Ecolab (NYSE: ECL) reported Q1 EPS of $0.81, in-line with the analyst estimate of $0.81. Revenue for the quarter came in at $2.89 billion versus the consensus estimate of $2.88 billion.

Business Outlook

The continued uncertain outlook regarding the timing and pace of global economic recovery from COVID-19’s impact does not yet present an adequate basis for us to provide either quarterly or annual earnings forecasts.

We expect continued recovery in the full year 2021. Healthcare & Life Sciences segment sales are expected to moderately improve over the prior year’s very strong gain, with good year-on-year sales growth from our Industrial and Other segments. We look for our Institutional & Specialty segment to show a significant year-on-year increase for the full year as it progressively recovers toward its pre-COVID peak 2019 levels.

We look for significant growth in the second quarter, primarily driven by strong year-on-year growth in our Institutional division as new business as well as improving trends in early-reopening U.S. states and continued U.S. vaccination progress more than offset a softer Europe and emerging market recovery. We expect robust consolidated gains in the second half, and continue to look for strong year-on-year growth for the full year 2021 with earnings per share above 2019 earnings per share from continuing operations excluding the estimated $0.15 per share impact of the Texas freeze.

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Ecolab (ECL) click here.