ECL vs. MLM: Ecolab vs. Martin Marietta Materials Stock Comparison
How do Ecolab (ECL) and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) 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 Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) both fall under the Materials industry group, but ECL is classified in Chemicals while MLM is classified in Construction Materials.
| Profile Item | ECL | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Ecolab Inc. | Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Chemicals | Construction Materials |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Specialty Chemicals | Construction Materials |
| Market Capitalization | 84.33 billion USD | 36.85 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 21, 1973 | February 17, 1994 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ECL | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 20.33% | -12.23% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 21.41% | 6.32% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 6.90% | 5.43% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ECL | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 21.72% | 29.72% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.84 | 1.02 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -43.70% | -33.19% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.40M | 805.11K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ECL | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.74 | -0.56 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.13 | -0.75 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Ecolab (ECL) at 20.77% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 6.02% 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%
MLM
Materials industry group
6.02%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- MLM
- 6.02%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
Net Margin (TTM)
Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 31.88% 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%
MLM
Materials industry group
31.88%
- Max
- 38.66%
- MLM
- 31.88%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Ecolab (ECL) at 19.22% and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 22.29% 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%
MLM
Materials industry group
22.29%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- MLM
- 22.29%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ECL | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 20.77% | 6.02% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.29% | 3.27% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.99% | 31.88% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 19.22% | 22.29% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 44.04% | 26.74% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Ecolab (ECL) at 2.16% and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 8.62% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both Ecolab (ECL) at -1.22% and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at -42.09% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ECL | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 2.16% | 8.62% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 4.26% | -0.06% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -1.22% | -42.09% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 24.09% | 10.61% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 1.63 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
MLM
Materials industry group
1.63
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- MLM
- 1.63
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 0.75 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
MLM
Materials industry group
0.75
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- MLM
- 0.75
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ECL | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.11 | 1.63 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.33 | 0.75 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.09 | 5.88 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Ecolab (ECL) at 0.95% and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 0.63% 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%
MLM
Materials industry group
0.63%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- MLM
- 0.63%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Ecolab (ECL) at 39.73% and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 24.85% 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%
MLM
Materials industry group
24.85%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- MLM
- 24.85%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ECL | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.95% | 0.63% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 39.73% | 24.85% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Ecolab (ECL) at 40.91 and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 38.67 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
MLM
Materials industry group
38.67
- Max
- 59.00
- MLM
- 38.67
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Ecolab (ECL) at 4.85 and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 5.11 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
MLM
Materials industry group
5.11
- Max
- 9.62
- MLM
- 5.11
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Martin Marietta Materials (MLM) at 2.09 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
MLM
Materials industry group
2.09
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- MLM
- 2.09
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ECL | MLM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 40.91 | 38.67 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.85 | 5.11 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 8.09 | 2.09 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.71% | 4.54% |