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BALL vs. ECL: Ball vs. Ecolab Stock Comparison

How do Ball (BALL) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Ball (BALL) and Ecolab (ECL)
Profile ItemBALLECL
NameBall CorporationEcolab Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryContainers & PackagingChemicals
GICS Sub-IndustryMetal, Glass & Plastic ContainersSpecialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization17.16 billion USD84.33 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BALL
ECL
GSPC
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Ball (BALL) 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 Ball (BALL) and Ecolab (ECL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ball (BALL) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricBALLECL
Total Return (1Y)38.59%20.33%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)12.78%21.41%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-4.75%6.90%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BALL
ECL
GSPC
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Ball (BALL) 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 Ball (BALL) and Ecolab (ECL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ball (BALL) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricBALLECL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)27.54%21.72%
Beta (5Y)0.940.84
Max Drawdown (5Y)-54.87%-43.70%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.12M1.40M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BALL 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 Ball (BALL) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricBALLECL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.250.74
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.021.13

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Ecolab (ECL) at 20.77% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Ball (BALL) at 9.49% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ECL.

BALL

Materials industry group

9.49%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
BALL
9.49%
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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Ball (BALL) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Ball (BALL) at 3.52% 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.

BALL

Materials industry group

3.52%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
BALL
3.52%
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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Ball (BALL) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Ball (BALL) at 9.67% and Ecolab (ECL) at 19.22% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

BALL

Materials industry group

9.67%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
BALL
9.67%
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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Ball (BALL) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ball (BALL) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricBALLECL
ROE (TTM)9.49%20.77%
ROA (TTM)4.65%7.29%
Net Margin (TTM)3.52%11.99%
Operating Margin (TTM)9.67%19.22%
Gross Margin (TTM)17.84%44.04%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Ball (BALL) at 11.58% 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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Ball (BALL) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Ecolab (ECL) at -1.22% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Ball (BALL) at -74.62% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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Ball (BALL) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ball (BALL) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricBALLECL
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.58%2.16%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.53%4.26%
EPS Growth (YoY)-74.62%-1.22%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)13.62%24.09%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Ball (BALL) at 1.04 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.

BALL

Materials industry group

1.04

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
BALL
1.04
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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Ball (BALL) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

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

BALL

Materials industry group

1.33

Max
1.98
BALL
1.33
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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Ball (BALL) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Ball (BALL) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricBALLECL
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.041.11
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.331.33
Net Debt / EBITDA3.453.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Ball (BALL) at 1.20% and Ecolab (ECL) at 0.95% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

BALL

Materials industry group

1.20%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
BALL
1.20%
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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Ball (BALL) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Ball (BALL) at 40.20% and Ecolab (ECL) at 39.73% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

BALL

Materials industry group

40.20%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
BALL
40.20%
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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Ball (BALL) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ball (BALL) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricBALLECL
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.20%0.95%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)40.20%39.73%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Ball (BALL) at 33.13 and Ecolab (ECL) at 40.91 sit in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, so investors are paying more for TTM earnings than they pay for typical peers.

BALL

Materials industry group

33.13

Max
59.00
BALL
33.13
Q3
32.93
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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Ball (BALL) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Ball (BALL) at 1.13 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.

BALL

Materials industry group

1.13

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
BALL
1.13
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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Ball (BALL) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Ball (BALL) at 3.02 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Ecolab (ECL) at 8.09 prices above its benchmark range — ECL looks rich relative to book.

BALL

Materials industry group

3.02

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
BALL
3.02
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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Ball (BALL) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ball (BALL) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricBALLECL
P/E Ratio (TTM)33.1340.91
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.134.85
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.028.09
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.54%1.71%