Ecolab (ECL) Stock Analysis

November 11, 2026

This is a peer-relative look at Ecolab (ECL): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Materials peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Company profile fields for Ecolab (ECL)
Profile Item	ECL
Name	Ecolab Inc.
Country/Region	United States
GICS Sector	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials
GICS Industry	Chemicals
GICS Sub-Industry	Specialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization	84.33 billion USD
Currency	USD
Exchange	NYSE
Listing Date	February 21, 1973
Security Type	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ECL

GSPC

Ecolab (ECL) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Ecolab (ECL) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Ecolab (ECL) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Ecolab (ECL) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: ECL	Industry group median
Total Return (1Y)	20.33%	19.59%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	21.41%	18.91%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	6.90%	5.70%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ECL

GSPC

Ecolab (ECL) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Ecolab (ECL) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Ecolab (ECL) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: ECL	Industry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	21.72%	52.82%
Beta (5Y)	0.84	0.97
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-43.70%	-58.44%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. ECL is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Ecolab (ECL) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: ECL	Industry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.74	0.32
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.13	0.47

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Ecolab (ECL) posts ROE of 20.77%, in the upper peer quartile. That suggests the company earns more from each dollar of shareholders’ equity than most industry peers, a useful capital-efficiency signal.

ECL

Materials industry group

20.77%

Group distribution

Max: 52.88%
ECL: 20.77%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

Largest peers

SCCO: 52.88%
NEM: 27.26%
BHP: 24.00%
AEM: 23.24%
ECL: 20.77%
RIO: 19.31%
LIN: 17.72%

Where Ecolab (ECL) stands on ROE within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

Ecolab (ECL) keeps 11.99% of revenue as net profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal net margin range. Its full cost stack is taking a typical share of sales for the industry.

ECL

Materials industry group

11.99%

Group distribution

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
ECL: 11.99%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

Largest peers

AEM: 41.01%
SCCO: 37.16%
NEM: 34.73%
RIO: 19.59%
LIN: 19.34%
BHP: 16.73%
ECL: 11.99%

Where Ecolab (ECL) stands on net margin within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Ecolab (ECL) turns 19.22% of revenue into operating profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal operating margin range. Its core cost structure looks typical for the industry.

ECL

Materials industry group

19.22%

Group distribution

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
ECL: 19.22%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

Largest peers

SCCO: 59.94%
AEM: 55.49%
NEM: 49.99%
BHP: 43.34%
RIO: 28.05%
LIN: 27.97%
ECL: 19.22%

Where Ecolab (ECL) stands on operating margin within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

Ecolab (ECL) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: ECL	Industry group median
ROE (TTM)	20.77%	8.76%
ROA (TTM)	7.29%	4.42%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.99%	5.28%
Operating Margin (TTM)	19.22%	12.56%
Gross Margin (TTM)	44.04%	27.57%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Ecolab (ECL) grew revenue 2.16%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Top-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

Ecolab (ECL): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Materials industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

Ecolab (ECL) grew earnings per share -1.22%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Bottom-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

Ecolab (ECL): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Materials industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

Ecolab (ECL) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: ECL	Industry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)	2.16%	8.36%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.26%	0.59%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-1.22%	-1.73%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	24.09%	2.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Ecolab (ECL) has current ratio of 1.11, in the tighter-liquidity quartile for its industry. The short-term cushion is thinner than most peers carry, even if the absolute comfort level still depends on the business model.

ECL

Materials industry group

1.11

Group distribution

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
ECL: 1.11
Min: 0.16

Largest peers

SCCO: 4.31
AEM: 2.75
NEM: 2.45
BHP: 1.89
RIO: 1.42
ECL: 1.11
LIN: 0.86

Where Ecolab (ECL) stands on current ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Ecolab (ECL) has debt-to-equity ratio of 1.33, in the higher-leverage quartile for its industry. The heavier reliance on borrowing can make earnings, rates, or refinancing conditions matter more.

ECL

Materials industry group

1.33

Group distribution

Max: 1.98
ECL: 1.33
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

ECL: 1.33
LIN: 0.65
SCCO: 0.63
BHP: 0.50
RIO: 0.32
NEM: 0.16
AEM: 0.01

Where Ecolab (ECL) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

Ecolab (ECL) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: ECL	Industry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.11	2.24
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.33	0.47
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.09	1.37

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Ecolab (ECL) has dividend yield of 0.95%, in the industry’s normal income range. It provides a meaningful dividend without the red flag of an unusually high headline yield.

ECL

Materials industry group

0.95%

Group distribution

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
ECL: 0.95%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

RIO: 5.59%
SCCO: 2.30%
BHP: 2.19%
LIN: 1.21%
ECL: 0.95%
AEM: 0.93%
NEM: 0.87%

Where Ecolab (ECL) stands on dividend yield within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Ecolab (ECL) has payout ratio of 39.73%, within the industry’s typical payout band. The dividend shares profits with investors while leaving earnings coverage that looks normal for the peer group.

ECL

Materials industry group

39.73%

Group distribution

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
ECL: 39.73%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

BHP: 68.84%
RIO: 54.46%
SCCO: 52.43%
LIN: 41.83%
ECL: 39.73%
AEM: 14.26%
NEM: 11.95%

Where Ecolab (ECL) stands on payout ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

Ecolab (ECL) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: ECL	Industry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.95%	0.38%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	39.73%	9.54%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Ecolab (ECL) trades at P/E ratio of 40.91, in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for its industry. That premium needs support from growth, durable earnings, or stronger business quality.

ECL

Materials industry group

40.91

Group distribution

Max: 59.00
ECL: 40.91
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

Largest peers

ECL: 40.91
LIN: 34.21
SCCO: 22.27
BHP: 20.70
AEM: 15.61
NEM: 14.03
RIO: 11.35

Where Ecolab (ECL) stands on P/E ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Ecolab (ECL) trades at 4.85 on P/S ratio, in the higher sales-valuation quartile. Investors are paying up for each dollar of revenue, so stronger margins, growth, or revenue quality need to carry that price.

ECL

Materials industry group

4.85

Group distribution

Max: 9.62
ECL: 4.85
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

SCCO: 8.34
LIN: 6.53
AEM: 6.44
ECL: 4.85
NEM: 4.72
BHP: 3.46
RIO: 2.20

Where Ecolab (ECL) stands on P/S ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Ecolab (ECL) trades at 8.09 on P/B ratio, above the industry benchmark range. Investors are putting an unusually rich price on each dollar of book equity relative to peers.

ECL

Materials industry group

8.09

Group distribution

ECL: 8.09
Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

Largest peers

SCCO: 10.89
ECL: 8.09
LIN: 6.00
BHP: 3.98
NEM: 3.53
AEM: 3.27
RIO: 2.08

Where Ecolab (ECL) stands on P/B ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

Ecolab (ECL) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: ECL	Industry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)	40.91	18.82
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.85	1.87
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	8.09	2.08
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.71%	3.08%