ECL · 10-Q · 2026Q3 · Full report

Operating Cash Flow Trends

ECOLAB INC. · 2026-10-29 · Importance 49 · Surprise 32 · From source text

Cash provided by operating activities increased 4.1% to $1,939.1 million in the first nine months of 2026 from $1,862.5 million in 2025. Accounts receivable used $457.1 million of cash, compared with $150.3 million in the prior-year period, and inventory used $199.0 million versus $37.6 million. Accounts payable provided $297.2 million, compared with a $47.8 million use of cash in 2025. Cash and cash equivalents ended September 30, 2026 at $722.3 million, up $76.1 million from the beginning of the period.

Key facts

• Ecolab used $5,621.1 million in investing activities in the first nine months of 2026, compared with $729.0 million in the same period of 2025. source
• Ecolab generated $1,939.1 million of operating cash flow in the first nine months of 2026, compared with $1,862.5 million in the first nine months of 2025. source
• Ecolab's first-nine-months 2026 operating cash flow included a $457.1 million use of cash from accounts receivable and a $199.0 million use from inventories. source
• Ecolab's cash provided by operating activities was $1,939.1 million in the first nine months of 2026 versus $1,862.5 million in 2025, an increase of $76.6 million. source
• Ecolab's operating cash flow increased by $77 million in the first nine months of 2026, primarily due to higher net income excluding noncash depreciation, amortization and deferred taxes, partly offset by $200 million in one-time incentive payments to CoolIT Systems and Ovivo Electronics employees. source

Impact estimates