ECL vs. SQM: Ecolab vs. Sociedad Química y Minera Stock Comparison
How do Ecolab (ECL) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) 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 Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) are both classified in the Specialty Chemicals sub-industry within the broader Chemicals industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
Ecolab (ECL) trades as ordinary local shares, while Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | ECL | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Ecolab Inc. | Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | Chile |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Chemicals | Chemicals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Specialty Chemicals | Specialty Chemicals |
| Market Capitalization | 84.33 billion USD | 16.43 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 21, 1973 | September 21, 1993 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ECL | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 20.33% | 19.41% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 21.41% | 7.76% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 6.90% | 1.46% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ECL | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 21.72% | 47.10% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.84 | 1.10 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -43.70% | -69.69% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.40M | 953.31K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ECL | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.74 | 0.32 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.13 | 0.49 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Ecolab (ECL) at 20.77% and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 21.82% 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%
SQM
Materials industry group
21.82%
- Max
- 52.88%
- SQM
- 21.82%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
Net Margin (TTM)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 20.62% 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%
SQM
Materials industry group
20.62%
- Max
- 38.66%
- SQM
- 20.62%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 48.82% 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%
SQM
Materials industry group
48.82%
- Max
- 66.70%
- SQM
- 48.82%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ECL | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 20.77% | 21.82% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.29% | 11.55% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.99% | 20.62% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 19.22% | 48.82% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 44.04% | 42.17% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Ecolab (ECL) at 2.16% and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 1.05% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both Ecolab (ECL) at -1.22% and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at -14.16% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ECL | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 2.16% | 1.05% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 4.26% | -24.68% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -1.22% | -14.16% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 24.09% | -46.80% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.61 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
SQM
Materials industry group
2.61
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- SQM
- 2.61
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 0.61 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
SQM
Materials industry group
0.61
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- SQM
- 0.61
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ECL | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.11 | 2.61 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.33 | 0.61 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.09 | 0.32 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.55% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Ecolab (ECL) at 0.95% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, SQM 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%
SQM
Materials industry group
2.55%
- Max
- 4.52%
- SQM
- 2.55%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Ecolab (ECL) at 39.73% and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 21.19% 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%
SQM
Materials industry group
21.19%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- SQM
- 21.19%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ECL | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.95% | 2.55% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 39.73% | 21.19% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 11.84 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
SQM
Materials industry group
11.84
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- SQM
- 11.84
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.44 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
SQM
Materials industry group
2.44
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- SQM
- 2.44
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.60 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
SQM
Materials industry group
2.60
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- SQM
- 2.60
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ECL | SQM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 40.91 | 11.84 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.85 | 2.44 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 8.09 | 2.60 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.71% | 15.94% |