Strong Earnings Growth: Ecolab reported a 13% year-over-year increase in earnings for Q2 2025, reinforcing its commitment to delivering 12% to 15% adjusted earnings per share (EPS) growth for the second half of the year and into 2026. This optimism is supported by solid operational performance across its diversified business portfolio, excluding challenges in paper and basic industries.

Sales and Pricing Trends: Organic sales growth reached 3%, primarily driven by value pricing, which grew to 2% in Q2. The company anticipates a further increase in pricing to approximately 3% in Q3 and Q4, facilitated by a newly implemented trade surcharge in the U.S. that is expected to enhance margins.

Challenges in Specific Segments: The Institutional & Specialty and Global Water segments showed resilience, with growth hampered by strategic exits from noncore low-margin businesses, which negatively impacted growth by 1-2 percentage points. Additionally, the paper and basic industries segments, contributing to only 15% of sales, lagged behind with slower growth rates.