NYSE$ECL
Ecolab Inc · Q3 2023 earnings
Q3 2023 earnings · · Investor relations
Briefing
Ecolab delivered a strong third quarter performance with reported diluted EPS of $1.41 and adjusted diluted EPS of $1.54, marking an 18% increase.
Ecolab reported an 8% increase in sales, reaching $4.0 billion, with organic sales up by 7%. The company's operating income rose by 17%, and adjusted diluted EPS increased by 18% to $1.54. Ecolab anticipates continued strength in the fourth quarter of 2023 and into 2024.
- Reported sales reached $4.0 billion, an 8% increase compared to the previous year, with organic sales growing by 7% due to double-digit growth in Institutional & Specialty and Pest Elimination.
- Reported operating income increased by 17%, while organic operating income grew by 20%, driven by strong pricing, improved volume trends, and slightly lower delivered product costs.
- Reported operating income margin was 14.3%, with the organic operating income margin at 15.5%, a 160 bps increase due to robust gross margin expansion.
- Cash flow from operating activities for the third quarter was $788 million, and free cash flow increased to $621 million, a $377 million increase compared to the previous year.
Headline financials
Revenue & EPS history
Ecolab · Revenue · Quarterly
$3.96B
Revenue by segment
Ecolab · $1.31B total across 1 segment · Q3 2023
- Global Institutional & Specialty$1.31B+12.9%100.0%
Forward guidance
Ecolab anticipates fourth quarter 2023 adjusted diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $1.48 to $1.58, a 17% to 24% increase year-over-year. The company continues to expect mid-teens or better growth in adjusted diluted earnings per share for 2024, as discussed during Ecolab's September 2023 investor day.
Tailwinds
- Continued pricing actions
- Volume growth
- Year-over-year gross margin expansion of 250 to 300 basis points
- SG&A expense remains consistent with 2023 second and third quarter levels
- Targeted investments in growth capabilities
Headwinds
- Quantifiable special charges in the fourth quarter of 2023 to be approximately $0.09 per share
- The company expects soft macroeconomic demand
- The company expects slightly lower delivered product costs.
- Inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing and amount of various items that have not yet occurred
- The company is unable to provide a meaningful or accurate calculation or estimation of reconciling items and the information is not available without unreasonable effort
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 Q3 2023
+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
| Quarter | Report date | Reaction (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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