Seek Returns

ECL vs. RIO: Ecolab vs. Rio Tinto Stock Comparison

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

Ecolab (ECL) trades as ordinary local shares, while Rio Tinto (RIO) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Ecolab (ECL) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
Profile ItemECLRIO
NameEcolab Inc.Rio Tinto plc ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryChemicalsMetals & Mining
GICS Sub-IndustrySpecialty ChemicalsDiversified Metals & Mining
Market Capitalization84.33 billion USD136.19 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973June 28, 1990
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ECL
RIO
GSPC
Loading price history…
Ecolab (ECL) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO), 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for Ecolab (ECL) and Rio Tinto (RIO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Ecolab (ECL) and Rio Tinto (RIO). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricECLRIO
Total Return (1Y)20.33%30.54%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)21.41%16.90%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.90%14.68%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ECL
RIO
GSPC
Loading price history…
Ecolab (ECL) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO), 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for Ecolab (ECL) and Rio Tinto (RIO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricECLRIO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)21.72%30.72%
Beta (5Y)0.840.63
Max Drawdown (5Y)-43.70%-35.25%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.40M2.35M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
ECL and RIO 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 Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricECLRIO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.740.85
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.131.26

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Ecolab (ECL) at 20.77% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Rio Tinto (RIO) at 19.31% 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%

RIO

Materials industry group

19.31%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
RIO
19.31%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
Loading chart…
Ecolab (ECL) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 19.59% 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%

RIO

Materials industry group

19.59%

Max
38.66%
RIO
19.59%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
Loading chart…
Ecolab (ECL) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 19.22% and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 28.05% 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%

RIO

Materials industry group

28.05%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
RIO
28.05%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
Loading chart…
Ecolab (ECL) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricECLRIO
ROE (TTM)20.77%19.31%
ROA (TTM)7.29%8.11%
Net Margin (TTM)11.99%19.59%
Operating Margin (TTM)19.22%28.05%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.04%29.75%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 2.16% and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 7.42% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
Ecolab (ECL) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Ecolab (ECL) at -1.22% and Rio Tinto (RIO) at -13.97% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
Ecolab (ECL) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricECLRIO
Revenue Growth (YoY)2.16%7.42%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.26%1.24%
EPS Growth (YoY)-1.22%-13.97%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)24.09%-7.23%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 1.11 and Rio Tinto (RIO) at 1.42 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

RIO

Materials industry group

1.42

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
RIO
1.42
Min
0.16
Loading chart…
Ecolab (ECL) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 0.32 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

RIO

Materials industry group

0.32

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
RIO
0.32
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Ecolab (ECL) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricECLRIO
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.111.42
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.330.32
Net Debt / EBITDA3.090.58

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Ecolab (ECL) at 0.95% pays an industry-typical yield; Rio Tinto (RIO) at 5.59% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

ECL

Materials industry group

0.95%

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

RIO

Materials industry group

5.59%

RIO
5.59%
Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Ecolab (ECL) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): 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 Rio Tinto (RIO) at 54.46% 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%

RIO

Materials industry group

54.46%

Max
83.62%
RIO
54.46%
Q3
41.37%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Ecolab (ECL) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricECLRIO
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.95%5.59%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)39.73%54.46%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 11.35 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

RIO

Materials industry group

11.35

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
RIO
11.35
Min
3.93
Loading chart…
Ecolab (ECL) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.20 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

RIO

Materials industry group

2.20

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
RIO
2.20
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Ecolab (ECL) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Rio Tinto (RIO) at 2.08 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

RIO

Materials industry group

2.08

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
RIO
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
Loading chart…
Ecolab (ECL) vs. Rio Tinto (RIO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and Rio Tinto (RIO)
MetricECLRIO
P/E Ratio (TTM)40.9111.35
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.852.20
P/B Ratio (MRQ)8.092.08
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.71%2.64%