Ecolab (WBO:ECL) Beneish M-Score: -2.43 (As of Jun. 26, 2026)


WBO:ECL Ecolab Inc WBO:ECL
81 GF Score
Price €247.90
GF Value €235.47
Valuation Fairly Valued
! 1 Warning Sign
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What is Ecolab Beneish M-Score?

Ecolab WBO:ECL +0.65% 81 Beneish M-Score is -2.43 as of Jun. 26, 2026. GuruFocus rates WBO:ECL with a GF Score™ of 81/100 and a GF Value™ of €235.47 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 1 warning sign investors should review. Among 1,530 Chemicals companies, Ecolab ranks worse than 56.67% on this metric.

The zones of discrimination for M-Score is as such:

An M-Score of equal or less than -1.78 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.
An M-Score of greater than -1.78 signals that the company is likely to be a manipulator.

Good Sign:

Beneish M-Score -2.43 no higher than -1.78, which implies that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.

The historical rank and industry rank for Ecolab's Beneish M-Score or its related term are showing as below:

WBO:ECL' s Beneish M-Score Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -3.51   Med: -2.6   Max: -2.39
Current: -2.43

During the past 13 years, the highest Beneish M-Score of Ecolab was -2.39. The lowest was -3.51. And the median was -2.60.


Ecolab Beneish M-Score Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for Ecolab's Beneish M-Score can be seen below:

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

Ecolab Beneish M-Score Chart

Ecolab Annual Data
Trend Dec16 Dec17 Dec18 Dec19 Dec20 Dec21 Dec22 Dec23 Dec24 Dec25
Beneish M-Score
Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only -2.53 -2.52 -2.67 -2.72 -2.44

Ecolab Quarterly Data
Jun21 Sep21 Dec21 Mar22 Jun22 Sep22 Dec22 Mar23 Jun23 Sep23 Dec23 Mar24 Jun24 Sep24 Dec24 Mar25 Jun25 Sep25 Dec25 Mar26
Beneish M-Score Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only -2.64 -2.59 -2.51 -2.44 -2.43

WBO:ECL vs SHW, APD, PPG: Beneish M-Score Comparison

For the Specialty Chemicals subindustry, Ecolab's Beneish M-Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Beneish M-Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.


Ecolab Beneish M-Score vs Chemicals Industry

For the Chemicals industry and Basic Materials sector, Ecolab's Beneish M-Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Ecolab's Beneish M-Score falls into.


WBO:ECL
81GF Score
Ecolab Inc WBO:ECL
Beneish M-Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis

Ecolab Beneish M-Score Calculation

The M-score was created by Professor Messod Beneish. Instead of measuring the bankruptcy risk (Altman Z-Score) or business trend (Piotroski F-Score), M-score can be used to detect the risk of earnings manipulation. This is the original research paper on M-score.

The M-Score Variables:

The M-score of Ecolab for today is based on a combination of the following eight different indices:

M=-4.84+0.92 * DSRI+0.528 * GMI+0.404 * AQI+0.892 * SGI+0.115 * DEPI
=-4.84+0.92 * 1.1575+0.528 * 0.9865+0.404 * 1.0502+0.892 * 0.9719+0.115 * 1.0634
-0.172 * SGAI+4.679 * TATA-0.327 * LVGI
-0.172 * 0.9783+4.679 * -0.031564-0.327 * 0.9968
=-2.48

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

This Year (Mar26) TTM:Last Year (Mar25) TTM:
Total Receivables was €3,145 Mil.
Revenue was 3517.176 + 3583.384 + 3548.58 + 3489.848 = €14,139 Mil.
Gross Profit was 1531.742 + 1577.85 + 1589.491 + 1562.681 = €6,262 Mil.
Total Current Assets was €5,227 Mil.
Total Assets was €21,660 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was €4,474 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was €862 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was €3,705 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was €5,273 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was €6,510 Mil.
Net Income was 374.199 + 481.571 + 498.42 + 454.481 = €1,809 Mil.
Non Operating Income was -32.524 + -52.948 + -11.417 + -10.057 = €-107 Mil.
Cash Flow from Operations was 385.703 + 930.945 + 674.188 + 608.461 = €2,599 Mil.
Total Receivables was €2,796 Mil.
Revenue was 3417.875 + 3824.966 + 3602.649 + 3702.808 = €14,548 Mil.
Gross Profit was 1512.19 + 1657.976 + 1565.037 + 1620.919 = €6,356 Mil.
Total Current Assets was €5,625 Mil.
Total Assets was €20,689 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was €4,187 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was €869 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was €3,897 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was €4,264 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was €7,027 Mil.




1. DSRI = Days Sales in Receivables Index

Measured as the ratio of Revenue in Total Receivables in year t to year t-1.

A large increase in DSR could be indicative of revenue inflation.

DSRI=(Receivables_t / Revenue_t) / (Receivables_t-1 / Revenue_t-1)
=(3144.967 / 14138.988) / (2795.627 / 14548.298)
=0.222432 / 0.192162
=1.1575

2. GMI = Gross Margin Index

Measured as the ratio of gross margin in year t-1 to gross margin in year t.

Gross margin has deteriorated when this index is above 1. A firm with poorer prospects is more likely to manipulate earnings.

GMI=GrossMargin_t-1 / GrossMargin_t
=(GrossProfit_t-1 / Revenue_t-1) / (GrossProfit_t / Revenue_t)
=(6356.122 / 14548.298) / (6261.764 / 14138.988)
=0.436898 / 0.442872
=0.9865

3. AQI = Asset Quality Index

AQI is the ratio of asset quality in year t to year t-1.

Asset quality is measured as the ratio of non-current assets other than Property, Plant and Equipment to Total Assets.

AQI=(1 - (CurrentAssets_t + PPE_t) / TotalAssets_t) / (1 - (CurrentAssets_t-1 + PPE_t-1) / TotalAssets_t-1)
=(1 - (5226.935 + 4474.039) / 21660.119) / (1 - (5625.017 + 4187.012) / 20688.92)
=0.552127 / 0.525735
=1.0502

4. SGI = Sales Growth Index

Ratio of Revenue in year t to sales in year t-1.

Sales growth is not itself a measure of manipulation. However, growth companies are likely to find themselves under pressure to manipulate in order to keep up appearances.

SGI=Sales_t / Sales_t-1
=Revenue_t / Revenue_t-1
=14138.988 / 14548.298
=0.9719

5. DEPI = Depreciation Index

Measured as the ratio of the rate of Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization in year t-1 to the corresponding rate in year t.

DEPI greater than 1 indicates that assets are being depreciated at a slower rate. This suggests that the firm might be revising useful asset life assumptions upwards, or adopting a new method that is income friendly.

DEPI=(Depreciation_t-1 / (Depreciaton_t-1 + PPE_t-1)) / (Depreciation_t / (Depreciaton_t + PPE_t))
=(868.93 / (868.93 + 4187.012)) / (862.454 / (862.454 + 4474.039))
=0.171863 / 0.161614
=1.0634

Note: If the Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization data is not available, we assume that the depreciation rate is constant and set the Depreciation Index to 1.

6. SGAI = Sales, General and Administrative expenses Index

The ratio of Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) to Sales in year t relative to year t-1.

SGA expenses index > 1 means that the company is becoming less efficient in generate sales.

SGAI=(SGA_t / Sales_t) / (SGA_t-1 /Sales_t-1)
=(3704.844 / 14138.988) / (3896.67 / 14548.298)
=0.26203 / 0.267844
=0.9783

7. LVGI = Leverage Index

The ratio of total debt to Total Assets in year t relative to yeat t-1.

An LVGI > 1 indicates an increase in leverage

LVGI=((LTD_t + CurrentLiabilities_t) / TotalAssets_t) / ((LTD_t-1 + CurrentLiabilities_t-1) / TotalAssets_t-1)
=((6509.99 + 5272.78) / 21660.119) / ((7026.67 + 4263.51) / 20688.92)
=0.543985 / 0.545711
=0.9968

8. TATA = Total Accruals to Total Assets

Total accruals calculated as the change in working capital accounts other than cash less depreciation.

TATA=(IncomefromContinuingOperations_t - CashFlowsfromOperations_t) / TotalAssets_t
=(NetIncome_t - NonOperatingIncome_t - CashFlowsfromOperations_t) / TotalAssets_t
=(1808.671 - -106.946 - 2599.297) / 21660.119
=-0.031564

An M-Score of equal or less than -1.78 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator. An M-Score of greater than -1.78 signals that the company is likely to be a manipulator.

Ecolab has a M-score of -2.48 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.

Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Beneish M-Score →
What does a Beneish M-Score of -2.43 mean?
Ecolab (WBO:ECL) has a Beneish M-Score of -2.43 as of Jun. 26, 2026. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on Ecolab and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Ecolab ranks #867 out of 1530 companies in the Chemicals industry, placing it in the top 56.7%.
Is Ecolab's Beneish M-Score too high?
Ecolab's current Beneish M-Score is -2.43. Based on the distribution chart, Ecolab ranks #867 out of 1530 companies in the Chemicals industry, which is below the industry midpoint. Overall, Ecolab has a GF Score™ of 81/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Ecolab's Beneish M-Score compare to SHW and APD?
According to the Chemicals industry distribution chart, Ecolab ranks #867 out of 1530 companies for Beneish M-Score. This places Ecolab in the lower half of its industry. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Beneish M-Score for a Chemicals company?
A good Beneish M-Score depends on the Chemicals industry context. However, Beneish M-Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Beneish M-Score mean?
A high Beneish M-Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on Ecolab and its competitors. Ecolab's current Beneish M-Score is -2.43. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Ecolab stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Ecolab (WBO:ECL) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is €235.47, compared to a current price of €247.90 — trading 5.3% above its estimated fair value. The current Beneish M-Score is -2.43. Ecolab's overall GF Score™ is 81/100 with 1 warning sign to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Beneish M-Score calculated?
Beneish M-Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Ecolab (WBO:ECL), the current Beneish M-Score is -2.43 as of Jun. 26, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Ecolab (WBO:ECL) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Ecolab stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of €247.90 is trading 5.3% above its estimated GF Value™ of €235.47. GuruFocus considers Ecolab to be Fairly Valued.

Key valuation signals for WBO:ECL:

  • Beneish M-Score: -2.43
  • GF Value™: €235.47 vs. price of €247.90 (5.3% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 81/100 with 1 warning sign

No single metric tells the full story. See the WBO:ECL stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


Ecolab Business Description

Address 1 Ecolab Place, Saint Paul, MN, USA, 55102
Ecolab produces and markets cleaning and sanitation products for the industrial manufacturing, data center, hospitality, healthcare, and life sciences markets. The firm is the global market share leader in this category with a wide array of products and services, including dish and laundry washing systems, pest control, and infection control products. Additionally, Ecolab sells customized water management and cooling solutions across its end markets. The company has a strong hold on the US market and is growing its presence abroad.
81GF Score

Get the complete analysis for WBO:ECL

Beneish M-Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

€247.90
Price
€235.47
GF Value