ECL vs. LYB: Ecolab vs. LyondellBasell Industries Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Ecolab (ECL) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) both belong to the Chemicals industry, though ECL is classified under Specialty Chemicals while LYB falls under Commodity Chemicals.

Company profile comparison for Ecolab (ECL) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Profile Item	ECL	LYB
Name	Ecolab Inc.	LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
Country/Region	United States	Netherlands
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Chemicals	Chemicals
GICS Sub-Industry	Specialty Chemicals	Commodity Chemicals
Market Capitalization	84.33 billion USD	19.63 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	February 21, 1973	April 28, 2010
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ECL

LYB

GSPC

Ecolab (ECL) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB), 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	ECL	LYB
Total Return (1Y)	20.33%	49.52%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	21.41%	-7.11%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	6.90%	-1.68%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ECL

LYB

GSPC

Ecolab (ECL) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB), 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	ECL	LYB
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	21.72%	42.84%
Beta (5Y)	0.84	0.32
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-43.70%	-55.35%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.40M	3.62M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ECL and LYB 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	ECL	LYB
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.74	1.06
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.13	1.63

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Ecolab (ECL) at 20.77% sits in the top ROE quartile, while LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 12.18% 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%

LYB

Materials industry group

12.18%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
LYB: 12.18%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 11.99% and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 4.05% 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%

LYB

Materials industry group

4.05%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
LYB: 4.05%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 19.22% and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 13.40% 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%

LYB

Materials industry group

13.40%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
LYB: 13.40%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	ECL	LYB
ROE (TTM)	20.77%	12.18%
ROA (TTM)	7.29%	5.36%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.99%	4.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)	19.22%	13.40%
Gross Margin (TTM)	44.04%	14.56%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Ecolab (ECL) at 2.16% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at -9.71% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Ecolab (ECL) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at -156.39% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

Ecolab (ECL) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	ECL	LYB
Revenue Growth (YoY)	2.16%	-9.71%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.26%	-15.77%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-1.22%	-156.39%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	24.09%	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.78 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

LYB

Materials industry group

1.78

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
LYB: 1.78
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

Ecolab (ECL) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 1.33 and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.21 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.

ECL

Materials industry group

1.33

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

LYB

Materials industry group

1.21

Max: 1.98
LYB: 1.21
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

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

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	ECL	LYB
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.11	1.78
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.33	1.21
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.09	2.47

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Ecolab (ECL) at 0.95% pays an industry-typical yield; LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 5.58% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

ECL

Materials industry group

0.95%

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

LYB

Materials industry group

5.58%

LYB: 5.58%
Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): 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 LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 83.29% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

ECL

Materials industry group

39.73%

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

LYB

Materials industry group

83.29%

Max: 83.62%
LYB: 83.29%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	ECL	LYB
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.95%	5.58%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	39.73%	83.29%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 14.70 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

LYB

Materials industry group

14.70

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
LYB: 14.70
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 0.61 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Ecolab (ECL) at 4.85 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

ECL

Materials industry group

4.85

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

LYB

Materials industry group

0.61

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
LYB: 0.61
Min: 0.00

Ecolab (ECL) vs. LyondellBasell Industries (LYB): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) at 1.74 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

LYB

Materials industry group

1.74

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
LYB: 1.74
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and LyondellBasell Industries (LYB)
Metric	ECL	LYB
P/E Ratio (TTM)	40.91	14.70
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.85	0.61
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	8.09	1.74
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.71%	9.06%