ECL vs. EQX: Ecolab vs. Equinox Gold Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Ecolab (ECL) and Equinox Gold (EQX) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Ecolab (ECL) and Equinox Gold (EQX)
Profile Item	ECL	EQX
Name	Ecolab Inc.	Equinox Gold Corp.
Country/Region	United States	Canada
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Chemicals	Metals & Mining
GICS Sub-Industry	Specialty Chemicals	Gold
Market Capitalization	84.33 billion USD	13.45 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE American
Listing Date	February 21, 1973	January 2, 2019
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ECL

EQX

GSPC

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Equinox Gold (EQX), 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 Ecolab (ECL) and Equinox Gold (EQX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Equinox Gold (EQX)
Metric	ECL	EQX
Total Return (1Y)	20.33%	1.87%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	21.41%	37.49%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	6.90%	8.54%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ECL

EQX

GSPC

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Equinox Gold (EQX), 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 Ecolab (ECL) and Equinox Gold (EQX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Equinox Gold (EQX)
Metric	ECL	EQX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	21.72%	63.25%
Beta (5Y)	0.84	1.25
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-43.70%	-71.57%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.40M	12.60M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ECL and EQX 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 Ecolab (ECL) and Equinox Gold (EQX)
Metric	ECL	EQX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.74	-0.04
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.13	-0.06

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Ecolab (ECL) at 20.77% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Equinox Gold (EQX) at 8.47% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ECL.

ECL

Materials industry group

20.77%

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

EQX

Materials industry group

8.47%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
EQX: 8.47%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Equinox Gold (EQX): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Equinox Gold (EQX) at 28.09% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Ecolab (ECL) at 11.99%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

ECL

Materials industry group

11.99%

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

EQX

Materials industry group

28.09%

Max: 38.66%
EQX: 28.09%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Equinox Gold (EQX): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Equinox Gold (EQX) at 32.14% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Ecolab (ECL) at 19.22%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

ECL

Materials industry group

19.22%

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

EQX

Materials industry group

32.14%

Max: 66.70%
EQX: 32.14%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Equinox Gold (EQX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Equinox Gold (EQX)
Metric	ECL	EQX
ROE (TTM)	20.77%	8.47%
ROA (TTM)	7.29%	6.74%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.99%	28.09%
Operating Margin (TTM)	19.22%	32.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)	44.04%	57.60%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Equinox Gold (EQX) at 99.07% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Ecolab (ECL) at 2.16%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Equinox Gold (EQX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Ecolab (ECL) at -1.22% and Equinox Gold (EQX) at -53.33% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Equinox Gold (EQX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Equinox Gold (EQX)
Metric	ECL	EQX
Revenue Growth (YoY)	2.16%	99.07%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.26%	24.04%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-1.22%	-53.33%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	24.09%	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 1.11 and Equinox Gold (EQX) at 1.33 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

ECL

Materials industry group

1.11

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

EQX

Materials industry group

1.33

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
EQX: 1.33
Min: 0.16

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Equinox Gold (EQX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Equinox Gold (EQX) at 0.13 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Ecolab (ECL) at 1.33 uses more debt funding than most peers.

ECL

Materials industry group

1.33

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

EQX

Materials industry group

0.13

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
EQX: 0.13
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

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

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Equinox Gold (EQX)
Metric	ECL	EQX
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.11	1.33
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.33	0.13
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.09	0.21

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 0.95% and Equinox Gold (EQX) at 0.27% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

ECL

Materials industry group

0.95%

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

EQX

Materials industry group

0.27%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
EQX: 0.27%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Equinox Gold (EQX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 39.73% and Equinox Gold (EQX) at 6.25% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

ECL

Materials industry group

39.73%

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

EQX

Materials industry group

6.25%

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
EQX: 6.25%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Equinox Gold (EQX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Equinox Gold (EQX)
Metric	ECL	EQX
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.95%	0.27%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	39.73%	6.25%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Equinox Gold (EQX) at 24.00 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.

ECL

Materials industry group

40.91

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

EQX

Materials industry group

24.00

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
EQX: 24.00
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 4.85 and Equinox Gold (EQX) at 4.64 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

ECL

Materials industry group

4.85

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

EQX

Materials industry group

4.64

Max: 9.62
EQX: 4.64
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Equinox Gold (EQX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Equinox Gold (EQX) at 1.43 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.

ECL

Materials industry group

8.09

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

EQX

Materials industry group

1.43

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
EQX: 1.43
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Equinox Gold (EQX)
Metric	ECL	EQX
P/E Ratio (TTM)	40.91	24.00
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.85	4.64
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	8.09	1.43
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.71%	2.15%