10 Safe Stocks to Buy for the Long Term in 2026

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6. Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 60

On May 27, UBS upgraded Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) to Buy from Neutral. It also raised its price target on the stock to $325 from $293. The firm said it expects the shares to re-rate higher as investors see Ecolab’s pricing accelerate in the second half of 2026 to offset raw material costs.UBS also believes the company could gain market share in consumer markets through its “OneECL” initiatives. In a research note, the analyst said Ecolab’s growing exposure to high-tech and faster-growing industries may help increase its annual volume growth to 4%, compared to its historical range of 1% to 2%.

On May 20, Jefferies lowered its price recommendation on ECL to $345 from $352. It reiterated a Buy rating on the shares. The firm said Ecolab highlighted its “Circle-the-Customer” model during a well-attended presentation at the NRA show. According to the analyst, the model focuses on delivering enterprise-wide outcomes by combining chemistry, equipment, and digital insights to create long-term efficiency gains and stronger pricing power. Jefferies is projecting a 5.1% sales CAGR and an 11.5% EPS CAGR through 2028.

Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) provides water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services designed to protect people and resources essential to life.

While we acknowledge the potential of ECL as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ECL and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Safe Stocks to Buy for the Long Term in 2026

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