Which water stock do you find most interesting in the long term? 💧

$XYL (+2,89%) Xylem or $ECL (+2,37%) Ecolab in terms of growth and technology, or would you prefer American Water Works as a more defensive long-term investment? 🤔

$ECL (+2,37%)

Water technology company Ecolab raised its full-year earnings forecast on Tuesday after reporting an 11 percent increase in adjusted earnings for the second quarter, driven by higher prices, productivity gains, and growth in its high-tech and life sciences segments.

Companies that offer water treatment, cooling, and cleaning systems aim to capitalize on the rapid expansion of data centers focused on artificial intelligence, which require sophisticated cooling and water management technologies.

The company raised its full-year 2026 adjusted diluted earnings per share guidance to $8.05 to $8.25, up from its previous range of $8.03 to $8.23 per share.

For the third quarter, the company forecasts adjusted diluted earnings of between $2.13 and $2.23 per share, compared with $2.07 per share in the prior-year period.

Ecolab explained that operational disruptions at customers due to the conflict in the Middle East, as well as higher raw material costs, weighed on the quarter. However, prices rose by 4 percent, aided by the early implementation of an energy surcharge.

The company expects prices to rise by a total of 5 to 6 percent in the second half of 2026 once the surcharge takes full effect.

Ecolab reported that organic revenue in its “Global High-Tech” business segment rose 29 percent during the quarter, driven by demand from customers in the microelectronics and data center sectors.

The company recently completed the acquisition of liquid cooling provider CoolIT Systems, thereby expanding its presence in the AI infrastructure sector.

CoolIT’s revenue rose by more than 100 percent in the first half of the year prior to the acquisition.

The St. Paul, Minnesota-based company reported adjusted diluted earnings of $2.09 per share for the three months ended June 30, while analysts had expected an average of $2.08 per share, according to LSEG data.

Hello my dears,

so that you have something to read and analyze for Easter. There's another one for you in the evening:

EASTER special

If this unnecessary war is about the destruction of important infrastructure that ensures the survival of humans and animals. It is certainly not a pleasant and enjoyable topic.

The Pope has taken a stand on this war today and has found clear words.

I hope that these words have reached the right people.

But as investors, we are of course also concerned about this issue. From the perspective of who are the specialists here and who can rebuild this important infrastructure.

Ladies and gentlemen, let's discuss this in the comments. I'm looking forward to it.

Is a war over water looming in the Middle East?

Attacks on water facilities are rather rare in wars, but they have dramatic consequences. In Bahrain and Iran, authorities recently reported an attack on a desalination plant - such facilities are vital for millions of people in the Middle East. Water economist Esther Crauser-Delbourg warns of a war "far more devastating than the current one" in the event of targeted attacks on water.

What is the significance of desalination plants?

The Middle East is one of the driest regions in the world and is therefore dependent on desalination for water production. According to a study published in the journal Nature, 42 percent of the world's desalination capacity is located in the region. In the United Arab Emirates, 42 percent of drinking water comes from such plants, in Kuwait it is 90 percent, in Oman 86 percent and in Saudi Arabia 70 percent, according to a study by the French research institute Ifri. "Without desalinated water there is nothing",

Desalination plants play an important role in Kuwait's drinking water supply. An Iranian attack has now severely damaged two power plants with such facilities.

05.04.2026

Wichtige Kraftwerke getroffen: Schwere Schäden in Kuwait durch iranischen Angriff - ntv.de

On Sunday, an Iranian drone hits a seawater desalination plant in Bahrain. Millions of people in the Gulf States depend on such facilities. An escalation of the attacks would have devastating consequences.

10.03.2026

Entsalzungsanlagen im Visier: Droht im Nahen Osten ein Krieg um Wasser? - ntv.de

🌍 What happens if desalination plants in the Middle East are damaged?

Destruction of such plants leads to:

• Acute water shortage
• Need for emergency supplies
• Need for reconstruction
• Need for engineering expertise
• Need for spare parts, membranes, pumps, control technology

🧩 Industries that are typically in greater demand in such situations

1️⃣ Engineering & consulting companies

They are needed for damage analysis, reconstruction planning and environmental assessments.

Examples (neutral, without rating):

• Tetra Tech
• AECOM
• WSP Global

These companies supply planningnot construction.

2️⃣ EPC companies (Engineering, Procurement, Construction)

They are contracted for repair and reconstruction.

Typical players in the Middle East:

• Doosan Enerbility
• Hitachi Zosen
• Acciona
• Metito (not listed)
• Veolia / Suez (for operation & modernization)

3️⃣ Manufacturer of membranes, pumps, control technology

When RO systems are damaged, components need to be replaced.

Typical global suppliers:

• DuPont Water Solutions (membranes)
• Toray Industries (membranes)
• Xylem (pumps, sensors)
• Grundfos (pumps)
• ABB / Siemens (control technology)

🌊 Listed companies with a focus on planning

1.🔹 Tetra Tech - (Ticker TTEK) $TTEK (+5,18%) (@Simpson )

• Leading consulting and engineering company focusing on water, environment, infrastructure and high-end engineering.
• Asset-light business model: provides planning, analyses, environmental assessments, digital water solutions - but does not build plants itself.
• Strong in the area of "Digital Water": data analysis, monitoring, SCADA systems, optimization of water infrastructure.
• Active worldwide, including projects in the Middle East (feasibility studies, environmental assessments, technical consulting).
• High margins for the industry (EBITDA ~10-12%) and stable demand from long-term infrastructure and government projects.
• Role in desalination market: enabler/consultant - supports planning & optimization, but not EPC contractor or operator.

Year Earnings p share Earnings growth

2025 0,80

2026 1,33 +65,59 %

2027 1,47 +12,01 %

2028 1,58 +6,09 %

Year P/E ratio PEG

2025 36,08 +0,55

2026 20,11 +1,91

2027 18,20 +2,54

2028 16,98 +1,83

Year Dividend Yield

2025 0,21 0,72 %

2026 0,22 0,82 %

2027 0,26 0,97 %

2028 0,29 1,09 %

(in euros)

2.🏗️ AECOM - (Ticker ACM) $ACM (+2,84%)

• One of the largest engineering and infrastructure consulting firms in the world, focusing on large-scale projects in water, transportation, energy and environment.
• Strong in water infrastructure, including planning, optimization and modernization of desalination plants, waterworks and distribution networks.
• Not an EPC contractor but, like Tetra Tech, a high-end engineering and consulting player (feasibility studies, design, project management).
• Very active in the Middle East, especially in government and mega projects in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar (water, energy, smart cities).
• Asset-light business model with stable, recurring revenues from long-term infrastructure and government contracts.
• Market positioning: One of the top 3 global engineering service providers, often leading the planning & management of large water and desalination projects.

Year Earnings p share Earnings growth

2025 3,63

2026 4,61 +34,68 %

2027 5,65 +14,88 %

2028 6,11 +8,66 %

Year P/E ratio PEG

2025 22,64 +0,84

2026 15,84 +0,71

2027 12,94 +1,59

2028 11,97

Year Dividend Yield

2025 0,66 0,80 %

2026 0,74 1,01 %

2027 0,83 1,13 %

2028 1,23 1,68 %

(in euros)

🌐 WSP Global - (Ticker WSP) $WSP (+5,43%)

• One of the largest engineering and consulting service providers worldwide, with a focus on infrastructure, environment, water, energy and urban development.
• Very strong in water & desalination, especially in planning, optimization, hydraulic modelling and technical studies for large scale plants.
• Not an EPC contractor but, like AECOM and Tetra Tech, a high-end engineering and consulting player with a focus on design, project management and technical expertise.
• Active worldwide, including the GCC region (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar), where WSP is frequently involved in mega projects - from water infrastructure to smart city systems.
• Asset-light business model with stable, recurring revenues from government and infrastructure projects; margins typically solid for the industry.
• Market positioning: One of the top 3 global engineering groups, often leading complex water and environmental projects, including desalination.

Year Earnings p share Earnings growth

2024 3,36 22,45 %

2025 4,59 +36,67 %

2026 5,34 +17,26 %

2027 7,08 +34,76 %

Year P/E ratio PEG

2024 48,84 +1,28

2025 33,67 +2,05

2026 25,57 +0,79

2028 19,30

Year Dividend Yield

2024 0,93 0,59 %

2025 0,93 0,60 %

2026 0,93 0,68 %

2027 0,93 0,68 %

(in euros)

🌊 Listed companies with a focus on repair and reconstruction

1.💧 Acciona - (Ticker ANA) $ANA (-2,04%)

• Spanish infrastructure and energy group, one of the world's leading providers of water, desalination and sustainable infrastructure.
• Strong EPC player: Acciona plans, builds and operates large seawater desalination plants (RO technology) - in contrast to Tetra Tech, which primarily provides consulting services.
• Very active in the Middle East, especially in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar; involved in several of the largest RO plants in the region.
• Technology focus on energy-efficient RO systems, often combined with renewables (solar + RO).
• Solid margins and stable demand as water infrastructure is growing strongly worldwide; business model less volatile than traditional EPC groups.
• Market positioning: One of the top 3 global RO desalination providers, with a strong track record in mega projects.

Year Earnings p share Earnings growth

2025 14,74 +90,44 %

2026 8,99 -39,06 %

2027 9,53 +7,23 %

2028 9,83 +2,82 %

Year P/E ratio PEG

2025 12,61 -0,32

2026 25,77 +4,24

2027 24,30 +7,77

2028 23,56 +8,58

Year Dividend Yield

2025 5,54 2,98 %

2026 5,63 2,43 %

2027 5,91 2,55 %

2028 5,93 2,56 %

(in euros)

🌊 Listed companies with a focus on seawater desalination

🔹 1. Veolia Environnement (Euronext: VIE / OTC: VEOVY) $VIE (-0,27%)

• Global leader in water, waste and energy services
• Very active in the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, UAE)
• Major projects in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Qatar
• Operates and builds large RO desalination plants

Year Earnings p share Earnings growth

2025 1,71 +17,93 %

2026 2,33 +43,37 %

2027 2,50 +9,24 %

2028 2,77 +11,92 %

Year P/E ratio PEG

2025 17,38 +0,48

2026 14,38 +1,88

2027 13,36 +1,24

2028 12,06 +0,72

Year Dividend Yield

2025 1,50 5,05 %

2026 1,62 4,83 %

2027 1,77 5,29 %

2028 1,92 5,72 %

(in euros) ⬆️ @Dividendenopi

2. ecolab (NYSE: ECL) $ECL (+2,37%)

• Provider of water treatment technologies, incl. membrane and desalination solutions

Strong in the industrial sector, increasingly also in the Middle East

Year Earnings p share Earnings growth

2025 6,28 -1,22 %

2026 7,06 +15,33 %

2027 8,26 +14,96 %

2028 9,39 +12,41 %

Year P/E ratio PEG

2025 36,06 +2,90

2026 32,29 +1,90

2027 27,59 +2,03

2028 24,29

Year Dividend Yield

2025 2,31 1,02 %

2026 2,51 1,10 %

2027 2,72 1,19 %

2028 3,02 1,32 %

(in euros)

🔹 3. Consolidated Water Co. Ltd (NASDAQ: CWCO) $CWCO (+2,5%)

• Specializes in seawater desalination
• Operates plants in the Caribbean, but is expanding into regions with water shortages
• - Small but growing - increasingly active in regions with water stress
• - Potential beneficiary of GCC outsourcing

Year Earnings per share P/E ratio

2025 1,14 30,85

2026 1,05 32,37

2027 1,54 22,07

🔹 4. American Water Works (NYSE: AWK) $AWK (+6,17%)

• Largest listed water utility in the USA
• Active in desalination technologies, including for coastal regions

Year Earnings per share Earnings growth

2025 4,91 +5,57 %

2026 5,27 +7,12 %

2027 5,69 +7,79 %

2028 6,17 +8,22 %

Year P/E ratio PEG

2025 22,93 +3,17

2026 22,64 +2,79

2027 20,94 +2,52

2028 19,33 +2,05

Year Dividend Yield

2025 2,86 2,54 %

2026 3,04 2,55 %

2027 3,28 2,75 %

2028 3,53 2,96 %

(in euros)

🔹 5. Hitachi Zosen Corp (TSE: 7004)

• Japanese plant manufacturer
• Builds large desalination plants, e.g. in the Middle East
• Long-standing partner in Saudi Arabia & UAE

🔹 6. Suez (formerly EPA: SEV - now part of Veolia, but still active)

• Strong in membrane and thermal desalination plants
• Large projects in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE

7. ACWA Power (Tadawul: 2082) - Saudi Arabia

• One of the most important companies in the Middle East for desalination
• Operates the gigantic RO plants, among others Rabigh, Shuaibah, Jubail
• Focus: water + energy + PPP models
• Very strong regional player

ACWA Power Co. is included in 78 ETFs.

3% weighting in Franklin FTSE Saudi Arabia UCITS ETF (FLXS) $FLXS (-2,32%)

8. Doosan Enerbility (KRX: 034020)

• South Korean large-scale plant manufacturer
• Leader in MSF/MED plants
• Projects in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE

Doosan Enerbility Co, Ltd. is included in 141 ETFs.

4.98% weighting in UBS Nuclear Economies UCITS ETF USD acc

(BCFW) $IE0009TPHUV6 (-3,76%)

🏆 Summary for investors

• ACWA Power = the GCC champion (direct exposure to Saudi megaprojects).
• Veolia = global water blue chip with stable cash flows.
• Doosan & Hitachi Zosen = EPC exposure, benefits from large projects.
• Xylem = technology supplier, less cyclical.
• CWCO = small-cap growth, but volatile.

🌍 Why the Middle East in particular?

• Region holds over 50 % of the global desalination market
• Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar are investing heavily in large-scale RO plants

Dear all, thank you for reading.

Dear Community,

As this is my first post here, I am looking forward to your feedback and whether it offers any added value for you. If you wish, I will also add fundamental figures in the future.

Back then, some time ago, I invested directly in the Vanguard FTSE All World
$VWRL (-1,18%) and - more specifically - in the iShares Global Water $IH2O (+1,7%) bought in. My train of thought was simple: nothing works without water, humans are made up of around 60% of it (depending on age) and the raw material is becoming increasingly scarce or has to be reprocessed for us.

In the meantime, I have learned a lot from you and I am no longer sure whether I would invest in an entire sector ETF again today. But: I can't let go of the topic of water. I even claim that water companies are the secret winners of the AI boom. Why? Because data centers, (small) reactors and the massive hunger for energy (keyword: cooling) would be completely lost without a perfect water infrastructure.

That's why I took a closer look at a few companies that caught my eye during my research (almost exclusively via aktien.guide):

The "hardware" faction

• Xylem Inc. $XYL (+2,89%)
  : These guys and gals are basically the top dogs / top cows when it comes to pumps and sensors. They do everything from wastewater technology to digital monitoring. Opportunity: The global backlog of pipeline renovations plays right into their hands. Risk: When the economy weakens, less is built - Xylem notices this immediately.

• Pentair PLC $PNR (+5,24%)
  : Particularly exciting for me because of the data centers. They manufacture highly efficient industrial pumps and heat exchangers. As the trend is moving away from air cooling towards liquid cooling, Pentair is right at the source here.

Specialists & suppliers

• Ecolab $ECL (+2,37%)
  : They probably work directly with Google and Microsoft, among others. The aim here is to chemically treat the water in the data centers so that less is consumed. A classic "sustainability play".

• American Water Works $AWK (+6,17%)
  : This is the largest US utility. Many US data centers are simply connected to the public grid. More data traffic = more cooling demand = more revenue for the utility. Sounds boring, but it's an extremely stable cash flow as long as regulation plays along.

• Veralto $VLTO WI (+3,68%)
  : A spin-off from Danaher. They focus on water quality. This is particularly critical for the planned mini-reactors (SMRs) - if the cooling water becomes corrosive, you have a real problem.

The "planners" and niche players

• Stantec Inc. $STN (+4,07%)
  : Not a hardware builder, but the architects behind it. When Big Tech plans a new center, Stantec provides the concepts for water, waste water, disposal and generally an environmentally friendly harmony. No excavator moves without their approval expertise.

• Georg Fischer AG (GF) $GF (-1,87%)
  : A "hidden champion". The Swiss make specialized piping systems from plastic and metal. In data centers and especially in reactors, nothing must leak, GF supplies the appropriate, durable systems.

• Roper Technologies $ROP (+9,89%)
  & A.O. Smith $AOS (+4,9%)
  : Roper is more of a software conglomerate for digital control (Smart Water), while A.O. Smith - originally known for heaters - is increasingly moving into industrial temperature control.

A look at the scales: opportunities vs. risks

Of course, all that glitters is not gold - not even with "water stocks". If you look at the players above, you also have to read between the lines:

Why the whole thing could - continue to - fly (opportunities):

• The "moat" (moat): Many of these companies have extremely deep specialized knowledge. Once a company like Ecolab is deeply involved in the processes of a Google data center, you don't just change them. That makes for sticky sales.

• Regulation as a tailwind: environmental regulations are becoming stricter worldwide. Companies have to invest in order to retain their water certificates. For Veralto or Xylem, this is like a built-in guarantee of growth.

• SMR hype: If the small modular reactors really do come on such a scale, they will need massively precise cooling technology. Specialists such as A.O. Smith or Georg Fischer are at the forefront, because standard solutions would simply be too unsafe.

Where it could hurt (risks):

• Capital intensity & interest rates: building water infrastructure is expensive. If interest rates remain high, companies suffer because they constantly have to take out loans for new pipes and plants.

• Politics & bureaucracy: Politics often determine how much prices can be increased, especially for utilities. A new government (or a stricter regulatory authority) can quickly eat into your margins.

• Economic dependency: Even though we always need water, new investments aren cyclical. If the construction industry weakens, Pentair or Georg Fischer sell fewer pipes and pumps for new projects.

• Valuation risk: Because everyone is currently discovering the topic of "AI infrastructure", many of these shares (such as Roper) are no longer a bargain. You often pay a considerable premium for the hope of the future.

My conclusion: Water is often the "forgotten wheel" on the AI wagon. Everyone often only looks at companies such as Nvidia or the energy suppliers, but the physical limit for the scaling (!) of data centers is often simply water. In dry regions such as Arizona, the recycling concept determines whether a site is approved at all. So here you are investing in the foundation of digitalization.

What do you think, shovel manufacturers?

Preview: If you don't tear me and my first post to shreds here, I'll next take a look at companies that deal with the disposal of uranium waste and contaminated water (reactors and SMRs). Also a pretty "dirty" but possibly lucrative business.

Best regards and thanks again for the great community ✌🏼

Anderlé

$ECL (+2,37%)

Ecolab has increased its cash dividend for the 34th consecutive year.

https://investor.ecolab.com/news/news-details/2025/Ecolab-Increases-Cash-Dividend-12/default.aspx

This is according to a December 4, 2025 press release announcing a 12% increase in the quarterly cash dividend.

They are thus keeping their promise to start the dividend turbo.

Last year, they increased the dividend by 14%.

$META (-11,37%)

Hello folks,

AI is not just a pipe dream, AI is a reality.

And the DeepSeek narrative from a year ago has also disappeared.

I hope you are well invested in the shovel manufacturers who are building the infrastructure for the big 7. And supply them with electricity.

Meta secures nuclear power for data centers

$CEG (-5,97%)
$VST (-10,1%)

https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/energie/meta-atomstrom-100.html

$TLNE

Talen Energy - Power producer signs long-term contract with Amazon Web Services.

https://aktienmagazin.de/blog/analystenempfehlungen/talen-energy-stromproduzent-schliest-langfristigen-vertrag-mit-amazon--152080.html

$EQT (+1,28%)

EQT becomes energy supplier of the next AI era - Pennsylvania relies on gas instead of wind or solar.

$GEV (-10,93%)

GE Vernova is supplying seven @Simpson Homer City with seven high-performance turbines, while Kiewit Power is responsible for construction. This infrastructure lays the foundation for Pennsylvania to serve as a reliable supply location for hyperscalers and AI providers.

https://aktienmagazin.de/nachrichten/hot-news/eqt-wird-energielieferant-der-nachsten-ki-ara-pennsylvania-setzt-auf-g-149150.html

HOCHTIEF subsidiary builds mega data center for Meta in the USA

$HOT (-4,9%)

https://www.hochtief.de/aktuelles-medien/pressemitteilungen/pressemitteilung/hochtief-tochter-baut-in-den-usa-mega-rechenzentrum-fuer-meta

data centers

$NVDA (-4,41%)

NVIDIA Corp ('US67066G1040')

A dominant player: Hardly any AI data center runs without Nvidia

$TLNE

Talen Energy Corp ('US87422Q1094')

Talen Energy - Power producer signs long-term contract with Amazon Web Services.

$APLD (-10,92%)

Applied Digital Corp ('US0381692070')

Applied Digital: AI data centers as growth driver

$LITE (-12,38%)

Lumentum Holdings Inc ('US55024U1097')

Lumentum Holdings is a beneficiary of demand for data center infrastructure

$BTDR (-10,36%)

Bitdeer Technologies Group ('KYG114481008')

Bitdeer grows rapidly: hashrate doubled, but losses still rise significantly

$ALAB (-11,39%)

Astera Labs Inc ('US04626A1034')

Astera Labs goes from insider tip to profit rocket! The AI connectivity star conquers billion-dollar markets!

$IFX (-6,56%)

Infineon Technologies AG ('DE0006231004')

Infineon convinces with green technology in a difficult environment

$TTR1 (+0,81%)

technotrans SE ('DE000A0XYGA7')

Technotrans: Ice cold back on the road to success

$HOT (-4,9%)

Hochtief AG ('DE0006070006')

Hochtief - Infrastructure investments worth billions are growth drivers.

$FLEX (-10,75%)

Flex Ltd ('SG9999000020')

Flex: Contract manufacturer with power - Data center boom drives share to new heights.

$ORCL (-3,21%)

Oracle Corp ('US68389X1054')

DEPOT BRIEFING: Meta Platforms (META;i) to build giga data center. Investments in AI infrastructure remain high.

$PRIM (-7,74%)

Primoris Services Corp ('US74164F1030')

DEPOT BRIEFING: Meta Platforms (META;i) to build giga data center. Investments in AI infrastructure remain high.

$VST (-10,1%)

Vistra Energy Corp ('US92840M1027')

DEPOT BRIEFING: Meta Platforms (META;i) to build giga data center. Investments in AI infrastructure remain high.

$EQT (+1,28%)

EQT Corp ('US26884L1098')

EQT becomes energy provider of the next AI era - Pennsylvania turns to gas instead of wind or solar

$AMZN (-4,39%)

Amazon.com Inc ('US0231351067')

Strategy on multiple fronts! Amazon cools GPUs, invests in Anthropic and fills shopping carts during Prime Days!

$STX (-12,36%)

Seagate Technology Holdings PLC ('IE00BKVD2N49')

Seagate - Irish to significantly improve margins and sales again in H2 with new technology.

$ECL (+2,37%)

Ecolab Inc ('US2788651006')

With 3D TRASAR Technology against water waste: How Ecolab is making data centers smarter.

$AAOI (-13,31%)

Applied Optoelectronics Inc ('US03823U1025')

Applied Optoelectronics reports production milestone and growth in the data center sector

$IESC (-6,57%)

Data centers as growth engine: IES Holdings continues to grow strongly and shines with increasing margins!

$VRT (-7,33%)

WHERE KI CALCULATES, VERTIV COOLS: LIQUID COOLING SYSTEMS FUEL RECORD RESULTS AND A FORECAST INCREASE FOR 2025!

$EME (-5,52%)

ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE PROVIDER EMCOR BENEFITS FROM US INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM AND DATA CENTER MAINTENANCE

$FIX (-16,39%)

COMFORT SYSTEMS BENEFITS FROM THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW DATA CENTERS AND CHIP FACTORIES - EARNINGS RECORD IN THE SEASONALLY WEAKEST PERIOD!

In a small town in Louisiana, Mark Zuckerberg is having the largest artificial intelligence data center ever built for Meta on agricultural land. It is the size of 70 soccer pitches and cost 10 billion dollars.

Rayville is a town in north-eastern Louisiana in the USA that is experiencing a declining population. In the 2020 census, the population was 3347, down almost 21 percent from 4234 in 2000.

However, this is now likely to change. The state regulatory authorities approved a controversial plan to supply power to the largest artificial intelligence data center to date, which is being built by technology company Meta. This clears the way for the construction of three gas-fired power plants. This was reported by the portal "Nola".

The project is being built on a former agricultural area of around 70 soccer pitches. It is expected to cost around 10 billion dollars (approx. 8.6 billion euros). Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced plans to further expand the area so that it would be comparable to the size of Manhattan. The company is plunging headlong into the high-risk race for supremacy in the emerging AI sector.

"We chose Louisiana as the location for our largest data center to date for a variety of reasons, including excellent infrastructure connectivity, a strong labor base and a reliable power grid," said a Meta spokeswoman.

Criticism of Meta plans

However, the project in Richland Parish has met with criticism due to its enormous energy requirements, among other things. Davante Lewis was the only person to vote against the plan. He said the agreement leaves fundamental questions unanswered that are "too bitter to swallow", "Nola" quotes him as saying.

https://www.focus.de/finanzen/in-ort-mit-3347-einwohnern-entsteht-fuer-10-milliarden-dollar-groesstes-ki-rechenzentrum_e9ff4911-4348-48b8-9903-9038e11fcefa.html

$ECL (+2,37%)

Analyst firm Jefferies has raised its price target on Ecolab Inc . (NYSE:ECL) from $310.00 to $315.00 on Tuesday and left the rating at "Buy". The increase follows the announcement of an acquisition. The stock, which is currently trading at $275.23, close to its 52-week high, is showing strong momentum with a year-to-date performance of 17.3%. According to an analysis by InvestingPro the company is in "GOOD" overall financial health.

Jefferies reports that Ecolab will acquire the water business for the electronics industry from unlisted Ovivo for $1.8 billion.

The acquisition will increase Ecolab's sales by approximately $500 million, although the contributions to EBITDA and EBIT were not disclosed in the announcement.

Jefferies noted that this acquisition will expand Ecolab's presence in the electronics business.

The analyst firm expects annual volume growth of 10% in the data center segment, a forecast that is supported by this acquisition.

In other recent news, Ecolab Inc. announced a definitive agreement to acquire the electronics business of Ovivo Inc. for approximately $1.8 billion in cash. This acquisition is expected to strengthen Ecolab's position in water solutions for semiconductor manufacturing. Ovivo Electronics is forecast to generate sales of USD 500 million in 2025. In addition, Ecolab's Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.65 per common share, continuing its 88-year uninterrupted streak of dividend payments.

Ecolab has also appointed Julie P. Whalen, former chief financial officer of Expedia Group, to its board of directors. Whalen will serve on the Audit and Finance Committee. Meanwhile, Mizuho has also raised its price target for Ecolab to $314, citing stable growth prospects. The company reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.89 for the second quarter of 2025, in line with the Bloomberg consensus estimate.

https://de.investing.com/news/analyst-ratings/jefferies-hebt-kursziel-fur-ecolab-nach-ovivoubernahme-an-93CH-3111362

$ECL (+2,37%)

https://de.investing.com/news/analyst-ratings/baird-stuft-ecolabaktie-auf-outperform-hoch-und-erhoht-kursziel-93CH-3087200

The analyst firm Baird has upgraded the shares of Ecolab Inc . (NYSE:ECL) from "Neutral" to "Outperform" and raised the price target from 273.00 US dollars to 300.00 US dollars. The stock is currently trading at USD 259.39 and is thus approaching its 52-week high of USD 274.17. The company's market capitalization amounts to USD 73.6 billion.

The analyst firm cited the expectation of accelerated, price-driven sales growth and a strong improvement in margins as the main reasons for the upgrade.

Baird highlighted that Ecolab is generating its best return on invested capital (ROIC) in nearly a decade, while the stock is trading at its lowest relative valuation since 2018.

The analyst firm acknowledged that while Ecolab's stock "is not 'cheap' per se" and faces subdued volumes, its recurring revenue model and strong competitive position are attractive characteristics for investors in large-cap stocks.

In addition, Baird emphasized Ecolab's very low tariff risk as a multinational industrial company, which it sees as remarkably positive in the current market environment.

In other recent news, Ecolab Inc. announced its Q2 2025 results, which showed a robust sales performance but a slight miss on earnings per share (EPS). The company reported earnings per share of USD 1.89, narrowly missing the forecast of USD 1.90. Turnover, on the other hand, was in line with expectations at USD 4.02 billion. These developments underline a phase of strong sales growth for Ecolab. Despite the positive sales figures, the slight shortfall in earnings per share was noted by the market. No major mergers or acquisitions were mentioned in the quarterly report. Analyst reactions to the earnings report were not detailed in recent announcements. Investors are likely to monitor these recent developments closely when evaluating Ecolab's financial performance.

$MDT (+3,89%)

After 4 long years of stagnation and share price decline, I have decided to sell Medtronic and further expand my portfolio in line with my preferences.

To this end, I have reduced my positions

In Shell $SHEL (+0,55%) , Carrier Global $CARR (+0,16%) , Total Energies $TTE (+0,78%) and Nike $NKE (+1,65%) expanded.

With Nike I have now also reached my desired size 😁

There is currently only one single share in the standing order and that is Carrier Global.the standing order on the Vanguard FTSE all-world remains unchanged.

I still intend to $SHEL (+0,55%) , $TTE (+0,78%) , $XYL (+2,89%) , $ECL (+2,37%) and $LIN (+2,21%) to expand.

I am always open to comments and suggestions for improvement 😁

$ECL (+2,37%)

Ecolab published its accounts for the fourth quarter of 2024 today.

Sales: USD 4.01 billion, which corresponds to growth of 2% compared to the previous year.

Earnings per share (EPS): USD 1.81 (adjusted), an increase of 17% compared to the previous year.

Operating profit: USD 698.6 million, an increase of 14%

Total cash flow from operating activities: USD 2.8 billion for 2024.

Free cash flow: USD 1.8 billion for 2024, a record figure.

Ecolab has also projected positive growth for 2025, with EPS expected to be between $7.42 and $7.62, an increase of 12% to 15% year-over-year.