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ST. PAUL, Minn. - Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) announced Wednesday the appointment of Julie P. Whalen to its board of directors as an independent director. Whalen will also serve on the board’s Audit and Finance Committees. The appointment comes as Ecolab, currently trading near its 52-week high with a market capitalization of $76.2 billion, maintains a "GREAT" financial health rating according to InvestingPro analysis.
Whalen, 54, most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Expedia Group, Inc. from 2022 until her retirement earlier this year. Prior to Expedia, she held the CFO position at Williams-Sonoma, Inc. from 2012 to 2022, having joined the company in 2001.
The new board member also served as a director of Expedia Group from 2019 to 2024, including as Chair of its Audit Committee. Whalen is a Certified Public Accountant and holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine University.
"Her deep expertise managing complex financial organizations and driving profitability in the retail, technology and hospitality sectors will strengthen how we address changing global markets," said Christophe Beck, Ecolab chairman and chief executive officer, in a press release statement.
Dave MacLennan, lead independent director for Ecolab’s board, noted that Whalen would "strengthen our finance and audit capabilities, while further reinforcing our strategic planning and governance."
Ecolab, which provides water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions, reported revenue of $15.7 billion in the last twelve months and employs approximately 48,000 associates across more than 170 countries. The company maintains a moderate debt level while delivering a return on equity of 24% and operating with a gross profit margin of 44%.
In other recent news, Ecolab Inc. reported its second-quarter 2025 earnings, showing an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.89, which was slightly below the expected $1.90. The company’s revenue for the quarter matched expectations at $4.02 billion, reflecting strong sales performance. Despite the solid revenue, the earnings per share miss led to a negative reaction in post-market trading. Analyst firms have been adjusting their outlooks for Ecolab, with Mizuho raising its price target to $314, citing a steady growth outlook. On the other hand, BMO Capital lowered its price target to $307, noting that pricing was less robust than investors had hoped. Stifel maintained its Buy rating with a $303 price target, emphasizing Ecolab’s margin improvements. Additionally, Baird upgraded the stock to Outperform, increasing its price target to $300 based on expectations of strong margin improvement and accelerating price-driven top-line performance. These developments highlight a mix of optimism and caution among analysts regarding Ecolab’s financial trajectory.
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