Ecolab is a provider of water, hygiene, and energy technology and services. The company delivers comprehensive solutions to promote safe food, maintain clean environments, optimize water and energy use, and improve operational efficiency for customers in the food, healthcare, energy, hospitality, and industrial sectors. Ecolab has over 48,000 employees worldwide. The shares are a component of the S&P 500.

Throughout 2024, the stock market has remained in a solid uptrend that has lifted most styles and sizes. With three trading days remaining in October, the S&P 500 was up 22.1% year to date on a capital-appreciation basis. The Nasdaq, which lagged the broad market index for most of the year, is now ahead with a 23.7% gain. And the blue-chip DJIA is up 12.5%, with its deep lag attributable mainly to struggling component stocks including Boeing, Intel, and Nike While the S&P 500's rise across 2024 has been punctuated by some selling jags, the index mainly has been in climbing mode. The S&P's trading year 2024 started with a run from the 4,740s level on January 1 to around 5,250 by the end of March. After a down April, the index climbed from the 5,020s on 5/1/24 to the 5,670s by mid-July. The index made a low in the 5,180s early in August and a higher low around 5,400 early in September. The index mainly has risen since then, hitting its all-time closing high in the 5,860s on 10/18/24. The index has remained above its 50-day simple moving average (SMA) for nearly the entire year; and dips below that trendline have been remarkably short. The index first broke its 50-day SMA on 4/12/24 but was back above the intermediate-term trendline about three weeks later on 5/3/24. The next breach in the 50-day SMA occurred in the 5,520s on 7/31/24 and lasted two weeks until 8/14/24. The lower high from mid-August could not hold, and the 50-day again failed at the higher low from early September. In this case, the 50-day breach lasted less than a week, from 9/4/24 to 9/10/24. Even with some mid-October churn, the S&P 500 currently has a 140-point cushion over its 50-day SMA.

Ecolab produces and markets cleaning and sanitation products for the industrial manufacturing, 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 solutions across its end markets. The company has a strong hold on the US market and is growing its presence abroad.

Ecolab produces and markets cleaning and sanitation products for the industrial manufacturing, 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 solutions across its end markets. The company has a strong hold on the US market and is growing its presence abroad.