- Ecolab Inc (NYSE:ECL) reported fourth-quarter FY21 sales growth of 10% year-on-year, to $3.36 billion, beating the analyst consensus of $3.29 billion.
- Sales from Global Industrial rose 8% Y/Y, Global Institutional & Specialty climbed 19%Y/Y, Global Healthcare & Life Sciences sales fell 6%.
- EPS of $1.28 missed the analyst consensus of $1.31.
- Selling, general and administrative expenses rose 7% Y/Y. The operating margin was 11.5%, and operating income for the quarter fell 7% to $387.7 million.
- The company held $359.9 million in cash and equivalents as of December 31, 2021.
- Ecolab looks for Q1 to show healthy sales growth and a flattish year-over-year EPS comparison impacted by continued high raw material and freight costs.
- For 2022, the company expects sales, pricing, and cost efficiency actions to deliver continued strong sales gains with adjusted EPS growth reaching low-teens levels, assuming that inflation and supply constraints ease as the year progresses.
- Price Action: ECL shares are trading higher by 0.10% at $183.10 on the last check Tuesday.
