Ecolab (ECL) reported $4.17 billion in revenue for the quarter ended September 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 4.2%. EPS of $2.07 for the same period compares to $1.83 a year ago.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of +1.05% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.12 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $2.06, the EPS surprise was +0.49%.
While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how Ecolab performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Sales- Global Pest Elimination (Fixed Currency Rates): $322.6 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $320.81 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +4.5%.
- Sales- Global Water (Fixed currency): $1.95 billion compared to the $1.94 billion average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of -2% year over year.
- Sales- Global Life Sciences (Fixed currency): $171 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $168.71 million.
- Sales- Global Institutional & Specialty (Fixed Currency rates): $1.54 billion versus $1.56 billion estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +10.1% change.
- Sales- Global Life Sciences (Public Currency): $184.7 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $179.65 million.
- Sales- Global Pest Elimination (Public Currency rates): $331.8 million compared to the $333.75 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +8% year over year.
- Sales- Global Institutional & Specialty (Public Currency rates): $1.59 billion versus $1.58 billion estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +14.3% change.
- Sales- Global Water (Public Currency): $2.05 billion versus $2.06 billion estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +4.5% change.
- Operating Income- Global Life Sciences (Fixed currency): $28.1 million versus $27.45 million estimated by three analysts on average.
- Operating Income- Global Pest Elimination (Fixed Currency Rates): $67.4 million compared to the $64.63 million average estimate based on three analysts.
- Operating Income- Global Institutional & Specialty (Fixed Currency rates): $365 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $375.71 million.
- Operating Income- Corporate (Fixed currency rates): $-73.7 million versus $-48.73 million estimated by three analysts on average.
View all Key Company Metrics for Ecolab here>>>
Shares of Ecolab have returned +2.5% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.6% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Ecolab Inc. (ECL): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
Zacks Investment Research