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Sep 30, 2024

Ecolab Q3 2024 Earnings Report

Ecolab demonstrated continued strong growth, with adjusted diluted EPS increasing by 19% and the full-year adjusted diluted EPS outlook raised.

Key Takeaways

Ecolab reported a 1% increase in sales to $4.0 billion, including a 2% headwind from the sale of the global surgical solutions business and a 1% headwind from currency exchange. Organic sales grew by 4%, driven by volume growth and value pricing. Adjusted diluted EPS increased by 19% to $1.83, and the company increased its full-year adjusted diluted EPS outlook to $6.60 - $6.70.

Reported sales increased by 1% to $4.0 billion, including headwinds from the sale of the global surgical solutions business and currency exchange.

Organic sales grew by 4%, with volume growth strengthening to 2% and value pricing in the targeted 2-3% range.

Reported operating income margin was 26.1%, while organic operating income margin increased by 260 bps to 17.9%.

Adjusted diluted EPS increased by 19% to $1.83, excluding special gains and charges and discrete tax items.

Total Revenue
$4B
Previous year: $3.96B
+1.0%
EPS
$1.83
Previous year: $1.54
+18.8%
Operating Income Margin
26.1%
Previous year: 14.3%
+82.5%
Gross Profit
$1.74B
Previous year: $1.63B
+6.8%
Cash and Equivalents
$1.26B
Previous year: $1B
+25.9%
Free Cash Flow
$550M
Previous year: $621M
-11.4%
Total Assets
$22.1B
Previous year: $21.9B
+1.1%

Ecolab

Ecolab

Ecolab Revenue by Segment

Forward Guidance

Ecolab anticipates a robust conclusion to the year and expects to drive 12-15% growth in adjusted diluted earnings per share in 2025 and beyond.

Positive Outlook

  • Continued solid sales growth driven by value pricing and new business gains.
  • Attractive organic operating income margin expansion.
  • Robust increases in gross margin.
  • Good underlying productivity improvement.
  • Stable macroeconomic demand.

Challenges Ahead

  • Growth-oriented investments in the business to fuel Ecolab’s long-term performance.
  • Unfavorable $0.08 per share impact in the second half of 2024 from the sale of the global surgical solutions business.
  • Favorability from lower raw material costs has progressively eased through the third quarter of 2024.
  • Raw material costs are anticipated to be stable to slightly higher in the fourth quarter of 2024.
  • Quantifiable special charges in the fourth quarter of 2024 to be approximately $0.13 per share, principally related to restructuring charges.

Revenue & Expenses

Visualization of income flow from segment revenue to net income