Ecolab organic growth speeds up to 7% as adjusted EPS rises to $2.18

Ecolab said its third quarter "marked an inflection point" as organic sales growth sped up to 7% and adjusted operating income rose 14%, and the water, hygiene and infection-prevention company set its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook at $8.10 to $8.20.

Adjusted diluted earnings rose 5% to $2.18 per share, a figure that includes an approximately 10% headwind from amortization and financing costs tied to the CoolIT acquisition, according to the earnings release attached to its 8-K on Tuesday. Reported diluted EPS was $1.95, down from $2.05.

Net sales rose 13% to $4.695 billion. Pricing accelerated to 5% and volume growth improved to 2% despite what the company called "ongoing Middle East disruptions."

Growth engines

Global High-Tech posted 63% organic sales growth and Life Sciences grew 17% organically. Ovivo Electronics and CoolIT are expected to add about 2 percentage points to Ecolab's annual organic sales growth one year after closing, the company said. In its core businesses, Food & Beverage and Light Water accelerated, while Heavy Water and Paper returned to solid growth.

Chairman, President and CEO Christophe Beck said the company "leveraged total value delivered to mitigate higher commodity costs," which allowed organic gross margin to stabilize. Adjusted gross margin fell 70 basis points because of acquisitions.

The organic operating income margin widened 70 basis points to 19.6%, and organic operating income growth accelerated to 11%. Reported operating income rose 7% to $810.5 million.

Outlook

Ecolab expects 2026 adjusted diluted EPS of $8.10 to $8.20, up 8% to 9%, and fourth-quarter adjusted EPS of $2.13 to $2.23, up 2% to 7%. The outlook reflects short-term CoolIT acquisition costs, the company said.

By the numbers

• Q3 net sales: $4.695 billion, up 13%
• Organic sales growth: 7%
• Adjusted EPS: $2.18, up 5%
• Global High-Tech organic growth: 63%
• 2026 adjusted EPS outlook: $8.10 to $8.20

Sources

1. ECOLAB INC., Form 8-K with third quarter 2026 earnings release, filed Oct. 27, 2026 (accession 0001628280-26-067418)

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