Bill Gates just dumped $200 million of this stock

Core Viewpoint - Bill Gates has sold approximately $200 million worth of Ecolab (ECL) stock, raising questions about the company's long-term prospects despite still holding a significant stake [2][4][6]. Group 1: Investment Actions - The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust holds positions in 23 stocks, with a concentrated portfolio where Microsoft, Berkshire Hathaway, Waste Management, and Canadian National Railway account for 84% of the holdings [2]. - Gates sold 796,813 shares of Ecolab between October 31 and November 4, with prices ranging from $243.14 to $249.86, totaling approximately $193,625,559 [4]. - Despite the sale, Gates retains 30,388,741 shares of Ecolab, indicating a continued significant investment in the company [5]. Group 2: Ecolab's Financial Performance - Ecolab's Q3 2024 earnings report showed an EPS of $1.83, slightly above analyst estimates of $1.82, but revenue fell short at $3.99 billion compared to forecasts of $4.03 billion [4]. - The company raised its full-year EPS guidance from a range of $6.50 – $6.70 to $6.60 – $6.70 [4]. Group 3: Market Sentiment and Analyst Ratings - Ecolab's stock has seen a year-to-date price increase of 23.36%, although it has decreased by 4.78% over the past week [2]. - Wall Street analysts remain optimistic, with Ecolab rated as a consensus 'Buy' and an average price target of $278.68, representing a potential upside of 13.98% [7]. - The range of one-year price forecasts from 19 analysts for Ecolab includes a maximum estimate of $310.00 and a minimum of $235.00 [9].