0%-0.3%+0.4%
Q1 2023+2.7%+2.9%+0.2%
Q4 2022+10.9%+9.8%+7.4%
Q3 2022-12.6%-14.2%-3.3%
Q2 2022-1.3%+1.5%+5.0%
Q1 2022-2.9%-3.6%-6.5%
Q4 2021-0.1%-2.3%-6.1%
Q3 2021-0.2%+0.3%+4.4%
Q2 2021-0.0%+0.8%+1.8%
Q1 2021-2.1%-1.2%-4.7%
Q4 2020-5.0%-5.4%-4.7%
Q3 2020-6.5%-7.4%+10.0%
Q2 2020-8.1%-11.8%-6.8%
Q1 2020+5.4%+1.3%+12.7%
Q4 2019+1.4%+0.1%-23.0%
Q3 2019+1.1%-0.3%-2.4%
Q2 2019+0.6%-0.3%+3.2%
Q1 2019-1.1%+0.3%-0.6%
Q4 2018+1.1%+2.2%+7.5%
Q3 2018+4.5%+5.5%+8.1%
Q2 2018+2.8%+4.5%+6.7%
Q1 2018-0.4%+0.4%-1.5%
Q4 2017-1.2%-0.5%+2.0%
Q3 2017+0.3%+0.4%+3.8%
Q2 2017+0.9%+0.9%+1.2%
Q1 2017-2.8%-2.2%+3.5%
Q4 2016-0.7%+1.3%+0.2%
Q3 2016-1.9%-3.1%+3.8%
Q2 2016+2.3%+3.4%+3.7%
Q1 2016+0.9%
Q4 2015-5.5%
Q3 2015-0.3%
Q2 2015+6.4%
Q1 2015-1.4%
Q4 2014+3.8%
Q3 2014-2.2%
Q2 2014-1.5%
Q1 2014-0.9%
Q4 2013+0.5%
Q3 2013+3.0%
Q2 2013+0.0%
Q1 2013+1.2%
Q4 2012+6.2%
Q3 2012+0.1%
Q2 2012-3.6%
Q1 2012+1.0%
Q4 2011-4.2%
Q3 2011-4.6%
Q2 2011-3.5%
Q1 2011+2.5%
Q4 2010+2.4%
Q3 2010+0.3%
Q2 2010-0.7%
Q1 2009-1.7%
Q1 2010+1.2%
Q4 2007+0.5%
Q4 2009+0.5%
Q3 2009+2.2%
Q3 2008+2.2%
Q2 2009+0.0%
Q2 2008+0.0%
Q4 2008+0.0%

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