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ECL vs. RGLD: Ecolab vs. Royal Gold Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for Ecolab (ECL) and Royal Gold (RGLD)
Profile ItemECLRGLD
NameEcolab Inc.Royal Gold, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryChemicalsMetals & Mining
GICS Sub-IndustrySpecialty ChemicalsGold
Market Capitalization84.33 billion USD22.47 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973June 9, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ECL
RGLD
GSPC
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Royal Gold (RGLD), 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 Royal Gold (RGLD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Royal Gold (RGLD)
MetricECLRGLD
Total Return (1Y)20.33%60.60%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)21.41%39.65%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.90%23.26%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Royal Gold (RGLD)
MetricECLRGLD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)21.72%41.91%
Beta (5Y)0.840.39
Max Drawdown (5Y)-43.70%-40.73%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.40M667.01K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ECL and RGLD 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 Royal Gold (RGLD)
MetricECLRGLD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.741.34
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.132.00

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Ecolab (ECL) at 20.77% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Royal Gold (RGLD) at 15.03% 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%

RGLD

Materials industry group

15.03%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
RGLD
15.03%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Royal Gold (RGLD): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Royal Gold (RGLD) at 47.99% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Ecolab (ECL) at 11.99% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

ECL

Materials industry group

11.99%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
ECL
11.99%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%

RGLD

Materials industry group

47.99%

RGLD
47.99%
Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Royal Gold (RGLD): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Royal Gold (RGLD) at 65.85% 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%

RGLD

Materials industry group

65.85%

Max
66.70%
RGLD
65.85%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Royal Gold (RGLD): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Royal Gold (RGLD)
MetricECLRGLD
ROE (TTM)20.77%15.03%
ROA (TTM)7.29%9.97%
Net Margin (TTM)11.99%47.99%
Operating Margin (TTM)19.22%65.85%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.04%86.63%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Royal Gold (RGLD) at 43.24% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Ecolab (ECL) at 2.16% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for RGLD.

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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Royal Gold (RGLD): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Ecolab (ECL) at -1.22% and Royal Gold (RGLD) at 32.74% 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. Royal Gold (RGLD): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Royal Gold (RGLD)
MetricECLRGLD
Revenue Growth (YoY)2.16%43.24%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.26%19.54%
EPS Growth (YoY)-1.22%32.74%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)24.09%22.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Royal Gold (RGLD) at 2.40 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

RGLD

Materials industry group

2.40

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
RGLD
2.40
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Royal Gold (RGLD): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Royal Gold (RGLD) at 0.02 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

RGLD

Materials industry group

0.02

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
RGLD
0.02
Min
0.00
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Royal Gold (RGLD): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Royal Gold (RGLD)
MetricECLRGLD
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.112.40
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.330.02
Net Debt / EBITDA3.09-0.03

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 0.95% and Royal Gold (RGLD) at 0.74% 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%

RGLD

Materials industry group

0.74%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
RGLD
0.74%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Royal Gold (RGLD): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 39.73% and Royal Gold (RGLD) at 19.41% 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%

RGLD

Materials industry group

19.41%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
RGLD
19.41%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Royal Gold (RGLD): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Royal Gold (RGLD)
MetricECLRGLD
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.95%0.74%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)39.73%19.41%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Royal Gold (RGLD) at 27.15 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

RGLD

Materials industry group

27.15

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
RGLD
27.15
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Royal Gold (RGLD): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Ecolab (ECL) at 4.85 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Royal Gold (RGLD) at 12.86 prices even higher, above its industry range.

ECL

Materials industry group

4.85

Max
9.62
ECL
4.85
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00

RGLD

Materials industry group

12.86

RGLD
12.86
Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Royal Gold (RGLD): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Royal Gold (RGLD) at 2.91 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

RGLD

Materials industry group

2.91

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
RGLD
2.91
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. Royal Gold (RGLD): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Royal Gold (RGLD)
MetricECLRGLD
P/E Ratio (TTM)40.9127.15
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.8512.86
P/B Ratio (MRQ)8.092.91
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.71%4.24%