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Can Global Industrial Unit Drive Ecolab's (ECL) Q1 Earnings?
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Ecolab Inc. (ECL - Free Report) is scheduled to report first-quarter 2020 results on Apr 28, before the opening bell. The company’s core Global Industrial unit is likelyto have contributed significantly in the quarter despite foreign exchange headwinds.
Ecolab reported a negative earnings surprise of 1.2% in the last reported quarter, with the trailing four-quarter negative surprise being 0.02%, on average.
Q1 Estimate Picture
For the to-be-reported quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $3.51 billion, suggesting an improvement of 0.1% from the year-ago quarter. The same for adjusted earnings per share (EPS) is at $1.07, indicating an increase of 3.9%.
Let’s delve deeper.
Global Industrial Likely to Drive Q1
The Global Industrial segment is likely to have gained from the Water, Food & Beverage and Life Sciences sub-units in the first quarter.
Ecolab’s subsidiary Nalco Water opened a customer experience center at its production plant. Notably, through this initiative, the company aims to demonstrate how its technologies can reduce water use and optimize costs. Nalco Water’s LegionGuard LG25 is also likely to have contributed to the segment’s first-quarter revenues.
Under its Food & Beverage sub-unit, the company launched Eco-Flex Teat Dip, an udder care solution to prevent infection among dairy cows, reduce cost of maintaining animal health and ensure quality milk. This is likely to have bolstered the Food & Beverage business in the first quarter.
Solid growth prospects in the food retail segment banking on net new business gains are expected to get reflected in the results for the quarter to be reported.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the segment’s first-quarter earnings is pegged at $1.32 billion, suggesting a year-over-year increase of 2.3%.
Other Factors at Work
The company’s Global Institutional unit is expected to have seen a solid quarter.
The consensus estimate for first-quarter revenues is pinned at $1.23 billion, indicating a rise of 1.7% from the year-ago quarter.
Prudent acquisitions are expected to have been a key factor. Management is particularly optimistic about the Gallay Medical & Scientific takeover, which is expected to have continued boosting Ecolab’s healthcare and acute care portfolio in the to-be-reported quarter. Strong sales within Healthcare Europe are likely to have driven growth as well.
Ecolab’s enhanced healthcare offerings include the next generation of open basin fluid warming systems viz. the CoreTemp Fluid Management System, which is expected to have boosted the Healthcare business.
The company expects first-quarter adjusted EPS within $1.05 to $1.13, suggesting an improvement of 2% to 10% from the year-ago quarter.
However, the company expects an unfavorable impact of 5 cents per share from the coronavirus outbreak on first-quarter earnings.
Earnings Whispers
Per our proven model, a stock needs to have a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) to deliver a positive earnings surprise. This is not the case here as you will see below.
Earnings ESP: Ecolab has an Earnings ESP of -1.40%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: It carries a Zacks Rank #3.
Stocks Worth a Look
Here are a few medical stocks worth considering as they have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this time around.
Aphria Inc. has an Earnings ESP of +35.71% and a Zacks Rank #2.
DexCom, Inc. (DXCM - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +143.90% and a Zacks Rank of 2.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
Image: Bigstock
Can Global Industrial Unit Drive Ecolab's (ECL) Q1 Earnings?
Ecolab Inc. (ECL - Free Report) is scheduled to report first-quarter 2020 results on Apr 28, before the opening bell. The company’s core Global Industrial unit is likelyto have contributed significantly in the quarter despite foreign exchange headwinds.
Ecolab reported a negative earnings surprise of 1.2% in the last reported quarter, with the trailing four-quarter negative surprise being 0.02%, on average.
Q1 Estimate Picture
For the to-be-reported quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $3.51 billion, suggesting an improvement of 0.1% from the year-ago quarter. The same for adjusted earnings per share (EPS) is at $1.07, indicating an increase of 3.9%.
Let’s delve deeper.
Global Industrial Likely to Drive Q1
The Global Industrial segment is likely to have gained from the Water, Food & Beverage and Life Sciences sub-units in the first quarter.
Ecolab’s subsidiary Nalco Water opened a customer experience center at its production plant. Notably, through this initiative, the company aims to demonstrate how its technologies can reduce water use and optimize costs. Nalco Water’s LegionGuard LG25 is also likely to have contributed to the segment’s first-quarter revenues.
Under its Food & Beverage sub-unit, the company launched Eco-Flex Teat Dip, an udder care solution to prevent infection among dairy cows, reduce cost of maintaining animal health and ensure quality milk. This is likely to have bolstered the Food & Beverage business in the first quarter.
Ecolab Inc. Price and EPS Surprise
Ecolab Inc. price-eps-surprise | Ecolab Inc. Quote
Solid growth prospects in the food retail segment banking on net new business gains are expected to get reflected in the results for the quarter to be reported.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the segment’s first-quarter earnings is pegged at $1.32 billion, suggesting a year-over-year increase of 2.3%.
Other Factors at Work
The company’s Global Institutional unit is expected to have seen a solid quarter.
The consensus estimate for first-quarter revenues is pinned at $1.23 billion, indicating a rise of 1.7% from the year-ago quarter.
Prudent acquisitions are expected to have been a key factor. Management is particularly optimistic about the Gallay Medical & Scientific takeover, which is expected to have continued boosting Ecolab’s healthcare and acute care portfolio in the to-be-reported quarter. Strong sales within Healthcare Europe are likely to have driven growth as well.
Ecolab’s enhanced healthcare offerings include the next generation of open basin fluid warming systems viz. the CoreTemp Fluid Management System, which is expected to have boosted the Healthcare business.
The company expects first-quarter adjusted EPS within $1.05 to $1.13, suggesting an improvement of 2% to 10% from the year-ago quarter.
However, the company expects an unfavorable impact of 5 cents per share from the coronavirus outbreak on first-quarter earnings.
Earnings Whispers
Per our proven model, a stock needs to have a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) to deliver a positive earnings surprise. This is not the case here as you will see below.
Earnings ESP: Ecolab has an Earnings ESP of -1.40%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: It carries a Zacks Rank #3.
Stocks Worth a Look
Here are a few medical stocks worth considering as they have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this time around.
Chemed Corporation (CHE - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.42% and a Zacks Rank of 2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Aphria Inc. has an Earnings ESP of +35.71% and a Zacks Rank #2.
DexCom, Inc. (DXCM - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +143.90% and a Zacks Rank of 2.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
See 8 breakthrough stocks now>>