EcolabFRA:ECJ -0.64%82 Pretax Margin % is 13.73% as of Mar. 2026, which is 9% above its 10-year median of 12.64. GuruFocus rates FRA:ECJ with a GF Score™ of 82/100 and a GF Value™ of €232.78 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 1 warning sign investors should review. Among 1,580 Chemicals companies, Ecolab ranks better than 83.35% on this metric.
Pre-Tax margin is calculated as Pre-Tax Income divided by its Revenue. Ecolab's Pre-Tax Income for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was €483 Mil. Ecolab's Revenue for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was €3,517 Mil. Therefore, Ecolab's pretax margin for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 13.73%.
The historical rank and industry rank for Ecolab's Pretax Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
FRA:ECJ'
s Pretax Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 9.47 Med: 12.64 Max: 16.33
Current: 15.78
FRA:ECJ's Pretax Margin % is ranked better than 83.35% of 1580
companies
in the Chemicals industry
Industry Median: 5.325
vs FRA:ECJ: 15.78
Ecolab (FRA:ECJ) Pretax Margin % Explanation
The pretax margin, as know as pretax profit margin, is widely used to measure the operating efficiency of a company before deducting taxes.
The pretax margin is sometimes preferred over the net margin as tax expenditures can make profitability comparisons between companies misleading.
It is a useful tool to compare companies operating in the same sector and less effective when comparing companies from other sectors as each industry generally has different operating expenses and sales patterns.
The long term trend of the pretax margin is a good indicator of the competitiveness and health of the business.
Ecolab Pretax Margin % Related Terms
Ecolab Pretax Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Ecolab's Pretax Margin % 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.
FRA:ECJ vs SHW, APD, PPG: Pretax Margin % Comparison
For the Specialty Chemicals subindustry, Ecolab's Pretax Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Pretax Margin % 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 Pretax Margin % vs Chemicals Industry
For the Chemicals industry and Basic Materials sector, Ecolab's Pretax Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Ecolab's Pretax Margin % falls into.
* 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 (FRA:ECJ) has a Pretax Margin % of 13.73% as of Mar. 2026. Pre-Tax margin is the ratio of total pre-tax income to net sales. View historical data on Ecolab and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 12.64. Over the past decade, Ecolab's Pretax Margin % has ranged from 9.47 to 16.33. According to the industry distribution chart, Ecolab ranks #263 out of 1580 companies in the Chemicals industry, placing it in the top 16.6%.
Is Ecolab's Pretax Margin % too high?
Ecolab's current Pretax Margin % of 13.73% is near median its 10-year median of 12.64. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 9.47 to a high of 16.33. The Chemicals industry median Pretax Margin % is 5.33. Ecolab's value of 13.73% is 157.8% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Ecolab ranks #263 out of 1580 companies in the Chemicals industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Ecolab has a GF Score™ of 82/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Ecolab's Pretax Margin % compare to SHW and APD?
According to the Chemicals industry distribution chart, Ecolab ranks #263 out of 1580 companies for Pretax Margin %. This places Ecolab in the top 17% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Pretax Margin % is 5.33. Ecolab's value of 13.73% is 157.8% above this benchmark. Historically, Ecolab's own Pretax Margin % has ranged from 9.47 to 16.33 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 12.64 vs. the industry median of 5.33, Ecolab has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Pretax Margin % for a Chemicals company?
The median Pretax Margin % among Chemicals companies is 5.33, based on 1,580 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Pretax Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Pretax Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Ecolab's current Pretax Margin % of 13.73% is 157.8% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Pretax Margin % mean?
A high Pretax Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Pre-Tax margin is the ratio of total pre-tax income to net sales. View historical data on Ecolab and its competitors. For the Chemicals industry, the median Pretax Margin % is 5.33 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Ecolab's current Pretax Margin % is 13.73%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 12.64. 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 (FRA:ECJ) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is €232.78, compared to a current price of €247.20 — trading 6.2% above its estimated fair value. The current Pretax Margin % is 13.73%, which is near median its 10-year median of 12.64 and 157.8% above the Chemicals industry median of 5.33. Ecolab's overall GF Score™ is 82/100 with 1 warning sign to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Pretax Margin % calculated?
Pretax Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Ecolab (FRA:ECJ), the current Pretax Margin % is 13.73% as of Mar. 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 (FRA:ECJ) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Ecolab stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of €247.20 is trading 6.2% above its estimated GF Value™ of €232.78.
GuruFocus considers Ecolab to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for FRA:ECJ:
Pretax Margin %: 13.73% (near median its 10-year median of 12.64)
GF Value™: €232.78 vs. price of €247.20 (6.2% above fair value)
Industry Position: 157.8% above the Chemicals median (#263 of 1580)
No single metric tells the full story. See the FRA:ECJ stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
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.
82GF Score
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