CRS vs. ECL: Carpenter vs. Ecolab Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Carpenter (CRS) 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

Carpenter (CRS) and Ecolab (ECL) both fall under the Materials industry group, but CRS is classified in Metals & Mining while ECL is classified in Chemicals.

Company profile comparison for Carpenter (CRS) and Ecolab (ECL)
Profile Item	CRS	ECL
Name	Carpenter Technology Corporation	Ecolab Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Metals & Mining	Chemicals
GICS Sub-Industry	Steel	Specialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization	13.79 billion USD	84.33 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	February 21, 1973	February 21, 1973
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CRS

ECL

GSPC

Carpenter (CRS) 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 Carpenter (CRS) and Ecolab (ECL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Carpenter (CRS) and Ecolab (ECL)
Metric	CRS	ECL
Total Return (1Y)	-8.47%	20.33%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	66.22%	21.41%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	56.37%	6.90%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CRS

ECL

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Carpenter (CRS) and Ecolab (ECL)
Metric	CRS	ECL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	49.01%	21.72%
Beta (5Y)	1.39	0.84
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-55.01%	-43.70%
Avg. Volume (3M)	913.10K	1.40M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CRS 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 Carpenter (CRS) and Ecolab (ECL)
Metric	CRS	ECL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.26	0.74
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.36	1.13

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Carpenter (CRS) at 27.84% 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.

CRS

Materials industry group

27.84%

Max: 52.88%
CRS: 27.84%
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%

Carpenter (CRS) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Carpenter (CRS) at 17.87% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Ecolab (ECL) at 11.99%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CRS

Materials industry group

17.87%

Max: 38.66%
CRS: 17.87%
Q3: 15.98%
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%

Carpenter (CRS) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Carpenter (CRS) at 24.69% and Ecolab (ECL) at 19.22% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

CRS

Materials industry group

24.69%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
CRS: 24.69%
Median: 12.56%
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%

Carpenter (CRS) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Carpenter (CRS) and Ecolab (ECL)
Metric	CRS	ECL
ROE (TTM)	27.84%	20.77%
ROA (TTM)	12.96%	7.29%
Net Margin (TTM)	17.87%	11.99%
Operating Margin (TTM)	24.69%	19.22%
Gross Margin (TTM)	31.22%	44.04%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Carpenter (CRS) at 8.59% 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.

Carpenter (CRS) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Carpenter (CRS) at 41.78% 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.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Carpenter (CRS) and Ecolab (ECL)
Metric	CRS	ECL
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.59%	2.16%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	7.00%	4.26%
EPS Growth (YoY)	41.78%	-1.22%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	109.75%	24.09%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Carpenter (CRS) at 3.94 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Ecolab (ECL) at 1.11 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

CRS

Materials industry group

3.94

Max: 5.96
CRS: 3.94
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
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

Carpenter (CRS) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Carpenter (CRS) at 0.32 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Ecolab (ECL) at 1.33 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CRS

Materials industry group

0.32

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
CRS: 0.32
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

Carpenter (CRS) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Carpenter (CRS) and Ecolab (ECL)
Metric	CRS	ECL
Current Ratio (MRQ)	3.94	1.11
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.32	1.33
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.62	3.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Carpenter (CRS) at 0.29% and Ecolab (ECL) at 0.95% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

CRS

Materials industry group

0.29%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
CRS: 0.29%
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%

Carpenter (CRS) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Carpenter (CRS) at 7.05% 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.

CRS

Materials industry group

7.05%

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
CRS: 7.05%
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%

Carpenter (CRS) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Carpenter (CRS) and Ecolab (ECL)
Metric	CRS	ECL
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.29%	0.95%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	7.05%	39.73%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Carpenter (CRS) at 24.54 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.

CRS

Materials industry group

24.54

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
CRS: 24.54
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

Carpenter (CRS) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Carpenter (CRS) at 4.32 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.

CRS

Materials industry group

4.32

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
CRS: 4.32
Median: 1.87
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

Carpenter (CRS) 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: Carpenter (CRS) at 6.32 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Ecolab (ECL) at 8.09 prices even higher, above its industry range.

CRS

Materials industry group

6.32

Max: 6.59
CRS: 6.32
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

Carpenter (CRS) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Carpenter (CRS) and Ecolab (ECL)
Metric	CRS	ECL
P/E Ratio (TTM)	24.54	40.91
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.32	4.85
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	6.32	8.09
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.54%	1.71%