Business Context and Reporting Period
Company: Ecolab Inc.
Filing Type: Form 8-K (Current Report)
Date of Report: October 23, 2008
Reporting Period: Third quarter ended September 30, 2008
This filing announces the earnings results for the third quarter of 2008. The report incorporates by reference a news release issued on the same date, which details the financial performance and specific adjustments to earnings per share.
Key Financial Metrics
The filing text itself does not provide specific numerical values for revenue, profit, cash flow, margins, debt, or liquidity. These figures are contained within the attached news release (Exhibit 99) referenced in the document.
Notable Disclosure: The company discloses the impact of certain discrete tax items and special gains and charges on comparative reported diluted earnings per share for the third quarters of 2008 and 2007.
Material Changes and Adjustments
- Earnings Adjustments: Management highlights the effect of non-recurring items, specifically discrete tax items and special gains/charges, on diluted earnings per share for both the current and prior year periods.
- Purpose of Disclosure: These adjustments are presented to facilitate a clearer comparison of current and prior period operating results by eliminating the effects of non-recurring items.
Guidance, Outlook, and Risks
The filing text does not contain specific forward-looking guidance, management commentary on future outlook, or a detailed list of risks and contingencies beyond the standard incorporation of the news release. The primary focus of this specific 8-K text is the announcement of the earnings release and the clarification of how non-recurring items affect reported earnings per share.
Investor Verification Checklist
- Review the attached news release (Exhibit 99) for specific revenue, net income, and cash flow figures for Q3 2008.
- Verify the specific dollar amounts and nature of the "discrete tax items" and "special gains and charges" mentioned in the earnings release.
- Compare the adjusted diluted earnings per share (excluding non-recurring items) against the reported diluted earnings per share to understand the magnitude of the adjustments.
- Check the company website (www.ecolab.com) for the full text of the news release if the exhibit is not immediately accessible.