Why did ECL's Q2 2024 earnings miss forecasts?

Ecolab's Q2 2024 earnings did not miss forecasts due to weakness in the Global Healthcare and Life Sciences segment. The segment's fixed currency sales declined 0.8% year-over-year, which negatively impacted the overall performance. However, the decline was primarily due to a 4.7% decrease in the United States and 1.2% decrease in Europe. The weakness in these regions was partially offset by growth in other areas, such as the Middle East and Africa, which saw a 14% increase in sales.

|code|Ticker|Name|Date|Net Income|market_code|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|ECL|ECL.N|Ecolab|2024 Q1|4.166E8|169|
|ECL|ECL.N|Ecolab|2024 Q2|4.95E8|169|
|ECL|ECL.N|Ecolab|2024 Q3|7.408E8|169|
|ECL|ECL.N|Ecolab|2024 Q4|4.795E8|169|