NYSE$ECL

Ecolab Inc · Q4 2022 earnings

Q4 2022 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Ecolab delivered a strong fourth quarter operating performance, with sales and operating income increasing and adjusted EPS decreasing slightly.

Ecolab reported a 9% increase in sales to $3.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022. Reported diluted EPS was $0.93, while adjusted diluted EPS was $1.27. The company expects further performance improvement through 2023, anticipating double-digit growth in adjusted operating income.

  • Reported sales increased by 9% compared to the previous year, reaching $3.7 billion.
  • Reported operating income rose by 3%, with adjusted fixed currency operating income growth accelerating to 14%.
  • Reported diluted EPS was $0.93, while adjusted diluted EPS, excluding special gains and charges and discrete tax items, was $1.27, a decrease of 1%. Currency translation had a $0.10 per share unfavorable impact on EPS.
  • Cash flow from operating activities for the fourth quarter was $859 million, resulting in a 97% free cash flow conversion for the full year 2022.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$3.67B

Previous: $3.37B+9.1%
EPS (adj)

$1.27

Previous: $1.28-0.8%
Reported GAAP operating income margin

10.9%

No prior period
Capital Expenditures

$203M

Previous: $219M-7.5%
Free Cash Flow

$656M

Previous: $422M+55.7%
Net Income

$264M

Previous: $301M-12.2%
Operating Income

$399M

Previous: $388M+3.0%
Gross Profit

$1.42B

Previous: $1.32B+7.2%
Cash & Equivalents

$599M

Previous: $360M+66.3%
Total Assets

$21.5B

Previous: $21.2B+1.2%
Stock-Based Comp

$20.6M

Previous: $17M+21.2%

Revenue & EPS history

Ecolab · Revenue · Quarterly

$3.67B

Q4 2022+9.1%vs Q4 2021
Beat estimate in 8 of 15 quarters(53%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Ecolab · $1.46B total across 2 segments · Q4 2022

  • Global Institutional & Specialty
    $1.12B+6.9%
  • Global Pest Elimination
    $339M+6.6%

Forward guidance

Ecolab anticipates performance to improve throughout 2023, driven by strong sales growth, easing inflation, and productivity improvements, expecting double-digit growth in adjusted operating income.

Tailwinds

  • Strong sales growth
  • Easing delivered product cost inflation
  • Improved productivity
  • Additional pricing actions
  • New business wins and innovation

Headwinds

  • Challenging macro environment
  • High delivered product costs
  • Easing demand
  • Higher interest expense
  • Unfavorable currency translation impacts

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 2022

Historical avgQ4 2022

+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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