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AVY vs. ECL: Avery Dennison vs. Ecolab Stock Comparison

How do Avery Dennison (AVY) and Ecolab (ECL) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Avery Dennison (AVY) and Ecolab (ECL) both fall under the Materials industry group, but AVY is classified in Containers & Packaging while ECL is classified in Chemicals.

Company profile comparison for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Ecolab (ECL)
Profile ItemAVYECL
NameAvery Dennison CorporationEcolab Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryContainers & PackagingChemicals
GICS Sub-IndustryPaper & Plastic Packaging Products & MaterialsSpecialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization14.10 billion USD84.33 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AVY
ECL
GSPC
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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Ecolab (ECL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Avery Dennison (AVY) and Ecolab (ECL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Ecolab (ECL). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricAVYECL
Total Return (1Y)10.80%20.33%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)3.97%21.41%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-1.88%6.90%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AVY
ECL
GSPC
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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Ecolab (ECL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Avery Dennison (AVY) and Ecolab (ECL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricAVYECL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.05%21.72%
Beta (5Y)0.750.84
Max Drawdown (5Y)-31.73%-43.70%
Avg. Volume (3M)836.04K1.40M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AVY and ECL are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricAVYECL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.270.74
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.431.13

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 30.80% and Ecolab (ECL) at 20.77% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

AVY

Materials industry group

30.80%

Max
52.88%
AVY
30.80%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%

ECL

Materials industry group

20.77%

Max
52.88%
ECL
20.77%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 7.56% and Ecolab (ECL) at 11.99% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

AVY

Materials industry group

7.56%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
AVY
7.56%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%

ECL

Materials industry group

11.99%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
ECL
11.99%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 12.10% and Ecolab (ECL) at 19.22% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

AVY

Materials industry group

12.10%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
AVY
12.10%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%

ECL

Materials industry group

19.22%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
ECL
19.22%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricAVYECL
ROE (TTM)30.80%20.77%
ROA (TTM)8.28%7.29%
Net Margin (TTM)7.56%11.99%
Operating Margin (TTM)12.10%19.22%
Gross Margin (TTM)28.83%44.04%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 1.14% and Ecolab (ECL) at 2.16% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 0.69% and Ecolab (ECL) at -1.22% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricAVYECL
Revenue Growth (YoY)1.14%2.16%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.68%4.26%
EPS Growth (YoY)0.69%-1.22%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.54%24.09%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 1.16 and Ecolab (ECL) at 1.11 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

AVY

Materials industry group

1.16

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
AVY
1.16
Min
0.16

ECL

Materials industry group

1.11

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
ECL
1.11
Min
0.16
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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 1.52 and Ecolab (ECL) at 1.33 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.

AVY

Materials industry group

1.52

Max
1.98
AVY
1.52
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00

ECL

Materials industry group

1.33

Max
1.98
ECL
1.33
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricAVYECL
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.161.11
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.521.33
Net Debt / EBITDA2.203.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Avery Dennison (AVY) at 2.05% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Ecolab (ECL) at 0.95% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, AVY the richer one.

AVY

Materials industry group

2.05%

Max
4.52%
AVY
2.05%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ECL

Materials industry group

0.95%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
ECL
0.95%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Ecolab (ECL) at 39.73% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Avery Dennison (AVY) at 41.99% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

AVY

Materials industry group

41.99%

Max
83.62%
AVY
41.99%
Q3
41.37%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ECL

Materials industry group

39.73%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
ECL
39.73%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricAVYECL
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.05%0.95%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)41.99%39.73%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Avery Dennison (AVY) at 20.21 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Ecolab (ECL) at 40.91 sits in the richer quartile — ECL needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

AVY

Materials industry group

20.21

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
AVY
20.21
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93

ECL

Materials industry group

40.91

Max
59.00
ECL
40.91
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Avery Dennison (AVY) at 1.51 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Ecolab (ECL) at 4.85 sits in the pricier quartile — ECL costs more per dollar of sales.

AVY

Materials industry group

1.51

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
AVY
1.51
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00

ECL

Materials industry group

4.85

Max
9.62
ECL
4.85
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Avery Dennison (AVY) at 5.91 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Ecolab (ECL) at 8.09 prices even higher, above its industry range.

AVY

Materials industry group

5.91

Max
6.59
AVY
5.91
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17

ECL

Materials industry group

8.09

ECL
8.09
Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricAVYECL
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.2140.91
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.514.85
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.918.09
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)6.90%1.71%