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Dec 31, 2021

Ecolab Q4 2021 Earnings Report

Ecolab's fourth quarter results reflected strong sales growth, driven by accelerated pricing and further robust new business wins, partially offset by increased COVID-related effects and delivered product cost inflation.

Key Takeaways

Ecolab reported a 10% increase in sales from continuing operations and an adjusted EPS of $1.28, a 4% increase versus last year, driven by pricing and volume growth, and lower pension and interest expense, offset by higher delivered product costs.

Strong fourth quarter sales growth was partially offset by increased COVID-related effects and a near doubling of delivered product cost inflation and supply constraints compared to the third quarter.

Reported sales from continuing operations increased by 10% versus last year, with acquisition adjusted fixed currency sales up by 9%.

Reported diluted EPS from continuing operations was $1.04, flat versus last year.

Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations, excluding special gains and charges, discrete tax items and the impact of the Purolite transaction, was $1.28, a 4% increase versus last year.

Total Revenue
$3.37B
Previous year: $3.07B
+9.8%
EPS
$1.28
Previous year: $1.23
+4.1%
Gross Profit
$1.32B
Previous year: $1.29B
+2.8%
Cash and Equivalents
$360M
Previous year: $1.26B
-71.4%
Free Cash Flow
$422M
Previous year: $523M
-19.4%
Total Assets
$21.2B
Previous year: $18.1B
+17.0%

Ecolab

Ecolab

Ecolab Revenue by Segment

Forward Guidance

Ecolab anticipates continued strong sales gains with adjusted diluted earnings per share growth reaching low-teens levels for the full year 2022, assuming inflation and supply constraints ease as the year progresses.

Positive Outlook

  • Strong business momentum
  • Very healthy sales growth
  • Robust new business wins
  • New innovation
  • Increased pricing

Challenges Ahead

  • COVID impacts to remain significant during the first half of the year
  • Inflation to remain high before it progressively eases during the second half of the year
  • Cost impacts to remain especially strong in the first quarter of 2022, even slightly higher than those experienced in the fourth quarter
  • First quarter to show a flattish year-over-year earnings per share comparison
  • Continued high raw material and freight costs

Revenue & Expenses

Visualization of income flow from segment revenue to net income