By Will Feuer
Ecolab Inc. said second-quarter earnings were roughly flat, in part due to unfavorable currency translation, even as higher prices helped drive sales growth.
The St. Paul, Minn., provider of water-treatment, hygiene and infection-prevention goods and services posted second-quarter net income of $308.3 million, down slightly from $310.8 million a year earlier. Per-share earnings were flat at $1.08 a share. The decline in earnings was driven in part by a 6-cent-per-share effect from unfavorable currency translation.
Stripping out one-time items, adjusted earnings came to $1.10 a share. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected earnings of $1.09.
Sales rose 13%, to $3.58 billion. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected sales of $3.49 billion. Sales growth was boosted by a 9% increase in prices, Chief Executive Christophe Beck said.
"Total pricing is expected to accelerate further to keep us ahead of inflation, resulting in easing year-over-year margin pressure going forward," Mr. Beck said.
Write to Will Feuer at Will.Feuer@wsj.com
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