Ecolab declares 2022 dividend increase (+3.9%)

On December 8, 2022, water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services provider Ecolab (trading symbol ECL) declared a 3.9% dividend hike to $0.53 quarterly per share. This marks 37 consecutive years of dividend growth for the Dividend Aristocrat. Ecolab has paid cash dividends on its common stock for 86 consecutive years.

In a busy week with multiple Dividend Aristocrats announcing their 2022 dividend increase, Ecolab also joined the party as expected with a new 3.9 percent dividend hike ot $0.53 quarterly per share. For Ecolab this comes after a bigger 6.3 percent dividend hike in 2021. Dividend growth had slowed significantly since 2018 when Ecolab last announced a double digit dividend hike (see table below).

The board of directors of Ecolab Inc. has declared a 3.9% increase in the company’s quarterly cash dividend to $0.53 per common share, to be paid January 17, 2023, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 20, 2022. This increase results in a new indicated annual cash dividend of $2.12 per share in 2023 and represents Ecolab’s 31st consecutive annual dividend rate increase.

ECOLAB DIVIDEND HISTORY (ANNUAL INCREASE)

• 2022: 3.9% dividend hike
• 2021: 6.3% dividend hike
• 2020: 2.1% dividend hike
• 2019: 2.2% dividend hike
• 2018: 12.2% dividend hike
• 2017: 10.8% dividend hike

Commenting on the increase, Christophe Beck, Ecolab’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said, “The increased cash dividend reflects Ecolab’s strong financial position, cash flow and business momentum in 2022 and supports our objective of returning to historical dividend payout ratio levels. We remain confident in our long-term outlook and robust growth opportunities. Our value proposition – helping customers deliver the best outcomes at the lowest total cost by reducing water, waste and energy usage – is more essential than ever.”

Another Dividend Aristocrat just announcing a dividend increase is ABM Industries.

Ecolab Inc. provides water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services. Ecolab's segments include Global Industrial, Global Institutional & Specialty and Global Healthcare & Life Sciences. Its Global Industrial segment consists of the Water, Food and Beverage, Downstream and Paper operating segments. Ecolab is a Dividend Aristocrats with more than 25 consecutive years of increased dividends.