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ECL vs. NUE: Ecolab vs. Nucor Stock Comparison

How do Ecolab (ECL) and Nucor (NUE) 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 Nucor (NUE) both fall under the Materials industry group, but ECL is classified in Chemicals while NUE is classified in Metals & Mining.

Company profile comparison for Ecolab (ECL) and Nucor (NUE)
Profile ItemECLNUE
NameEcolab Inc.Nucor Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryChemicalsMetals & Mining
GICS Sub-IndustrySpecialty ChemicalsSteel
Market Capitalization84.33 billion USD55.58 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ECL
NUE
GSPC
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Nucor (NUE), 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 Nucor (NUE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricECLNUE
Total Return (1Y)20.33%74.82%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)21.41%19.83%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.90%18.79%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricECLNUE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)21.72%32.37%
Beta (5Y)0.841.82
Max Drawdown (5Y)-43.70%-47.79%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.40M1.37M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ECL and NUE 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 Nucor (NUE)
MetricECLNUE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.742.18
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.133.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Ecolab (ECL) at 20.77% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Nucor (NUE) at 17.58% 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%

NUE

Materials industry group

17.58%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
NUE
17.58%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 11.99% and Nucor (NUE) at 9.26% 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%

NUE

Materials industry group

9.26%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
NUE
9.26%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 19.22% and Nucor (NUE) at 16.73% 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%

NUE

Materials industry group

16.73%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
NUE
16.73%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricECLNUE
ROE (TTM)20.77%17.58%
ROA (TTM)7.29%8.82%
Net Margin (TTM)11.99%9.26%
Operating Margin (TTM)19.22%16.73%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.04%17.39%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 2.16% and Nucor (NUE) at 5.73% 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. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Ecolab (ECL) at -1.22% and Nucor (NUE) at -11.11% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricECLNUE
Revenue Growth (YoY)2.16%5.73%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.26%-7.84%
EPS Growth (YoY)-1.22%-11.11%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)24.09%-36.08%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Nucor (NUE) at 2.46 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

NUE

Materials industry group

2.46

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
NUE
2.46
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Nucor (NUE) at 0.29 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

NUE

Materials industry group

0.29

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
NUE
0.29
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricECLNUE
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.112.46
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.330.29
Net Debt / EBITDA3.090.52

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 0.95% and Nucor (NUE) at 0.91% 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%

NUE

Materials industry group

0.91%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
NUE
0.91%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 39.73% and Nucor (NUE) at 17.78% 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%

NUE

Materials industry group

17.78%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
NUE
17.78%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricECLNUE
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.95%0.91%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)39.73%17.78%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Nucor (NUE) at 15.60 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

NUE

Materials industry group

15.60

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
NUE
15.60
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Nucor (NUE) at 1.43 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

NUE

Materials industry group

1.43

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
NUE
1.43
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Nucor (NUE) at 2.43 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

NUE

Materials industry group

2.43

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
NUE
2.43
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Nucor (NUE): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Nucor (NUE)
MetricECLNUE
P/E Ratio (TTM)40.9115.60
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.851.43
P/B Ratio (MRQ)8.092.43
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.71%2.77%