Ecolab's (NYSE:ECL) Earnings Are Weaker Than They Seem

Investors were disappointed with Ecolab Inc.'s (NYSE:ECL) earnings, despite the strong profit numbers. We think that the market might be paying attention to some underlying factors that they find to be concerning.

Check out our latest analysis for Ecolab

How Do Unusual Items Influence Profit?

For anyone who wants to understand Ecolab's profit beyond the statutory numbers, it's important to note that during the last twelve months statutory profit gained from US$255m worth of unusual items. While it's always nice to have higher profit, a large contribution from unusual items sometimes dampens our enthusiasm. When we analysed the vast majority of listed companies worldwide, we found that significant unusual items are often not repeated. And that's as you'd expect, given these boosts are described as 'unusual'. Assuming those unusual items don't show up again in the current year, we'd thus expect profit to be weaker next year (in the absence of business growth, that is).

That might leave you wondering what analysts are forecasting in terms of future profitability. Luckily, you can click here to see an interactive graph depicting future profitability, based on their estimates.

Our Take On Ecolab's Profit Performance

Arguably, Ecolab's statutory earnings have been distorted by unusual items boosting profit. Because of this, we think that it may be that Ecolab's statutory profits are better than its underlying earnings power. But the good news is that its EPS growth over the last three years has been very impressive. Of course, we've only just scratched the surface when it comes to analysing its earnings; one could also consider margins, forecast growth, and return on investment, among other factors. With this in mind, we wouldn't consider investing in a stock unless we had a thorough understanding of the risks. At Simply Wall St, we found 1 warning sign for Ecolab and we think they deserve your attention.

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of Ecolab's profit. But there is always more to discover if you are capable of focussing your mind on minutiae. Some people consider a high return on equity to be a good sign of a quality business. While it might take a little research on your behalf, you may find this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks with significant insider holdings to be useful.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.