Ecolab Q4 Earnings Beat Estimates, Revenue Tops Forecasts

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Ecolab Inc. (ECL) reported strong fourth-quarter results on Tuesday, surpassing Wall Street expectations.

Q4 Highlights:

* Net income: $472.9 million ($1.66 per share)
* Adjusted EPS: $1.81
* Revenue: $4.01 billion

Annual Performance:

* Net income: $2.11 billion ($7.37 per share)
* Revenue: $15.74 billion

Q1 Outlook:

* Per-share EPS range: $1.47 - $1.53
* Revenue range: $3.92 - $4.02 billion

Full-Year Outlook:

* Per-share EPS range: $7.42 - $7.62
* Revenue range: $15.7 - $16.1 billion

Analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research had forecast earnings of $1.79 per share and revenue of $3.97 billion for the fourth quarter.

Ecolab's performance was driven by solid demand for its cleaning, food safety, and pest control services. The company also benefited from cost-cutting measures and a favorable pricing environment.