Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) investors should pay attention to a decrease in enthusiasm from smart money recently.
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With all of this in mind, let’s take a glance at the key action surrounding Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL).
What does the smart money think about Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL)?
At the end of the fourth quarter, a total of 22 of the hedge funds we track were bullish in this stock, a change of -8% from the third quarter. With the smart money’s capital changing hands, there exists a select group of noteworthy hedge fund managers who were upping their stakes considerably.
Of the funds we track, Boykin Curry’s Eagle Capital Management had the most valuable position in Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL), worth close to $673 million, accounting for 4.8% of its total 13F portfolio. On Eagle Capital Management’s heels is Michael Larson of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust, with a $314 million position; 2.6% of its 13F portfolio is allocated to the company. Some other hedge funds that hold long positions include Jason Capello’s Merchants’ Gate Capital, William von Mueffling’s Cantillon Capital Management and David Gallo’s Valinor Management LLC.
Due to the fact that Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) has witnessed a declination in interest from hedge fund managers, it’s easy to see that there were a few hedgies that decided to sell off their entire stakes in Q4. Intriguingly, Clint Carlson’s Carlson Capital said goodbye to the largest position of the “upper crust” of funds we watch, comprising an estimated $40 million in stock., and John Burbank of Passport Capital was right behind this move, as the fund cut about $30 million worth. These bearish behaviors are interesting, as aggregate hedge fund interest dropped by 2 funds in Q4.
Insider trading activity in Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL)
Insider trading activity, especially when it’s bullish, is particularly usable when the primary stock in question has experienced transactions within the past 180 days. Over the latest half-year time frame, Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) has seen zero unique insiders purchasing, and 4 insider sales (see the details of insider trades here).
With the returns demonstrated by Insider Monkey’s tactics, everyday investors must always monitor hedge fund and insider trading activity, and Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) is no exception.
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