Dividend Kings and Aristocrats List: 10 Biggest Stocks

In this article, we will take a look at the Dividend Kings and Aristocrats List: 10 Biggest Stocks. For deeper discussion and analysis, have a look at the Dividend Kings and Aristocrats List: 32 Biggest Stocks. 

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10. Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL)

Market Cap as of March 24: $74.9 Billion

On March 24, Baird analyst Andrew Wittmann lowered the firm’s price recommendation on Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) to $296 from $320. It reiterated an Outperform rating on the shares.

That same day, JPMorgan upgraded Ecolab to Overweight from Neutral and left its price target unchanged at $295. The firm pointed to valuation as the main reason for the upgrade, noting that the stock has fallen about 15% since February 27 amid rising tensions in the Middle East. The analyst also said paint companies tend to be more sensitive to interest rates and have greater exposure to raw material costs compared to Ecolab. JPMorgan added that materials companies are “positively sensitive” to easing tensions in the Middle East, as that would likely reduce raw material inflation and limit the impact on economic growth.

Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) provides water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services. Its Global Industrial segment focuses on water treatment, process applications, and cleaning and sanitizing solutions for large industrial customers across a range of industries.