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Sep 30, 2020

Ecolab Q3 2020 Earnings Report

Ecolab's third quarter earnings significantly improved from the second quarter, reflecting the divergent impacts of COVID-19 on the business segments.

Key Takeaways

Ecolab's third quarter results showed significant improvement from the second quarter, while still reflecting the divergent impacts of COVID-19 on the business segments. Strong top and bottom line growth in the Healthcare & Life Sciences segment and further strong income growth in the Industrial segment were more than offset by significant declines in the Institutional & Specialty and Other segments.

Third quarter results showed significant improvement from the second quarter, while still reflecting the divergent impacts from COVID-19 on the business segments.

Reported sales from continuing operations decreased 6% from the year-ago period.

Reported diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.85, a 43% decrease versus last year.

Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations were $1.15, a 24% decrease from the comparable period last year.

Total Revenue
$3.02B
Previous year: $3.82B
-20.9%
EPS
$1.15
Previous year: $1.71
-32.7%
Operating Income Margin
13.6%
Gross Profit
$1.25B
Previous year: $1.61B
-22.4%
Cash and Equivalents
$1.03B
Previous year: $136M
+661.4%
Free Cash Flow
$340M
Previous year: $502M
-32.3%
Total Assets
$18.1B
Previous year: $20.8B
-13.1%

Ecolab

Ecolab

Ecolab Revenue by Segment

Forward Guidance

The continued uncertain outlook regarding the full extent of COVID-19’s impact on the global economy and its longevity do not yet provide an adequate basis for us to provide either quarterly or annual earnings forecasts.

Positive Outlook

  • We expect full year 2020 Healthcare & Life Sciences segment sales to show strong growth over the prior year
  • We expect modest pressure on our Industrial segment business sales
  • We expect lessening pressure on results for our Institutional & Specialty and Other segments
  • We expect sequential improvement from third quarter levels
  • We expect our product and service innovation, investments in new hygiene and digital technologies, and successful sales and profit initiatives to augment a continuing recovery in customer activity.

Challenges Ahead

  • The continued uncertain outlook regarding the full extent of COVID-19’s impact on the global economy and its longevity do not yet provide an adequate basis for us to provide either quarterly or annual earnings forecasts.
  • COVID-19 impact on restaurant, hospitality and entertainment to result in a significant decline for the Institutional division sales within the Institutional & Specialty segment for the full year.

Revenue & Expenses

Visualization of income flow from segment revenue to net income