Compare Albertsons Companies Inc (ACI) vs Ecolab Inc. (ECL) Price & Performance
Price performance
Price movement over the last 24 hours
Key statistics
Key statistics
Albertsons Companies Inc vs Ecolab Inc. — how do they compare? Albertsons Companies Inc trades at $13.98 (market cap $6.93B), while Ecolab Inc. trades at $274.1 (market cap $79.67B). The key difference: Ecolab Inc. is far larger — about 11.5× Albertsons Companies Inc's market cap, and Albertsons Companies Inc pays the higher dividend (4.81%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ACI | ECL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $6.93B | $79.67B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $22.33 | $308.35 |
52-Week Low | $13.45 | $245.73 |
Enterprise Value | $22.02B | $88.42B |
Dividend Yield | 4.81% | 1.03% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Albertsons Companies (ACI) trades at $14.14, showing minimal daily movement with a 0.07% gain. The stock demonstrates strong earnings momentum with three consecutive quarterly beats, though profitability margins remain thin at 0.26% net income margin. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $18.75 price target representing 33% upside potential. Recent developments include AI-powered search enhancements and retail media partnerships driving innovation.
ACI presents a compelling value opportunity with attractive valuation metrics (P/S: 0.09, EV/EBITDA: 6.49) and consistent revenue growth, though investors face risks from declining profit margins, increasing debt levels, and competitive grocery market pressures. The technical picture remains bearish despite fundamental strengths.
ECL trades at $283.08, down 0.1% on the day, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $1.70, meeting expectations, and maintains strong profitability with a net income margin of 12.8%. Recent acquisition of CoolIT for $4.75B enhances its AI cooling portfolio, positioning for long-term growth. Cash flow from operations remains robust at $3.0B in 2025, though net cash flow turned negative due to significant investing activities.
Outlook is positive with 73% analyst buy ratings and a consensus price target of $326.17, implying 15% upside. Risks include rising costs and integration challenges from acquisitions. The stock's high P/E of 38.39 suggests premium valuation, requiring sustained earnings growth to justify current levels.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
About Albertsons Companies Inc
Albertsons is the second-largest traditional grocer in America, operating 2,276 stores under 24 banners in 34 states (as of the end of fiscal 2021). Around 75% of stores have pharmacies, while nearly 20% also sell fuel. Albertsons has a significant private-label operation, accounting for around 20% of sales (excluding fuel). While its own brand assortment is mainly manufactured by third parties, Albertsons operates 20 food production plants (as of the end of fiscal 2021). Albertsons is a top-two grocer in two thirds of its major markets (as of early 2022, according to company data), and virtually all of its sales come from the United States.
Read more on ACI →About Ecolab Inc.
Ecolab produces and markets cleaning and sanitation products for the hospitality, healthcare, and industrial markets. The firm is the global market share leader in this category with a wide array of products and services, including dish and laundry washing systems, pest control, and infection control products. The company has a strong hold on the U.S. market and is looking to increase its profitability abroad. Additionally, Ecolab serves customers in water, manufacturing, and life sciences end markets, selling customized solutions.
Read more on ECL →
