ECL vs. PAAS: Ecolab vs. Pan American Silver Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Company profile comparison for Ecolab (ECL) and Pan American Silver (PAAS)
Profile Item	ECL	PAAS
Name	Ecolab Inc.	Pan American Silver Corp.
Country/Region	United States	Canada
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Chemicals	Metals & Mining
GICS Sub-Industry	Specialty Chemicals	Silver
Market Capitalization	84.33 billion USD	16.98 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	February 21, 1973	June 12, 1995
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ECL

PAAS

GSPC

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Pan American Silver (PAAS), 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 Pan American Silver (PAAS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Ecolab (ECL) and Pan American Silver (PAAS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Pan American Silver (PAAS)
Metric	ECL	PAAS
Total Return (1Y)	20.33%	22.43%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	21.41%	47.84%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	6.90%	11.59%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ECL

PAAS

GSPC

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Pan American Silver (PAAS), 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 Pan American Silver (PAAS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Pan American Silver (PAAS)
Metric	ECL	PAAS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	21.72%	58.13%
Beta (5Y)	0.84	0.72
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-43.70%	-57.39%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.40M	4.31M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ECL and PAAS 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 Pan American Silver (PAAS)
Metric	ECL	PAAS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.74	0.31
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.13	0.45

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 20.77% and Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 22.39% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

ECL

Materials industry group

20.77%

Max: 52.88%
ECL: 20.77%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

PAAS

Materials industry group

22.39%

Max: 52.88%
PAAS: 22.39%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Pan American Silver (PAAS): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 35.16% 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%

PAAS

Materials industry group

35.16%

Max: 38.66%
PAAS: 35.16%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Pan American Silver (PAAS): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 34.29% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Ecolab (ECL) at 19.22%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

ECL

Materials industry group

19.22%

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

PAAS

Materials industry group

34.29%

Max: 66.70%
PAAS: 34.29%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Pan American Silver (PAAS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Pan American Silver (PAAS)
Metric	ECL	PAAS
ROE (TTM)	20.77%	22.39%
ROA (TTM)	7.29%	11.27%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.99%	35.16%
Operating Margin (TTM)	19.22%	34.29%
Gross Margin (TTM)	44.04%	55.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 2.16% and Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 28.38% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Pan American Silver (PAAS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 725.81% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Ecolab (ECL) at -1.22%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Pan American Silver (PAAS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Pan American Silver (PAAS)
Metric	ECL	PAAS
Revenue Growth (YoY)	2.16%	28.38%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.26%	34.28%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-1.22%	725.81%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	24.09%	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 2.72 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

PAAS

Materials industry group

2.72

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
PAAS: 2.72
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Pan American Silver (PAAS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 0.11 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while Ecolab (ECL) at 1.33 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

ECL

Materials industry group

1.33

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

PAAS

Materials industry group

0.11

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
PAAS: 0.11
Min: 0.00

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Pan American Silver (PAAS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Pan American Silver (PAAS)
Metric	ECL	PAAS
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.11	2.72
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.33	0.11
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.09	-0.39

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 0.95% and Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 1.69% 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%

PAAS

Materials industry group

1.69%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
PAAS: 1.69%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Pan American Silver (PAAS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 39.73% and Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 18.00% 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%

PAAS

Materials industry group

18.00%

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
PAAS: 18.00%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Pan American Silver (PAAS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Pan American Silver (PAAS)
Metric	ECL	PAAS
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.95%	1.69%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	39.73%	18.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 10.83 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Ecolab (ECL) at 40.91 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.

ECL

Materials industry group

40.91

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

PAAS

Materials industry group

10.83

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
PAAS: 10.83
Min: 3.93

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Pan American Silver (PAAS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 3.80 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

PAAS

Materials industry group

3.80

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
PAAS: 3.80
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Pan American Silver (PAAS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Pan American Silver (PAAS) at 2.29 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

PAAS

Materials industry group

2.29

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
PAAS: 2.29
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Pan American Silver (PAAS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Pan American Silver (PAAS)
Metric	ECL	PAAS
P/E Ratio (TTM)	40.91	10.83
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.85	3.80
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	8.09	2.29
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.71%	8.01%