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CX vs. ECL: CEMEX vs. Ecolab Stock Comparison

How do CEMEX (CX) 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

CEMEX (CX) and Ecolab (ECL) both fall under the Materials industry group, but CX is classified in Construction Materials while ECL is classified in Chemicals.

Ecolab (ECL) trades as ordinary local shares, while CEMEX (CX) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for CEMEX (CX) and Ecolab (ECL)
Profile ItemCXECL
NameCemex S.A.B. de C.V. Sponsored ADREcolab Inc.
Country/RegionMexicoUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryConstruction MaterialsChemicals
GICS Sub-IndustryConstruction MaterialsSpecialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization15.47 billion USD84.33 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateSeptember 15, 1999February 21, 1973
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CX
ECL
GSPC
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CEMEX (CX) 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 CEMEX (CX) and Ecolab (ECL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CEMEX (CX) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricCXECL
Total Return (1Y)7.57%20.33%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)17.84%21.41%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)10.81%6.90%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CEMEX (CX) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricCXECL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)36.82%21.72%
Beta (5Y)1.570.84
Max Drawdown (5Y)-53.08%-43.70%
Avg. Volume (3M)7.01M1.40M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CX 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 CEMEX (CX) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricCXECL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.090.74
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.141.13

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Ecolab (ECL) at 20.77% sits in the top ROE quartile, while CEMEX (CX) at 5.17% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ECL.

CX

Materials industry group

5.17%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
CX
5.17%
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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CEMEX (CX) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both CEMEX (CX) at 3.60% 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.

CX

Materials industry group

3.60%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
CX
3.60%
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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CEMEX (CX) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both CEMEX (CX) at 14.77% and Ecolab (ECL) at 19.22% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

CX

Materials industry group

14.77%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
CX
14.77%
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%
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CEMEX (CX) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CEMEX (CX) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricCXECL
ROE (TTM)5.17%20.77%
ROA (TTM)5.07%7.29%
Net Margin (TTM)3.60%11.99%
Operating Margin (TTM)14.77%19.22%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.48%44.04%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both CEMEX (CX) at 0.43% 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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CEMEX (CX) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both CEMEX (CX) at 2.35% 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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CEMEX (CX) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CEMEX (CX) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricCXECL
Revenue Growth (YoY)0.43%2.16%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.13%4.26%
EPS Growth (YoY)2.35%-1.22%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)4.14%24.09%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both CEMEX (CX) at 0.95 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.

CX

Materials industry group

0.95

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
CX
0.95
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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CEMEX (CX) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

CEMEX (CX) at 0.46 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Ecolab (ECL) at 1.33 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CX

Materials industry group

0.46

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
CX
0.46
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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CEMEX (CX) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for CEMEX (CX) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricCXECL
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.951.11
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.461.33
Net Debt / EBITDA1.603.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

CEMEX (CX) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Ecolab (ECL) reports a yield of 0.95%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CX

Materials industry group

0.00%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
CX
0.00%
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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CEMEX (CX) 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 CEMEX (CX) at 67.86% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

CX

Materials industry group

67.86%

Max
83.62%
CX
67.86%
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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CEMEX (CX) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CEMEX (CX) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricCXECL
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.95%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)67.86%39.73%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on trailing earnings: Ecolab (ECL) at 40.91 sits in the richer P/E ratio quartile, and CEMEX (CX) at 67.00 is richer still, above its industry range.

CX

Materials industry group

67.00

CX
67.00
Max
59.00
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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CEMEX (CX) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

CEMEX (CX) at 0.89 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.

CX

Materials industry group

0.89

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
CX
0.89
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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CEMEX (CX) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

CEMEX (CX) at 1.20 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile relative to book while Ecolab (ECL) at 8.09 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.

CX

Materials industry group

1.20

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
CX
1.20
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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CEMEX (CX) vs. Ecolab (ECL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CEMEX (CX) and Ecolab (ECL)
MetricCXECL
P/E Ratio (TTM)67.0040.91
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.894.85
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.208.09
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)8.86%1.71%