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Mar 31, 2021

Ecolab Q1 2021 Earnings Report

Ecolab's first quarter results were impacted by the Texas freeze, which caused supply chain and customer disruptions, but were in line with expectations due to underlying sequential sales and earnings improvements.

Key Takeaways

Ecolab's first quarter earnings were affected by the Texas freeze, which had an estimated unfavorable impact of $0.10 per share. Reported sales decreased by 4%, while adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.81, a decrease of 18% compared to the previous year.

The Texas freeze had an estimated unfavorable impact of $0.10 per share in the first quarter.

Reported sales from continuing operations decreased by 4% compared to last year.

Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.81, a decrease of 18% compared to last year.

Strong growth in the Healthcare & Life Sciences segment was more than offset by a modest Industrial segment decrease and narrowed declines in the Institutional & Specialty and Other segments.

Total Revenue
$2.89B
Previous year: $3.58B
-19.4%
EPS
$0.81
Previous year: $1.13
-28.3%
Operating Income Margin
10.3%
Previous year: 11.1%
-7.2%
Gross Profit
$1.17B
Previous year: $1.46B
-19.9%
Cash and Equivalents
$1.19B
Previous year: $1.66B
-28.4%
Free Cash Flow
$193M
Previous year: $224M
-13.8%
Total Assets
$18.2B
Previous year: $22.3B
-18.5%

Ecolab

Ecolab

Ecolab Revenue by Segment

Forward Guidance

Ecolab anticipates significant growth in the second quarter, driven by the Institutional division's expansion and the recovery in the U.S. market, which will offset the slower recovery in Europe and emerging markets. The company expects robust consolidated gains in the second half, and continues to look for strong year-on-year growth for the full year 2021.

Positive Outlook

  • Significant growth in the second quarter, primarily driven by strong year-on-year growth in our Institutional division
  • New business as well as improving trends in early-reopening U.S. states and continued U.S. vaccination progress
  • Robust consolidated gains in the second half
  • Strong year-on-year growth for the full year 2021
  • Earnings per share above 2019 earnings per share from continuing operations excluding the estimated $0.15 per share impact of the Texas freeze

Challenges Ahead

  • Continued uncertain outlook regarding the timing and pace of global economic recovery from COVID-19’s impact does not yet present an adequate basis for us to provide either quarterly or annual earnings forecasts.
  • Europe and emerging market recovery is softer
  • The Texas freeze is expected to have an unfavorable impact of $0.15 per share in full year 2021
  • First quarter results reflected underlying sequential improvement from the fourth quarter offset by supply chain and customer disruptions from the Texas freeze.
  • Modest Industrial segment decrease and narrowed declines in the Institutional & Specialty and Other segments.

Revenue & Expenses

Visualization of income flow from segment revenue to net income