NYSE$ECL
Ecolab Inc · Q4 2019 earnings
Q4 2019 earnings · · Investor relations
Briefing
Ecolab's Q4 2019 earnings were released, showcasing an 8% increase in adjusted diluted earnings per share, driven by better pricing, new business gains, product innovation, and cost efficiencies, which offset investments and a Healthcare product recall.
Ecolab reported a 2% increase in sales and an 8% increase in adjusted diluted earnings per share for Q4 2019. The company's performance was driven by pricing, lower product costs, and cost efficiency actions, which offset investments and a Healthcare product recall. The company expects another strong earnings year in 2020, despite a challenging environment.
- Reported diluted EPS increased by 9% to $1.47.
- Adjusted diluted EPS grew by 8% to $1.66, excluding special gains, charges, and discrete tax items.
- Acquisition adjusted fixed currency sales increased by 1%, with growth in Industrial, Institutional, and Other segments offset by a 3% decline in Energy.
- Adjusted fixed currency operating margin expanded by 60 bps, driven by double-digit income growth in Industrial and Energy segments.
Headline financials
Revenue & EPS history
Ecolab · Revenue · Quarterly
$3.82B
Revenue by segment
Ecolab · $1.55B total across 2 segments · Q4 2019
- Global Institutional & Specialty$1.32B—85.5%
- Global Pest Elimination$225M—14.5%
Forward guidance
Ecolab expects full year 2020 adjusted diluted earnings per share in the $6.33 to $6.53 range, rising 9% to 12% over 2019. This forecast includes an estimated unfavorable $0.05 per share impact from the effects of the coronavirus outbreak in the first quarter.
Tailwinds
- Improving volume gains and continued pricing benefit sales.
- Improving adjusted gross margin reflecting volume gains, pricing, flattish delivered product costs and cost efficiency actions.
- Lower SG&A ratio to sales.
- A similar adjusted tax rate versus 2019.
- Strong underlying new business momentum and innovation pipeline.
Headwinds
- An estimated unfavorable $0.05 per share impact from the effects of the coronavirus outbreak in the first quarter.
- Lower other income as lower interest rates result in unfavorable pension expense.
- Higher interest expense.
- Currently quantifiable special charges in 2020 to be $0.45 to $0.55 per share.
- Foreign currency translation to have an unfavorable $0.04 impact on full year diluted earnings per share.
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 Q4 2019
+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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