Ecolab (ECL) will increase its quarterly dividend by 14.3 percent to 20 cents per share in 2011. Last year the industrial company announced a 2 cent dividend hike to17.5 cents per share quarterly.

Ecolab Inc. provides water, hygiene and energy technologies and services. The company's cleaning and sanitizing programs and products, and pest elimination services, support customers in the foodservice, food and beverage processing, hospitality, healthcare, government and education, retail, textile care and commercial facilities management sectors. Ecolab's products are also used in water treatment, pollution control, energy conservation, oil production and refining, primary metals manufacturing, papermaking, mining and other industrial processes. Ecolab was incorporated in 1924 and has paid cash dividends on its common stock since 1936.