Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) is included among the 15 Dividend Stocks to Buy for Steady Income.

On March 19, The Wall Street Journal reported that Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) is getting close to a deal to acquire data-center cooling firm CoolIT Systems from KKR for between $4.5 billion and $5 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. Those same sources said an announcement could come as soon as next week, though they cautioned that nothing has been finalized yet.

The potential price stands out. It is a significant jump from the roughly $270 million valuation when KKR took a majority stake in 2023. Mubadala Investment Company still holds a minority stake in the business. CoolIT builds liquid-cooling systems used in data centers. The company started out making cooling solutions for gaming computers, then gradually shifted toward supporting artificial intelligence infrastructure. That shift mirrors what many hardware-focused firms have done as AI demand picked up.

Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) focuses on chemical solutions for water treatment, hygiene, and infection prevention. The company provides water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services aimed at protecting people and the resources essential to life.

While we acknowledge the potential of ECL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

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