Buyback yield (TTM)
1.14%
Shareholder yield (TTM)
2.17%
5Y share count change
-0.6%
Buyback spend (TTM)
$854M
Cumulative buybacks
$9.85B
Key takeaways
- Ecolab (ECL) repurchased about $854M of stock over the trailing twelve months.
- Diluted share count is roughly flat (-0.6%) over the last ~5 fiscal years — buybacks are offsetting dilution but not shrinking the float.
- TTM buyback ÷ stock-based-comp ratio of 6.34× — repurchases more than cover SBC dilution.
- Cash buyback spend has compounded at +39.9% per year over the latest 5-year window.
- TTM repurchases used about 78% of free cash flow remaining after dividends.
Dividend & buyback yield over time for Ecolab (ECL)
Stacked annual yields — buyback yield (TTM cash repurchases ÷ market cap) plus dividend yield from the same fiscal-year-end key-metrics period — show how total cash return per dollar of equity has evolved.
Diluted vs basic shares (annual) for Ecolab (ECL)
Diluted weighted-average shares are the EPS denominator — a falling count means buybacks are outpacing SBC dilution.
Year-over-year change in diluted shares for Ecolab (ECL)
Green is fewer shares vs the prior fiscal year (net repurchase); red is growth (dilution). The earliest year shown has no prior year to compare.
Cash buyback spend over time for Ecolab (ECL)
Latest: $784M
Overview
As of the 2025 fiscal year, Ecolab (ECL) reported buyback spend of $784M – declined 20.5% year-over-year.
Through 2020–2025 (5 years), Ecolab buyback spend delivered a +39.9% annualised rate; with mixed annual results across the window.
Ecolab buyback spend declined from $987M in 2024 to $784M in 2025, a 20.5% drawdown.
The highest annual buyback spend of $987M was reported in 2024. The lowest in the available history was $500K in 1992.
Ecolab Buyback Spend 2025: $784M
2025's buyback spend for Ecolab came in at $784M, declined 20.5% below 2024.
Ecolab Buyback Spend 2024: $987M
Ecolab posted buyback spend of $987M in 2024, surged 7100.7% from 2023. This figure represents the highest annual value in the available history.
Ecolab Buyback Spend 2023: $13.7M
In 2023, Ecolab reported buyback spend of $13.7M, plunged 97.4% below 2022.
Ecolab Buyback Spend 2022: $518M
Ecolab buyback spend in 2022 was $518M, surged 386.1% from 2021.
Ecolab Buyback Spend 2021: $107M
Ecolab buyback spend in 2021 was $107M.
See more financial history for Ecolab (ECL).
Buyback, SBC & dilution history
Buyback spend, SBC, net dilution effect, and share count.
| 2025 | $784M | $137M | $647M | 1.06% | 285M | -0.5% | |
| 2024 | $987M | $135M | $852M | 1.47% | 287M | +0.0% | |
| 2023 | $13.7M | $95.1M | -$81.4M | 0.02% | 287M | -0.0% | |
| 2022 | $518M | $87.8M | $430M | 1.25% | 287M | -0.9% | |
| 2021 | $107M | $89.5M | $17.1M | 0.16% | 289M | +0.7% | |
| 2020 | $146M | $82.1M | $64.1M | 0.24% | 287M | -1.9% | |
| 2019 | $354M | $84M | $270M | 0.64% | 293M | -0.1% | |
| 2018 | $562M | $94.4M | $468M | 1.33% | 293M | -0.4% | |
| 2017 | $600M | $90.5M | $510M | 1.55% | 294M | -0.9% | |
| 2016 | $740M | $85.7M | $654M | 2.16% | 297M | -1.6% | |
| 2015 | $755M | $78.2M | $677M | 2.23% | 301M | -1.5% | |
| 2014 | $429M | $71.1M | $358M | 1.37% | 306M | 0.0% | |
| 2013 | $308M | $69.6M | $238M | 0.98% | 306M | +2.3% | |
| 2012 | $210M | $65.8M | $144M | 0.99% | 299M | +23.5% | |
| 2011 | $690M | $39.9M | $650M | 4.09% | 242M | +1.9% | |
| 2010 | $349M | $29.2M | $320M | 2.98% | 238M | -1.0% | |
| 2009 | $68.8M | $37.3M | $31.5M | 0.66% | 240M | -3.8% | |
| 2008 | $337M | $0.00 | $337M | 4.06% | 249M | -1.0% | |
| 2007 | $371M | $0.00 | $371M | 2.94% | 252M | -2.1% | |
| 2006 | $283M | $0.00 | $283M | 2.51% | 257M | -1.2% | |
| 2005 | $213M | $0.00 | $213M | 2.32% | 260M | -0.1% | |
| 2004 | $165M | $0.00 | $165M | 1.84% | 260M | -0.9% | |
| 2003 | $227M | $0.00 | $227M | 3.23% | 263M | +0.4% | |
| 2002 | $8.89M | $0.00 | $8.89M | 0.14% | 262M | +0.7% | |
| 2001 | $32.2M | $0.00 | $32.2M | 0.63% | 260M | -1.5% | |
| 2000 | $187M | $0.00 | $187M | — | 264M | -1.8% | |
| 1999 | $42.4M | $0.00 | $42.4M | — | 269M | +0.3% | |
| 1998 | $53M | $0.00 | $53M | — | 268M | +0.2% | |
| 1997 | $60.8M | $0.00 | $60.8M | — | 268M | -0.1% | |
| 1996 | $22.8M | $0.00 | $22.8M | — | 268M | — | |
| 1995 | $90.4M | $0.00 | $90.4M | — | — | — | |
| 1994 | $7.9M | $0.00 | $7.9M | — | — | — | |
| 1993 | $9.3M | $0.00 | $9.3M | — | — | — | |
| 1992 | $500K | $0.00 | $500K | — | — | — | |
| 1991 | $2.4M | $0.00 | $2.4M | — | — | — | |
| 1990 | $104M | $0.00 | $104M | — | — | — | |
| 1989 | $11.5M | $0.00 | $11.5M | — | — | — |
- 2025$784M
- 2024$987M
- 2023$13.7M
- 2022$518M
- 2021$107M
- 2020$146M
- 2019$354M
- 2018$562M
- 2017$600M
- 2016$740M
- 2015$755M
- 2014$429M
- 2013$308M
- 2012$210M
- 2011$690M
- 2010$349M
- 2009$68.8M
- 2008$337M
- 2007$371M
- 2006$283M
- 2005$213M
- 2004$165M
- 2003$227M
- 2002$8.89M
- 2001$32.2M
- 2000$187M
- 1999$42.4M
- 1998$53M
- 1997$60.8M
- 1996$22.8M
- 1995$90.4M
- 1994$7.9M
- 1993$9.3M
- 1992$500K
- 1991$2.4M
- 1990$104M
- 1989$11.5M
Buybacks vs stock-based compensation for Ecolab (ECL)
Annual cash repurchases set against stock-based compensation. Coverage above 1× means buybacks fully offset the equity dilution from SBC. TTM coverage: 6.34×.
Buybacks vs dividends (share of cash returned) for Ecolab (ECL)
How Ecolab splits cash returned to shareholders between dividends and buybacks.
Sector peers by buyback spend
Companies in the same sector as Ecolab, ranked by their latest buyback spend.
| $5.99B | |
| $4.6B | |
| $2.3B | |
| $1.66B | |
| $1.18B | |
| $683M | |
| $107M | |
| $0.00 |
- $5.99B
- $4.6B
- $2.3B
- $1.66B
- $1.18B
Buyback capacity (TTM)
Free cash flow minus dividends paid versus actual TTM repurchases — the headroom bar shows how much of post-dividend FCF is still being deployed elsewhere.
Headroom $1.09B (TTM FCF − TTM dividends, clamped at zero).
Frequently asked questions
Data & methodology
Explore more
Deep-dives across the income statement, cash flow, capital return, and valuation
- Buybacks1.14% TTM
- Dividend Profile1.00% yield
- Dividend Calculator
- Dividend Forecast
- Dividend Capture
- Stock Split History4 splits
How this company returns cash to shareholders — buybacks, dividends, and stock splits.