ECL vs. PKG: Ecolab vs. Packaging Corp of America Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Ecolab (ECL) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG) 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 Packaging Corp of America (PKG) both fall under the Materials industry group, but ECL is classified in Chemicals while PKG is classified in Containers & Packaging.

Company profile comparison for Ecolab (ECL) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Profile Item	ECL	PKG
Name	Ecolab Inc.	Packaging Corporation of America
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Chemicals	Containers & Packaging
GICS Sub-Industry	Specialty Chemicals	Paper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials
Market Capitalization	84.33 billion USD	22.25 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	February 21, 1973	January 28, 2000
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ECL

PKG

GSPC

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG), 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 Packaging Corp of America (PKG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Ecolab (ECL) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	ECL	PKG
Total Return (1Y)	20.33%	31.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	21.41%	21.13%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	6.90%	17.23%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ECL

PKG

GSPC

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG), 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 Packaging Corp of America (PKG). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	ECL	PKG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	21.72%	28.35%
Beta (5Y)	0.84	0.76
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-43.70%	-31.78%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.40M	624.28K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ECL and PKG 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 Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	ECL	PKG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.74	0.95
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.13	1.49

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Ecolab (ECL) earns 20.77% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Packaging Corp of America (PKG) has no ROE this period.

ECL

Materials industry group

20.77%

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

PKG

Materials industry group

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

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): PKG does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; ECL is benchmarked against the Materials industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 11.99% and Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 7.40% 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%

PKG

Materials industry group

7.40%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
PKG: 7.40%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 19.22% and Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 14.97% 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%

PKG

Materials industry group

14.97%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
PKG: 14.97%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	ECL	PKG
ROE (TTM)	20.77%	--
ROA (TTM)	7.29%	--
Net Margin (TTM)	11.99%	7.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)	19.22%	14.97%
Gross Margin (TTM)	44.04%	21.24%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 2.16% and Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 7.23% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Ecolab (ECL) at -1.22% and Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at -3.92% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	ECL	PKG
Revenue Growth (YoY)	2.16%	7.23%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.26%	1.97%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-1.22%	-3.92%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	24.09%	-8.03%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Ecolab (ECL) shows current ratio of 1.11 against its industry benchmark, while Packaging Corp of America (PKG) has no reading this period.

ECL

Materials industry group

1.11

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
ECL: 1.11
Min: 0.16

PKG

Materials industry group

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16
PKG: --

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): PKG does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; ECL is benchmarked against the Materials industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 1.33 and Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 0.94 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

PKG

Materials industry group

0.94

Max: 1.98
PKG: 0.94
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	ECL	PKG
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.11	--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.33	0.94
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.09	1.92

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 2.21% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Ecolab (ECL) at 0.95% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, PKG 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%

PKG

Materials industry group

2.21%

Max: 4.52%
PKG: 2.21%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): 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 Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 67.82% 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%

PKG

Materials industry group

67.82%

Max: 83.62%
PKG: 67.82%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	ECL	PKG
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.95%	2.21%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	39.73%	67.82%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 30.79 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

PKG

Materials industry group

30.79

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
PKG: 30.79
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 2.26 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

PKG

Materials industry group

2.26

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
PKG: 2.26
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 4.74 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Ecolab (ECL) at 8.09 prices even higher, above its industry range.

ECL

Materials industry group

8.09

ECL: 8.09
Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

PKG

Materials industry group

4.74

Max: 6.59
PKG: 4.74
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

Ecolab (ECL) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	ECL	PKG
P/E Ratio (TTM)	40.91	30.79
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.85	2.26
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	8.09	4.74
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	1.71%	--