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ECL vs. RPM: Ecolab vs. RPM Stock Comparison

How do Ecolab (ECL) and RPM (RPM) 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 RPM (RPM) are both classified in the Specialty Chemicals sub-industry within the broader Chemicals industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Ecolab (ECL) and RPM (RPM)
Profile ItemECLRPM
NameEcolab Inc.RPM International Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryChemicalsChemicals
GICS Sub-IndustrySpecialty ChemicalsSpecialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization84.33 billion USD13.18 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and RPM (RPM)
MetricECLRPM
Total Return (1Y)20.33%1.43%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)21.41%5.53%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.90%5.33%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and RPM (RPM)
MetricECLRPM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)21.72%31.14%
Beta (5Y)0.841.00
Max Drawdown (5Y)-43.70%-31.97%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.40M1.29M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ECL and RPM 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 RPM (RPM)
MetricECLRPM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.74-0.09
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.13-0.15

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 20.77% and RPM (RPM) at 21.15% 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%

RPM

Materials industry group

21.15%

Max
52.88%
RPM
21.15%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. RPM (RPM): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 11.99% and RPM (RPM) at 8.66% 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%

RPM

Materials industry group

8.66%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
RPM
8.66%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. RPM (RPM): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 19.22% and RPM (RPM) at 16.20% 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%

RPM

Materials industry group

16.20%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
RPM
16.20%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. RPM (RPM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and RPM (RPM)
MetricECLRPM
ROE (TTM)20.77%21.15%
ROA (TTM)7.29%7.88%
Net Margin (TTM)11.99%8.66%
Operating Margin (TTM)19.22%16.20%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.04%41.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 2.16% and RPM (RPM) at 6.66% 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. RPM (RPM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Ecolab (ECL) at -1.22% and RPM (RPM) at -3.36% 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. RPM (RPM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and RPM (RPM)
MetricECLRPM
Revenue Growth (YoY)2.16%6.66%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.26%2.71%
EPS Growth (YoY)-1.22%-3.36%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)24.09%11.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

RPM (RPM) at 1.76 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

RPM

Materials industry group

1.76

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
RPM
1.76
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. RPM (RPM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

RPM (RPM) at 0.79 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

RPM

Materials industry group

0.79

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
RPM
0.79
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. RPM (RPM): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and RPM (RPM)
MetricECLRPM
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.111.76
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.330.79
Net Debt / EBITDA3.091.97

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

RPM (RPM) at 2.05% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Ecolab (ECL) at 0.95% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, RPM 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%

RPM

Materials industry group

2.05%

Max
4.52%
RPM
2.05%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. RPM (RPM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Ecolab (ECL) at 39.73% and RPM (RPM) at 39.93% 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%

RPM

Materials industry group

39.93%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
RPM
39.93%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. RPM (RPM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and RPM (RPM)
MetricECLRPM
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.95%2.05%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)39.73%39.93%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

RPM (RPM) at 19.10 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

RPM

Materials industry group

19.10

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
RPM
19.10
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. RPM (RPM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

RPM (RPM) at 1.65 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

RPM

Materials industry group

1.65

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
RPM
1.65
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. RPM (RPM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: RPM (RPM) at 3.79 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

RPM

Materials industry group

3.79

Max
6.59
RPM
3.79
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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Ecolab (ECL) vs. RPM (RPM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ecolab (ECL) and RPM (RPM)
MetricECLRPM
P/E Ratio (TTM)40.9119.10
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.851.65
P/B Ratio (MRQ)8.093.79
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.71%4.20%