10 Best Stocks to Buy According to Bill Gates

7. Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL)

Stake Value as of Q4 2024: $1,222,692,070

Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) is a global leader in water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services. The company’s 48,000 associates support millions of customers in more than 170 countries around the world.

Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) posted strong results in Q4 2025 with sales of $4 billion, up 1.7% YoY and beating market expectations by almost $19.5 million. The company topped estimates with an adjusted EPS of $1.81, led by robust organic growth and improved margins. Ecolab’s largest Global Industrial segment, which provides water treatment and cleaning products and services to large industrial customers, saw a 10.8% rise in operating income to $374.6 million. The company generated a record free cash flow of $1.8 billion in FY 2024 and its balance sheet was further bolstered by the divestment of its global surgical solutions business in a deal worth $950 million. Ecolab repurchased $1 billion worth of shares in 2024 and declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.65 this month.

The phenomenal rise of AI technologies is prompting data centers to rethink their cooling strategies, leading to a shift from air-cooled to liquid-cooled servers, creating a significant opportunity for Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL). The company’s global high-tech business operates in the data center and microelectronics industries, with sales reaching over $300 million and much room for growth in the coming years.