Sustainable Growth Advisers 13F: Adds $67M to Ecolab (ECL) Stake

Sustainable Growth Advisers expanded its investment in Ecolab Inc. NYSE: ECL, boosting its stake by 24.1% according to a Form 13F institutional holdings report filed with the SEC on October 15, 2026. Institutional 13F filings are backward-looking reports published quarterly that show what professional money managers owned at the end of the previous period, meaning this snapshot might not reflect their exact current holdings today.

What Changed in Sustainable Growth Advisers's Ecolab Position

The firm added 245,263 shares during the period, bringing its total ownership to 1,173,054 shares. That increase brought the total value of the holdings to $322,097,167, up from its previous count of 927,791 shares. Because these figures come from regulatory filings submitted after the quarter closed, they capture portfolio adjustments made months prior.

Other Institutional Activity in Ecolab

Other large institutional investors also adjusted their positions in Ecolab around the same reporting window. Blackrock Inc. grew its holdings by 244,038 shares, ending with 23,051,363 shares worth about $6,659,308,594. Vanguard Capital Management LLC grew its holdings by 14,870 shares, ending with 16,537,270 shares worth about $4,777,452,172. JPMORGAN CHASE & CO grew its holdings by 2,957,480 shares, ending with 14,619,468 shares worth about $4,223,418,324. State Street Corporation grew its holdings by 547,684 shares, ending with 11,770,714 shares worth about $3,400,441,739. Morgan Stanley grew its holdings by 36,616 shares, ending with 7,827,291 shares worth about $2,261,226,211.

Ecolab Inc. Stock Up 0.6%

Ecolab shares recently traded around $292.61 as of October 16, 2026. The stock sits 4.6% above its 50-day moving average of $279.63 and 6.5% above its 200-day moving average of $274.69. The shares are down 5.4% from their 52-week high of $309.27 and up 20.3% from their 52-week low of $243.15.

Recent Earnings

Ecolab generated trailing-twelve-month revenue of $16,842,500,096 with basic earnings per share of $7.45. The company posted a net profit margin of 12.6% and a return on equity of 22.0%, alongside year-over-year revenue growth of 9.7%. Investors are awaiting the company's next earnings report, scheduled for October 27, 2026.

Dividend

Ecolab pays an annual dividend of $2.92 per share, translating to a dividend yield of 1.0%. The company's payout ratio stands at 38.1% of earnings.

Insider Buying and Selling at Ecolab Inc.

Company insiders also made trades in the months leading up to the filing. Chief Financial Officer Scott D. Kirkland sold 3,357 shares on July 30, 2026, at an average price of $276.96 for a total value of $929,755. Officer Gregory B Cook sold 4,567 shares on August 11, 2026, at an average price of $285.13 for a total value of $1,302,300. Chief Executive Officer Christophe Beck sold 17,862 shares on August 18, 2026, at an average price of $280.14 for a total value of $5,003,825. Director Eric Mark Green bought 3,690 shares on September 11, 2026, with a total value of $1,020,798.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Wall Street firms have updated their outlooks on Ecolab in recent months. On July 29, 2026, Mizuho maintained its Outperform rating and raised its price target to $327.00 from $325.00. On July 29, 2026, BMO Capital maintained its Outperform rating and raised its price target to $360.00 from $345.00. On July 29, 2026, JP Morgan maintained its Overweight rating and raised its price target to $305.00 from $295.00. On July 30, 2026, Wells Fargo maintained its Equal-Weight rating and raised its price target to $295.00 from $275.00. On October 5, 2026, UBS maintained its Buy rating and raised its price target to $344.00 from $342.00. Across the street, analysts carry a consensus Buy recommendation with a mean price target of $325.05 based on 21 opinions.

About Ecolab Inc.

Headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Ecolab provides water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services to customers in the United States and globally. The firm operates across four main divisions serving global water needs, institutional and specialty markets, pest elimination, and life sciences. Institutional interest remains strong as the company delivers stable services across its core sectors.

Bottom Line

Sustainable Growth Advisers holds a notable position in Ecolab as the company approaches its upcoming earnings release on October 27, 2026. Investors will monitor future SEC filings to see whether institutional buyers continue adding to their positions.