ECL vs. NTR: Ecolab vs. Nutrien Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Ecolab (ECL) and Nutrien (NTR) 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 Nutrien (NTR) both belong to the Chemicals industry, though ECL is classified under Specialty Chemicals while NTR falls under Fertilizers & Agricultural Chemicals.

Company profile comparison for Ecolab (ECL) and Nutrien (NTR)
Profile Item	ECL	NTR
Name	Ecolab Inc.	Nutrien Ltd.
Country/Region	United States	Canada
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Chemicals	Chemicals
GICS Sub-Industry	Specialty Chemicals	Fertilizers & Agricultural Chemicals
Market Capitalization	84.33 billion USD	33.89 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	February 21, 1973	January 2, 2018
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ECL

NTR

GSPC

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Nutrien (NTR), 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 Nutrien (NTR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Nutrien (NTR)
Metric	ECL	NTR
Total Return (1Y)	20.33%	30.80%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	21.41%	13.84%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	6.90%	4.29%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ECL

NTR

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Nutrien (NTR)
Metric	ECL	NTR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	21.72%	32.77%
Beta (5Y)	0.84	0.64
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-43.70%	-58.17%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.40M	2.56M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ECL and NTR 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 Nutrien (NTR)
Metric	ECL	NTR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.74	0.81
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.13	1.18

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Ecolab (ECL) at 20.77% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Nutrien (NTR) at 8.76% 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%

NTR

Materials industry group

8.76%

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

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Nutrien (NTR): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 11.99% and Nutrien (NTR) at 8.04% 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%

NTR

Materials industry group

8.04%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
NTR: 8.04%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Nutrien (NTR): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 19.22% and Nutrien (NTR) at 10.97% 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%

NTR

Materials industry group

10.97%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
NTR: 10.97%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Nutrien (NTR): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Nutrien (NTR)
Metric	ECL	NTR
ROE (TTM)	20.77%	8.76%
ROA (TTM)	7.29%	4.24%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.99%	8.04%
Operating Margin (TTM)	19.22%	10.97%
Gross Margin (TTM)	44.04%	31.60%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 2.16% and Nutrien (NTR) at 3.52% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Nutrien (NTR): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Nutrien (NTR) at 242.65% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Ecolab (ECL) at -1.22% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for NTR.

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Nutrien (NTR): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Nutrien (NTR)
Metric	ECL	NTR
Revenue Growth (YoY)	2.16%	3.52%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.26%	-10.80%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-1.22%	242.65%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	24.09%	-30.99%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 1.11 and Nutrien (NTR) at 1.41 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

NTR

Materials industry group

1.41

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
NTR: 1.41
Min: 0.16

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Nutrien (NTR): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Nutrien (NTR) at 0.55 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

NTR

Materials industry group

0.55

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
NTR: 0.55
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

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

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Nutrien (NTR)
Metric	ECL	NTR
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.11	1.41
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.33	0.55
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.09	2.38

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Nutrien (NTR) at 3.03% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Ecolab (ECL) at 0.95% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, NTR the richer one.

ECL

Materials industry group

0.95%

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

NTR

Materials industry group

3.03%

Max: 4.52%
NTR: 3.03%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Nutrien (NTR): 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 Nutrien (NTR) at 47.93% 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%

NTR

Materials industry group

47.93%

Max: 83.62%
NTR: 47.93%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Nutrien (NTR): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Nutrien (NTR)
Metric	ECL	NTR
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.95%	3.03%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	39.73%	47.93%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Nutrien (NTR) at 15.61 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

NTR

Materials industry group

15.61

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
NTR: 15.61
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Nutrien (NTR) at 1.24 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

NTR

Materials industry group

1.24

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
NTR: 1.24
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Nutrien (NTR) at 1.32 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

NTR

Materials industry group

1.32

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
NTR: 1.32
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Nutrien (NTR)
Metric	ECL	NTR
P/E Ratio (TTM)	40.91	15.61
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.85	1.24
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	8.09	1.32
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.71%	5.77%