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ECL vs. JHX: Ecolab vs. James Hardie Industries Stock Comparison

How do Ecolab (ECL) and James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) both fall under the Materials industry group, but ECL is classified in Chemicals while JHX is classified in Construction Materials.

Company profile comparison for Ecolab (ECL) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
Profile ItemECLJHX
NameEcolab Inc.James Hardie Industries plc
Country/RegionUnited StatesIreland
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryChemicalsConstruction Materials
GICS Sub-IndustrySpecialty ChemicalsConstruction Materials
Market Capitalization84.33 billion USD16.20 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973October 22, 2001
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ECL
JHX
GSPC
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX), 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Ecolab (ECL) and James Hardie Industries (JHX). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
MetricECLJHX
Total Return (1Y)20.33%72.20%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)21.41%0.38%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.90%-5.23%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ECL
JHX
GSPC
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX), 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
MetricECLJHX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)21.72%44.97%
Beta (5Y)0.841.74
Max Drawdown (5Y)-43.70%-60.26%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.40M9.36M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ECL and JHX 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX)
MetricECLJHX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.741.51
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.132.59

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Ecolab (ECL) at 20.77% sits in the top ROE quartile, while James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 5.46% 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%

JHX

Materials industry group

5.46%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
JHX
5.46%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 11.99% and James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 6.22% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

ECL

Materials industry group

11.99%

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

JHX

Materials industry group

6.22%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
JHX
6.22%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 19.22% and James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 19.56% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

ECL

Materials industry group

19.22%

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

JHX

Materials industry group

19.56%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
JHX
19.56%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
MetricECLJHX
ROE (TTM)20.77%5.46%
ROA (TTM)7.29%4.42%
Net Margin (TTM)11.99%6.22%
Operating Margin (TTM)19.22%19.56%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.04%38.25%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 2.16% and James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 24.71% 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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Ecolab (ECL) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) at -80.61% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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Ecolab (ECL) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
MetricECLJHX
Revenue Growth (YoY)2.16%24.71%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.26%8.59%
EPS Growth (YoY)-1.22%-80.61%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)24.09%-45.13%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.12 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Ecolab (ECL) at 1.11 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for ECL.

ECL

Materials industry group

1.11

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

JHX

Materials industry group

2.12

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
JHX
2.12
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 0.63 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

JHX

Materials industry group

0.63

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
JHX
0.63
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
MetricECLJHX
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.112.12
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.330.63
Net Debt / EBITDA3.092.43

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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.

ECL

Materials industry group

0.95%

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

JHX

Materials industry group

0.00%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
JHX
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

James Hardie Industries (JHX) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Ecolab (ECL) reports a payout of 39.73%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ECL

Materials industry group

39.73%

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

JHX

Materials industry group

0.00%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
Median
9.54%
JHX
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
MetricECLJHX
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.95%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)39.73%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 40.91 and James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 48.02 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.

ECL

Materials industry group

40.91

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

JHX

Materials industry group

48.02

Max
59.00
JHX
48.02
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.86 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.

ECL

Materials industry group

4.85

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

JHX

Materials industry group

2.86

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
JHX
2.86
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.41 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

JHX

Materials industry group

2.41

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
JHX
2.41
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. James Hardie Industries (JHX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and James Hardie Industries (JHX)
MetricECLJHX
P/E Ratio (TTM)40.9148.02
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.852.86
P/B Ratio (MRQ)8.092.41
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.71%0.98%